Read Online Society Weddings by Sharon Kendrick, Kate Walker - Free Book Online

felt any different—and surely she would have felt profoundly and completely different if Rashid’s child had been growing inside her womb?
    But she had been unprepared for the primitive swamping of despondency when she had learned that she would not start her married life as a pregnant woman. At least a baby would have given her some reason for being. Some reason for being married to a man who did not love her.
    She had spent sleepless nights weeping silently into her pillow as she mourned something which all common-sense told her was the best thing which could have happened.
    Yet Rashid, too, had not reacted as she might have expected. There had been none of the expected exultation and relief. She had quietly told him and he had taken the news in silence, his dark eyes hooded, and then he had nodded his dark head.
    ‘It is as destiny wills it,’ he had said, his voice sounding cold and toneless.
    Yet wouldn’t a pregnancy have reassured him that his all-important bloodline would continue? Wasn’t her fertility the most vital aspect of this union?
    ‘Mistress,’ said her lady-in-waiting again. ‘Your Sheikh awaits you.’
    Jenna stared into the floor-length mirror as if scarcely believing the image which was projected back at her.
    She did indeed look fit for a king!
    She wore a heavy gold satin gown, richly and lavishly studded with jewels, which weighed almost as much as she did. Her hair had grown a little in the weeks leading up to the wedding. Rashid had not demanded it—he had not needed to. She had seen the unmistakable glitter of disapproval every time those dark eyes had surveyed her long, bare neck. Quador women wore their hair long—and now that she was the public representative of those women she would have to do the same. And, in truth, she had missed the weight and the silken caress of her waist-length locks.
    Today, her hair was adorned with tiny jewelled clips—and every jewel was the real McCoy. She was wearing a king’s ransom on her head!
    Diamonds. Sapphires. Rubies and emeralds. All gleamed with multi-coloured splendour—dazzling and bright—making her face look pale by comparison. Her amber eyes glittered back at her, huge and haunted and distracted, and the fingers which were clasped together by the heavily encrusted belt which lay low over her hips were trembling like the first leaves of spring.
    And no wonder. For the day she had so been dreading had finally arrived.
    Her wedding day.
    For the past forty-eight hours world leaders had been flying into Riocard, as had film stars and models and moguls—rich and powerful friends and acquaintances of the man who seemed like a cold-faced stranger to her.
    The world’s press were camped along the wedding route and glossy magazines from just about every country in the world had been sent to cover the ‘wedding of the year’. She had received countless requests for interviews, but she had refused them all—for surely perceptive journalists would easily be able to detect her uncertainty. And her insecurity about the future.
    From outside she could hear the sounds of the jubilant crowds lining the main streets of Riocard, in the hope of catching a glimpse of their Sheikh’s bride as she travelled with herfather to the palace for the ceremony which would make them man and wife.
    Rashid’s wife.
    Jenna shivered, trying not to think about what lay ahead. First there was the ceremony itself—with all the eyes of Quador on her, along with the eyes of the world. They would be expecting a bride who was rapturous with joy at the thought of marrying one of the world’s most eligible bachelors.
    She allowed herself a wry smile. If only they knew! What would they say if they discovered that she and Rashid had barely spoken a word to each other in the intervening weeks—let alone loving words. They had discussed only what had been absolutely necessary.
    Only once, with her father in proud attendance, had she summoned up the courage to ask Rashid