page47 (1/1)
More cameras flashed as Jaul escorted her out of the function room In the limousine on the way back to the palace, he flashed her a charise the crowds lining the side of the road ‘One down, only one o We will feel very much married by the end of this day’
Her turquoise eyes brightened with amusement ‘Yes’
‘Tonight we’ll be travelling into the desert for a few days I have to meet with the tribal sheikhs and it’s the perfect opportunity to introduce you to their faly urban society, there is not a family in the country that does not have a connection by birth or e to one of the tribes Their support is influential,’ he told her quietly ‘Zaliha will travel with us as an interpreter for your benefit’
‘Of course I’ll have to get lessons in Arabic’
‘It wouldn’t be of much use to you in the desert The tribes speak an ancient dialect,’ Jaul told her ruefully and reached for her hand, disconcerting her ‘I really do appreciate your can-do attitude to all of this’
‘I’ll do whatever I have to do to be a good queen,’ Chrissie assured hi to embarrass you or the children either now or in the future’
His luxuriant black lashes lowered over a brightly assessing gleaoal but I have a rather more personal outlook’
Chrissie tugged her fingers free lightly ‘Have you really?’ she dared before she could bite back that cynical challenge ‘I doubt very e in personal terms How could you? The ceremonies today are the ultimate publicity blitz calculated to please your subjects’
‘What we appear to feel in public can continue in private It doesn’t have to be fake,’ Jaul countered smoothly
‘Let’s keep it simple, Jaul We’ll both do our best in our respective roles and see how it goes,’ she suggested lightly
‘As you wish’ Jaul wondered what had happened to the outspoken and passionate young woman he had married That Chrissie would never have settled for such prosaic goals No, indeed she would have demanded his love and attention and shouted loudly if she failed to receive her due Was the change in her the result of his apparent desertion and the struggles of single parenthood? Ultiht appalled him
Back at the palace a European-style meal was served Tarif and Soraya joined the table in their high chairs and ate at speed before de the freedom of the floor, whereupon theybelow the table and tugging at shoelaces and trouser legs Highly amused, Jaul hauled Tarif out from below the tablecloth and returned him to his nanny Soraya was curled up sleepily on herChrissie to dip into her dessert with one hand Zaliha gave her a nod when it was ti Passing Soraya to the nurse expectantly behind her chair and closely followed by Lizzie, Chrissie left the table
Zaliha introduced Chrissie to the crowd of older wo in the bedroo preparations Every tribe had put forward a representative to help dress the Queen Chrissie reown and entered the bathrooiant, sunken tiled tub that had evidently escaped Jaul’s improvements The water in the tub ith rose petals and soht to help in the washing of her hair
‘It must be done five times,’ Zaliha explained in an undertone ‘Nobody knohy but it has always been done this way’
Lizzie grinned and parked herself down on the chair provided for her ‘I’ this process,’ she forecast cheerfully ‘It’s so wonderfully exotic’
Chrissie bathed and lay back while her hair was soaked in scented oil and rinsed over and over again She eht onto a e table, where she was expertly kneaded and , elaborate henna patterns on the backs of her hands and on her feet The painstaking care hich every strand of her hair and every inch of her skin were anointed with soe she dozed off for a little while, only wakening when she was forced to do so by the wo in the bedroom