Page 50 of The Sheikh's Matchmaker Bride

Chapter Eighteen

Aliyah made it back to her parents' palace just after midnight. Luckily for her, no-one saw her coming in. She made it back to her room without any awkward conversations. Once in her room she showered and flopped down in bed, every nerve in her body still quivering with excitement. It wasn't just those nerves though, it was also her heart. She'd never felt happiness like this before.

Could it be really true? Were she and Shahid truly in love? It felt like it, that was for sure. Everything about tonight had convinced her that she and Shahid had destroyed every barrier that lay between them; that they had stepped across a line and committed to one another.

What about him? Was Shahid as much in love with her as she was with him? As she lay in her bed, shaking with excitement, feeling more alive than she'd ever done, she knew without a shadow of a doubt that he did love her.

Her soul seemed to sing with that one simple thought. Shahid loved her! At last. After all these years, they had both admitted a nagging truth. For so long, she'd had a whispering voice in the back of her mind, every time she'd been close to Shahid. But every time she'd silenced that voice, telling herself that such a thing could never be, would never happen. She and Shahid had existed in different worlds for so many years. But now, everything had changed. It all felt so incredibly real.

Aliyah wondered if she was going to ever get to sleep. Right now, she didn't care. Even if it meant that tomorrow she would look less than her best. For the first time, Aliyah thought first of all about her own happiness. That in itself was proof that everything had changed. Of course she would do her absolute best to ensure that Azim and Lucy's wedding was as wonderful as possible. But, above all, Aliyah couldn't wait for one thing.

To see Shahid again. And soon.

****

In the morning, over breakfast with her parents, there was no discussion about how late Aliyah had arrived the previous night. All the talk was about the events of the coming day. Aliyah knew she would be seeing her brother, their wives and the children. It promised to be a wonderful family gathering, one that would remind everyone of just how important it was to support and love one another.

Just before ten o'clock Nadyah arrived. She and Aliyah went to Aliyah's room and started getting ready. Aliyah had chosen an elegant white silk dress and plain low-heeled shoes. Nadyah was already dressed in a similarly tasteful outfit. The wedding ceremony was scheduled to start at three o'clock, so Aliyah knew it would best for them all to arrive early, around midday.

"Maybe they need some help getting things ready," Aliyah suggested standing in front of the mirror examining her reflection.

Nadyah frowned. "Everything looked ready to me when I left the palace," she replied.

"Are you sure? I mean, you never know. Last minute emergencies always crop up at weddings," she said.

Nadyah shook her head. "Azim and Lucy have been on top of everything this week. I think it's all under control, Aliyah. You just need to sit back and relax, for once. Just enjoy being a guest this time."

Aliyah laughed. "You know that isn't going to be easy."

"I suppose not. I forgot I was talking to Qazhar's matchmaker," she replied.

Aliyah frowned. Maybe people weren't going to label her a matchmaker for much longer, she told herself. Old habits died hard. She knew the impulse to help was going to be almost too much to resist. Habit was a terrible thing, she told herself.

Maybe this time would be different, though. Aliyah still hadn't told Nadyah about Shahid. In fact, the absence of any questions from Nadyah about Shahid had been starting to bother her. Was Nadyah deliberately avoiding any mention of Shahid?

"Exactly how many guests are there going to be?" Aliyah asked.

"About a hundred," Nadyah replied.

"The roads to Azim's palace are going to be busy," Aliyah said.

"Shahid is the person who'd know most about that. I think some people are coming by helicopter," Nadyah said.

Aliyah laughed. "I wouldn't be surprised if some tribal leaders arrive by camel or horse."

Nadyah giggled. "That's not as unlikely as you'd think."

Aliyah and Nadyah went out onto the terrace. Down in the front courtyard, away to her left, Aliyah could see servant loading up the trunk of the long limousine with packages; gifts of every shape and size for Azim and Lucy.

Out in front, the garden of the Al Kharif palace stretched away for hundreds of yards. The wide expanse of lawn, as large as football field, had been freshly cut. She could smell the sharp tang of cut grass as it mingled with the scents of the numerous flowers that bordered the lawn.

"So tell me about Shahid," Nadyah said without giving Aliyah any kind of warning. Of course it had been too good to be true, Aliyah told herself. Nadyah was probably desperate to know the latest gossip. Well, there wasn't anything Aliyah was prepared to tell. Not right now.

Aliyah narrowed her brows. "What do you mean?"

Nadyah frowned. "Really, Aliyah? I called last night. They told me you weren't back. And that was at nine o'clock. Hours after you and Shahid left."

"You make it sound like I ran away to the desert with him," Aliyah said defensively.

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