Читать книгу The Royal House Of Karedes Collection Books 1-12 - Кейт Хьюит, Шантель Шоу - Страница 40

THE world’s media went crazy.

THE PLAYBOY SHEIKH AND THE STABLE GIRL, screamed the tabloids. The international broadsheets commended the Sheikh Kaliq for his very modern attitude in taking such a low-born bride—and applauded the refreshing fact that a member of such a noble royal family should be marrying for love instead of power.

There were photos of the couple everywhere. Eleni and Kaliq snapped leaving a restaurant in London. Images of them boarding a jet in Madrid—and later on a trip to Paris. There were shots of them at the race-course—and lots taken on Eleni’s first visit to America when she took that country by storm. And finally the official photographs, which were issued by the Calistan palace on the occasion of their marriage. And what a marriage it was.

Nobody who was there would ever forget the sight of Nabat the horse—his neck garlanded with bright flowers—as he carried the bride through the teeming streets to the ceremony.

World leaders and members of every royal house flocked into the country guaranteeing a star-studded guest list—which put Calista high on the list of most-wanted destinations. But there were plenty of other guests, too—Amina was there, and so was Zahra, as well as Kaliq’s huge, extended family. Even some of the Aristo royal family were represented at what was being called the wedding of the year, and to Kaliq’s amazement Eleni had insisted on inviting her father.

‘After everything he did to you?’ he demanded.

But Eleni had laid a loving hand on the cheek of her proud sheikh. ‘I must forgive him, my darling,’ she said softly. ‘For without forgiveness we cannot properly move on.’

And since Kaliq had finally learnt to forgive himself, he had caught that hand and kissed it, for he had known that what she said was true. But then, she always spoke the truth, his darling Eleni. It had been her advice which had led to him starting up an international charity for missing children which was being funded by his Calistan polo club. It might never bring Zafir back, but, hopefully, there were others it would.

Eleni’s wedding band was made of the very finest Calistan diamonds—and her golden veil, which shimmered to the ground like a stream of sunlight, was crowned by an even more glittering circlet of the precious gems. Bright diamonds indeed.

But all the guests agreed that the brightest things on display were the eyes and the smiles of Prince Kaliq Al’Farisi and his new Princess Eleni.