EPILOGUE
EPILOGUE
T H E SERVICE WAS SIMPLE .
Marriage between a future king and his bride had always been a very low-key, matter-of-fact affair.
At least as far as the elders were concerned.
There were no bridesmaids, as such—well, not officially. But Grace helped Violet get into her gown.
‘You look incredible...’ Grace had tears in her eyes, watching love come alive.
‘So do you,’ Violet said, glancing at the tiny little bump that contained her niece or nephew, although not officially. ‘I’m scared.’
‘Of...?’
‘Tripping over.’
‘Not of marrying a prince and living overseas?’
‘None of that,’ Violet said. ‘I just don’t want to fall or...’
‘You won’t,’ Grace said. ‘And even if you do...’
Pria came to the door. It was time for Grace to take her place for the service.
She smiled at Violet. ‘Whenever you are ready.’
‘Thank you.’
It was very different from all the weddings she’d known before, because she could sit here alone for as long as she liked!
And actually Violet felt a little sick, with excited nerves—so, yes, she would make him wait, and make a little more dramatic entrance.
So she popped a mint, topped up her lip-gloss and let herself out of the Venus wing, having spent her last night there.
The palace was almost empty now, with most of the staff outside.
‘Aadil.’ She smiled at him.
‘Violet,’ he said, for the last time.
She’d be titled when they spoke next, and they were friends now. Each understood where the other was coming from.
‘Your prince awaits,’ he told her.
‘Thank you,’ she said as he opened the door to the King’s private garden.
She made her way through the garden and there Sahir stood in a silver robe, beneath the tree where his parents had married, deeply in love, his mother pregnant with Sahir.
There were differences, though. For Sahir didn’t hide his smile of delight when he saw his bride. In fact, they gazed at each other with that same look that had first got them into trouble.
Violet’s heart felt as if it were full of sparklers, all fizzing as she walked towards him.
She wore a simple white dress with sliver slippers, and on her head she wore Queen Anousheh’s favourite tiara, which the King had kindly offered for her to wear.
She wore her violet diamond engagement ring...and instead of flowers she carried a beautiful book that felt like a gift from above.
The King was smiling, and doing very well, seated with Ibrahim and Jasmine, who sat alongside Carter and Grace.
‘You look beautiful,’ Sahir told her. ‘You always do.’
‘Thank you.’ She accepted his compliment. ‘I did make quite an effort.’ She looked at him, all trimmed and perfect, and she ached to kiss him, or pinch him—but of course did not. ‘You did too.’
He nodded, and they turned to Hakaam.
Sahir poured some sand into her palm and Violet found out how she should have reacted the last time he’d done so.
Hakaam spoke. ‘The sand always returns to the desert, but for now you share the wonders of the land.’
She carefully poured it back into Sahir’s palm and it was carefully returned to two vials. Her palm was dusted, and so too was Sahir’s, and both vials were sealed in golden wax by a very serious Hakaam as all the elders gathered round.
Violet closed her eyes when she thought of how she’d just brushed the sand to the floor and then kissed him.
Then Sahir gave her his promises.
‘I accept,’ Violet said.
She gave him her promises, and Sahir accepted them, adding that he would cherish them.
And, yes, there were more differences, and Hakaam had had to rework his charts. Because instead of being taken deep into the desert straight away, they were returning to the palace.
They stood outside the long doors and waited for them to be opened, and now Violet’s one condition was to be met.
‘This time, I choose to be photographed on the balcony,’ she said.
They walked out to cheers, and photographers in helicopters, who captured the groom gazing at his wife, and the bride in a gown that was shot with silver catching the late-afternoon breeze.
And then it seemed Sahir could not resist, because he turned her around and she stared.
‘You said no kissing.’
‘Just a small one.’
It was scandalous, delicious and perfect, and she felt Sahir grip her hand.
Things would be different now.
And how the people cheered to see their grumpy king smiling. To see their crown prince with his gorgeous bride.
Love was no longer a secret, or something to fear in a ruler.
Today they all agreed that love made the world better.
At last they were flown into the desert, and the helicopter left them. But instead of heading to the tent, to attempt making the first of the many, many babies Violet wanted, Sahir stopped them.
‘We have to check on the horses,’ he said.
‘On our wedding night?’
‘No maids, no groomsmen—just us.’
‘What’s the point of being a princess?’ she teased as they walked to the stables.
And there was Josie, squealing to be fed.
‘If you want a pet, it comes with responsibility,’ Sahir told her.
Then out she trotted, the gorgeous white foal, bounding towards her like an overgrown puppy, batting her lashes...
‘She’s mine ?’
This time she embraced her without hesitation...absolutely.
Violet trusted in love.