More Precious than a Crown

by Carol Marinelli

  No, the king thought, for this must be dealt with now and once and for all.

  And the king knew how.

  Zahid needed to find out just how unsuitable Trinity would be as his wife, he needed to see for himself the trouble she would cause—and tonight he would.

  He turned to Abdul. ‘Summon her now.’

  * * *

  The giddy high from making love had faded the moment Zahid had told her he would be speaking with the king.

  Trinity bathed and as she came out of the bathroom her phone buzzed and Trinity let out a tense breath before answering.

  ‘Hi, Mum,’ Trinity answered. ‘How are you?’

  There was a long stretch of silence and it took a while for it to dawn on Trinity that her mother was crying.

  ‘Your father wants to spread the ashes tomorrow. He wants it done but I wanted you here.’

  ‘Who’s going to be there?’

  ‘Just family.’

  ‘I can’t, then.’

  ‘Trinity, please...’ her mother said, but without anger this time. ‘I don’t want to lose you.’

  She might, though.

  Zahid would have no part in the strange charades her family played. Zahid had already told her his thoughts on her family and that he was severing ties with them.

  She loved them, though.

  ‘You’re not going to lose me but I’m not going to attend any more family functions if Clive is there.’

  ‘Trinity—’

  ‘I mean it.’

  Finally, she did.

  It was a teary Trinity that answered when Layla knocked at her door.

  ‘I did not know that the children would upset you.’

  ‘It was just children asking questions.’ Trinity attempted a smile as she let her in.

  ‘I know, they ask so many. All the difficult ones, of course. I did promise them that so long as they asked in English and it was a polite question, they could ask me anything.’

  ‘Polite?’ Trinity checked.

  ‘Well, you know girls can ask difficult things and so I tell them when their question is not polite...’ Layla gave an uncomfortable shrug at Trinity’s questioning frown and elaborated a touch further. ‘Today they ask about marriage but some of the older students ask about wedding nights and I don’t think they are suitable questions.’ Layla went a little bit pink. ‘Or rather I don’t know how to answer them.’

  ‘I guess it could be awkward.’

  ‘It is.’ Layla admitted.

  ‘It’s good they feel they can ask questions, though.’ It was Trinity’s cheeks who were a bit pink now as she probed Layla for information, not that Layla could know the reason for Trinity’s interest. ‘I mean, where would they go here to find out about birth control and the like?’ She saw Layla frown.

  ‘Birth control?’

  ‘If you don’t want to get pregnant.’

  Layla blinked. ‘I thought I was the only woman who felt like that. I don’t want to have Hassain’s baby.’

  ‘I meant,’ Trinity swallowed as she realised the can of worms she was opening but Trinity desperately needed to guage how these issues where handled in Ishla and so she was more specific. ‘What would a young woman do if she wanted to have sex but wasn’t married.’

  ‘It would never happen out of wedlock.’ Layla’s cheeks were on fire.

  ‘You mean there are no unplanned babies born in Ishla?’

  ‘Of course not,’ Layla said, and Trinity just stood there as Layla continued. ‘It must not happen, it cannot happen.’ To Layla it was as simple as that.

  But despite Layla’s absolute assurance that it could never happen, it very possibly had and to the future king’s potential wife.

  Of course there must be unplanned pregnancies in Ishla, she knew that Layla was being naïve.

  So what happened when a pregnancy occurred that wasn’t planned?

  Trinity did feel sick then but it was in fear for her unborn child.

  Perhaps they’d insist on an abortion, just as her mother had. Only when Trinity had begged to keep her baby had she been sent away.

  Zahid would do the right thing, of course, but would that be by his country or by her?

  ‘Trinity?’ Layla dragged her mind back to the conversation, her black eyes alight with curiosity. ‘What is this birth control?’

  Trinity was saved from answering when there was a knock at the door. It was Jamila who spoke for a moment to Layla.

  ‘My father has requested to speak with you,’ Layla told Trinity.

  ‘It’s okay,’ Layla said, when Jamila had left and she saw Trinity’s pale face. ‘He is fierce, yes, but he is fair too, and you have done no wrong.’

  But by Ishla’s standards Trinity had.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  TRINITY STEPPED INTO the study and looked to the side as she curtsied, hoping that Zahid would be here, for she did not know how to face the king alone.

  ‘How are things?’ the king asked. ‘I trust you are being well looked after.’

  ‘I’ve been looked after beautifully.’

  ‘How are your family?’

  ‘I’ve just spoken to my mother.’

  ‘How is she?’

  ‘She’s a bit upset. My father wants to spread my brother’s ashes.’ They chatted a little about that and Trinity started to relax.

  ‘It is a difficult time for them.’

  ‘It is.’

  ‘Did you enjoy your time at the second palace this afternoon?’ The king saw that he had sideswiped Trinity but he would not hesitate to tackle difficult subjects when the future of his monarchy was at stake. ‘Are you going to lie and say you enjoyed looking at the antiques and jewels?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Is your intention to trap my son?’

  Trinity had stood blushing and unable to look at the king but now her eyes did meet his. ‘Trap him?’

  ‘It is a commoners trick and you,’ the king said, ‘are a commoner with a past.’

  ‘I’m not going to stand here and be insulted.’

  ‘Where is the insult? You are a commoner, yes?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘And one with a past.’

  ‘The insult was that I might trick your son.’

  ‘I apologise, then,’ the king answered. ‘I forget that you have ways to defy nature. I would have hoped you would not bring them here but perhaps it is better that you did, for an unplanned pregnancy would bring more shame than I can even dare to imagine. More than a drug scandal.’ The king gave a tight smile. ‘I apologise, that was not you but your brother.’

  ‘I would prefer, if we must discuss this, for Zahid to be here.’

  ‘When I discuss this with my son, I will be far less polite than I am being now. I am furious with him and for the first time ever I am disappointed in him. A few weeks ago we were discussing bridges, and hospitals and the education of our people. Now he speaks only of wanting time to sort out your differences, time to see if you two might work. That is not how things work here in Ishla.’ He looked at Trinity. ‘We are a kind and fair country,’ the king said. ‘Until someone interferes in our ways.’

  ‘You want me to leave?’

  ‘You were always leaving, Trinity.’ The king was scathing. ‘Now though, it is not a question of if you leave, it is how you leave that matters...’

  ‘I don’t understand.’

  ‘Then think about it,’ the king said. ‘I shall arrange for a plane to take you home—is that England or America?’

  ‘I want to speak with Zahid.’

  ‘Of course you can speak with him, you will be joining us tonight for dinner.’

  ‘Please, no,’ Trinity begged.

  ‘Oh, yes,’ the king said. ‘You can meet Princess Sameena, you can face your shame and then perhaps you will understand my rage.’

  ‘I’ll go.’

  ‘Yes, you will, straight after dinner. And, Trinity, remember what I said. If you do care for my son, please think about what I said.
It is how you leave that matters.

  ‘One moment.’ He paused as there was an angry knock at the door and Zahid barged in uninvited.

  ‘Why did you summon Trinity without me?’ he demanded.

  ‘I wanted to see that she was being properly taken care of,’ the king answered calmly. ‘And to find out her how family was.’

  ‘Don’t!’ Zahid stood livid before his father, for he could see the paleness of Trinity’s cheeks and knew she was upset. ‘You do not have time to respond to a formal request for me to speak with you, yet you summon Trinity in here—’

  ‘She was telling me that she must return to England.’

  ‘No.’ Zahid’s fists were balled.

  ‘After dinner tonight, she is leaving.’

  ‘Oh, no.’ Zahid would not put Trinity through that. He was already dreading facing Princess Sameena and he would not foist the same awkwardness on Trinity. ‘If there is an issue, you discuss it with me. Trinity is not leaving tonight—’

  ‘I am.’ It was the first time she had spoken since Zahid had stormed in. The king had made it crystal clear the shame it would bring if she were to fall pregnant.

  Trinity knew that she already was and she had to get away.

  ‘I was just speaking with your father. My mother called and she’s upset...’ Trinity hesitated, for she knew Zahid would not let her leave if there was even a chance she might see Clive, so she chose not to tell him about the ashes. ‘I think she needs me at home.’

  ‘It isn’t about what she needs.’ Zahid shook his head. ‘First we speak—’

  ‘There is not time to discuss this further now.’ The king stood. ‘Our guests are due to arrive. I am sure Trinity will want to get ready.’

  * * *

  As she put on her make-up Trinity finally understood the king’s wise words. Zahid loved her and he would not simply let her go, but if she stayed...

  Her only thought now was for her baby. She had no idea of the rules of this land. Even Zahid had spoken of choosing a bride on the strength of an army.

  The king was right. If she wanted to leave then tonight Zahid had to see for himself what an unsuitable bride she would be.

  ‘Perhaps you wear too much...’ Layla hesitated, reminding herself that Trinity was a guest but her lips worried her as Trinity put on some dark red lipstick and then added more mascara.

  Trinity was wearing the lilac tunic that had been too tight even on her first day in Ishla. Her breasts seemed bigger than they had then, though Layla assumed that must be from her bra, because she caught a glimpse of it when Trinity bent forward for all the buttons were not done up.

  ‘You missed...’ Layla pointed to her own buttons as they went to head down to dinner.

  Trinity ignored her.

  Zahid’s jaw tightened a little when he saw Trinity, not because of the glimpse of cleavage and not even because of her dark red lips. It was the dangerous glint in her eyes that had him on high alert as Trinity took her seat next to Layla.

  The king made the introductions. ‘This is Miss Trinity Foster, she is here to help Layla with her English. I asked her to join us so that we can say farewell to her, as she is flying back to England late tonight.’

  Sameena bowed her head in greeting and Trinity did the same, and the introductions continued.

  Zahid sat silent.

  Oh, there would be words at the formal meeting for putting Trinity through this.

  Many, many words.

  He looked at Sameena and saw her downcast eyes and Zahid’s shame turned to slight curiosity, for having a sister like Layla and after the time he’d spent with Trinity, he recognised swollen eyelids when he saw them.

  Perhaps Sameena did not want to be here either.

  The conversation was as sticky as the dates for everyone, given that Queen Raina of Bishram was the ‘suitable’ bride that Fahid had rejected all those years ago.

  Only Layla was oblivious to the tension.

  ‘We were talking in my class about transport today,’ Layla said, filling in a gaping hole in the conversation as dessert was served. ‘Can I learn to drive, Father?’

  ‘Why would you want to drive when you can be driven?’

  ‘I would like to drive. Do you drive, Sameena?’

  ‘I do.’

  ‘Do you work?’

  ‘Layla,’ the king warned, ‘it is Zahid and Sameena’s time to speak with each other.’

  ‘We must go soon,’ Queen Raina said.

  ‘Perhaps Sameena and I could walk in the gardens before you leave,’ Zahid offered, and Trinity knocked over her drink.

  Better that than throw it in his face, Trinity thought as a maid mopped it up.

  ‘Layla might like to join you.’ The king smiled.

  ‘Of course,’ Zahid responded, and the Queen and King of Bishram nodded their consent.

  ‘It was a lovely dinner,’ Sameena said, as Layla walked behind them.

  ‘It was,’ Zahid said. ‘Were you looking forward to it?’

  There was a slight hesitation before she said yes.

  ‘Is there anything you would like to say?’ Zahid carefully offered, and Sameena glanced over her shoulder at Layla.

  ‘She is listening to her music,’ Zahid said. ‘She has her headphones in.’

  Sameena laughed and then she stopped laughing, for it was almost an impossible conversation to have. ‘My mother is talking of abdicating,’ Sameena said. ‘Of course, that is just between us.’

  ‘Of course.’

  ‘Soon I will be Queen of Bishram.’

  ‘What is your hope for your country?’

  ‘I have many,’ Sameena said. ‘Naturally, I hope that relationships between our countries will improve, whatever choice you make.’ Zahid looked at her and saw tears in Sameena’s eyes.

  ‘Be honest,’ Zahid said, ‘because whatever you say, I look forward to better relations between our countries.’

  ‘Even if there is anger between them for a while?’ Sameena checked, for her parents would be furious with Ishla if she was not the prince’s choice.

  ‘We will work well together,’ Zahid said, as they carefully forged an alliance but one that did not involve a marriage.

  There was a small chink of hope in his heart as he headed back, and Trinity did not like the edge of a smile on his lips or the look that passed between Sameena and Zahid as the families said their goodbyes. It served only to confuse her.

  ‘I need to get my things ready,’ Trinity said. ‘My flight is soon.’

  ‘You are not boarding the plane tonight,’ Zahid said. ‘You are not leaving till I have spoken with my father.’ He strode over to the king. ‘I would like to speak with you now,’ Zahid said to his father.

  ‘Not yet,’ Fahid said. ‘I would like more coffee.’

  They returned to the table and the king smiled like the cat that had got the cream. ‘That went very well.’

  ‘Really?’ Zahid checked. ‘I have never endured a more uncomfortable dinner.’

  The king looked at Trinity. ‘You have been a wonderful guest. Forgive me for not serving champagne tonight, it would have been offensive to our guests. Of course, we are more relaxed here, and it is right that we wish you farewell with a toast.’

  He gestured the waiter and champagne was poured. Trinity took the smallest sip of bubbles, for she did not want them to guess the reason she could not join in with the toast properly.

  Zahid didn’t even raise his glass of sparkling water, for she was not leaving tonight.

  Trinity caught the king’s eye and as the bubbles went down she topped up her glass and it was time to ensure that she and her baby left safely tonight.

  ‘Is Queen Raina the one you rejected in favour of your wife?’

  ‘Trinity...’ Layla breathed, for there were things that must not be openly discussed.

  ‘I get a bit confused,’ Trinity explained.

  ‘You are correct.’ The king nodded.

  ‘You must miss your wife,’ Trinity
said.

  ‘Very much.’

  They chatted further and after the king said what a wonderful, dignified woman Annan had been, the tone of the conversation moved down.

  ‘You must get lonely,’ Trinity said, and she felt the squeeze of Zahid’s angry fingers on her thigh as he attempted to warn her quietly just how inappropriate that line of conversation was.

  He looked at his plate and did not see the king give Trinity a small smile and he did not see the tears that flashed in Trinity’s eyes. ‘You’re a good-looking man, Fahid. Surely...’ she gave a shrill laugh ‘...you think about dating.’

  ‘Perhaps I have had my time.’

  ‘Oh, come on,’ Trinity said. ‘You could have your pick, a handsome man like you...’

  She was flirting with his father, she was being inappropriate, and Zahid’s rage simmered as again she knocked over her glass and then refilled it.

  ‘How would a king date?’ Fahid enquired politely.

  ‘I have no idea,’ Trinity admitted. ‘Where I work, at the beach bar, we have a night for the over-forties...’

  ‘Trinity,’ Zahid warned.

  ‘What?’ Trinity turned to Zahid. ‘I’m just being friendly.’

  ‘I want to speak to you alone.’

  He took her wrist, pulled her away, marched her through the palace and to her room.

  She could spill her drink, she could be wild, but he had never thought he’d have to tell Trinity that she could not flirt at the king’s table.

  He turned her to face him and his eyes were black, not with anger but with disappointment, with pain.

  ‘What on earth was that?’

  ‘I was just having fun.’ She gave him a look. ‘Oh, sorry, that’s not allowed here, is it?’

  ‘Of course it is, but tonight—’

  ‘Oh, am I misbehaving?’

  ‘You know that you are.’

  ‘So I’m just supposed to sit quietly while you go for a walk with your future bride, while you make simpering eyes when you say goodbye to her—’

  ‘Do not even suggest that I flirted with Princess Sameena,’ Zahid said. ‘Tonight I have done everything I know how to secure us some time together, I have spoken with Sameena, I have asked for a formal meeting with my father and then you sit there, pissed, and you flirt with my father, the king.’