Modern Romance September 2016 Books 5-8. Natalie Anderson

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СКАЧАТЬ are like a mirror image of me. When I see your visions it is like looking at my own designs...’

      Kedah turned in brief surprise. ‘We are nothing alike.’

      ‘Not in looks,’ Omar said. ‘But we think the same.’

      Kedah did not believe it. His father was staid and old-fashioned in his ways.

      But Omar pressed on.

      ‘You were right to challenge me in the office. When I studied architecture with Hussain we had such grand plans. My father said that once I had married he would listen to my thoughts. I returned from my honeymoon with so many plans and dreams. Your mother was already pregnant with you, and I can remember us walking along this very beach, talking of the schools and the hospitals that would soon be built. Your mother, being your mother, looked forward to the hotels and the shops. They were such exciting times. There was such an air of hope amongst the people. But even by the time you were born those dreams had died.’

      ‘How?’

      ‘My father preferred his own rules.’

      For a moment they stopped walking.

      Even though the old King was dead it was almost a forbidden conversation.

      ‘He had always said that when I was married—when I was officially Crown Prince—then I could have input. And so I married. I chose a bride from a progressive country.’

      ‘For that reason only?’ Kedah checked.

      ‘He was just delaying things, though. By the time you were born I knew he would never listen to what I had to say. It was a very difficult time...’ Omar admitted. ‘I was young and proud and I had promised your mother so many things—she had come from a modern country and I wanted the same. I wanted our people to prosper from our wealth too, but my hands were tied. I became very angry and bitter. I spent all my time trying to convince my father to listen to my ideas—travelling with him, pointing out how progressive other countries were. Your mother was in a foreign country with a new baby, but I had no time for either of you...’

      They walked in silence as Omar remembered that difficult trip away, and coming home to a grim palace and a wife who had been utterly distraught.

      And then had come her confession.

      And as Omar remembered the past Kedah better understood his parents, for he could envisage how undermined his father would have felt. For a little while he pondered how he might feel, bringing Felicia here, to a land full of promises that did not come true.

      ‘You have a good marriage now,’ Kedah commented.

      ‘We have worked hard to achieve that.’ Omar nodded. ‘I had been so caught up in my own ego that I forgot what it must be like for your mother...alone in a new country, with no one to speak of her problems with...’

      Except Abdal.

      ‘When did you realise you loved her?’ Kedah asked—not just because he was curious about his parents’ marriage, but because it was a question from his own heart. Suddenly he could not bear to envisage a future without Felicia. Their conversations, their laughter, their occasional rows...he just could not see himself doing those things with anyone else. And yet she was flying further away from him with each moment that passed.

      ‘When?’ he asked again, for his father was lost in thought.

      Omar was thinking back to the day Rina had confessed what had taken place and his reaction.

      ‘The moment I realised I could lose her,’ Omar answered. ‘It was then I knew I was in love.’

      Perhaps they were not so different after all.

      ‘Your grandfather was not a fan of your mother. He seemed to think I would do better to take another bride.’

      Nothing was said outright, but both knew the rumours were finally being addressed.

      Kedah could see how things might have happened. Perhaps he understood his mother more. And yet he realised it was not his forgiveness that his mother needed.

      It was the forgiveness of the man he looked to now.

      ‘Not only did I not want to lose her, Kedah, I was scared for her also.’

      Kedah looked at him, and it was then he knew that he was his father’s son.

      They had the same fears for a vibrant, impetuous woman.

      Kedah had never admired his father more, for it took a strong king to be a loving one too—especially when wronged.

      ‘How did you resolve things?’ he asked, for he needed his father’s wisdom.

      ‘I accepted that my time would one day come and I went back to concentrating on my family. All that time I’d spent fruitlessly clashing with my father I had neglected your mother—and you...’

      Here was a man who was far stronger than Kedah had given him credit for.

      ‘You have the same visions I once did,’ Omar said. ‘But I am older now. I need support. And I do not want you to have to wait, as I did, to make changes. That is not good for the people. Your presentation has reminded me of my own fire. Together we could change things. But there is Mohammed and the elders to consider...’

      ‘You are King.’

      ‘Yes, but there is your mother...’

      And Kedah thought of Felicia’s words. His mother would be okay. After all, she had the King’s love.

      ‘Together,’ Kedah said, ‘we can protect her.’

      So much was said without words.

      ‘But there is a condition,’ Kedah said to his father. ‘I shall choose my own bride.’

      ‘Perhaps we could wait until after the Accession Council meets?’ Omar suggested, for he was quite sure who Kedah’s choice would be—which would make for an even more difficult meeting.

      But Kedah, now that his decision was made, could no longer wait.

      He excused himself from his father and walked into the palace. As he did so he saw Mohammed walking into his office with Fatiq.

      ‘Mohammed.’ Kedah followed him in. ‘We need to speak.’ He didn’t even look over to Fatiq as he addressed him. ‘Please leave.’

      ‘You can say what you have to in front of Fatiq,’ Mohammed told him.

      ‘Very well.’

      The timbre of Kedah’s voice was so ominous that Mohammed’s hand moved to the hilt of his sword as his elder brother strode towards him.

      ‘Know this. It is very hard to dissuade loyal people... If I am forced to I will take the decision to them and I know I will win.’

      ‘Not if we call for—’

      ‘I don’t give a damn about some test that was invented СКАЧАТЬ