The Playboy Sheikh's Virgin Stable-Girl (17 page)

KALIQ stilled as the raucous barking of the dogs set his senses jangling—though they had been alerted to danger minutes before. Even in the midst of his troubled thoughts he had thought he’d heard a sound which was something out of the ordinary.

Striding across the vast master bedroom, he pushed open the interconnecting door to Eleni’s bedroom, but as soon as his eyes scoured the room the rumpled sheets and the silence told him what he already knew. She was gone.

The barking of the dogs increased and he began to hurry from the room, down the stairs, hitting the alert button which he always carried and dragging the mobile phone from his pocket as he attempted to make contact with the bodyguards. But there was no reply and he suspected that they heard neither. That they were all caught up with investigating what had alerted the dogs—not knowing that it was Eleni. He’d even purposefully dismissed his personal bodyguards because he had been expecting to spend the night in the blissful anonymity of his lover’s arms.

He ran outside as the heavy drops of rain began splashing against his head and Kaliq threw his head back and shouted out her name.

‘Eleni!’

But there was no sound from her. Nothing. His heart was pumping fit to burst, his stomach acid with fear. It was like being catapulted back to a time he had kept strictly off limits but he felt it again as if it were yesterday. The terror and dismay when he and his twin had discovered young Zafir missing. Those feelings of hopelessness and despair. The sensation of powerlessness—that he was too late to save the child from an unknown fate.

What if he was too late to save Eleni?

He could see the flash of something pale against the trees on the far side of the lawns. Was that her? Sheltering against the frightening prospect of attacking dogs—or sheltering from the harshness of her cruel and thoughtless lover?

Instinct took over as he dashed across the slippery grass with the increasingly heavy rains pelting down and soaking him to the skin. From within the murky depths of the heavy clouds he thought he caught the ominous rumble of thunder and his heart flared with a renewed fear. What if lightning struck the tree beneath which his lover was sheltering!

‘Eleni!’ The distraught word was torn from his lips as he ran towards the woods and now he could definitely see the pale shape of a figure. The barking was increasing and, although Kaliq had competed and won many races during his time in the Navy, never had he run as fast as he did just then. Instinct powered his body just as surely as it drew him towards her. And now he could see more clearly…because yes, yes—it was her! His frightened and soaking Eleni huddled beneath a tree—her eyes huge with disbelief as he ran towards her.

He reached her in seconds—gathering her into his arms just as the barking of the dogs reached a crescendo.

And then everything went crazy.

There were spotlights and searchlights as figures and animals circled them—the light picking out the gleaming teeth of highly trained guard-dogs as they strained against the leashes of the powerful men who restrained them.

Eleni thought that she saw the barrel of a gun pointing at her but her shaking fears were quelled—if only temporarily—by the protective warmth of Kaliq as he pulled her close into his body and wrapped his arms around her and started yelling.

‘Stop!’ His imperious command rang out and at the same moment someone must have recognised just who it was who spoke for the dogs were silenced as if by magic, and the most senior of the bodyguards stepped forwards and bowed deeply.

‘Highness—’

But Kaliq cut him short with an impatient and furious interrogation. Were the dogs and the guards so stupid not to have realised that they were threatening his guest?

Eleni listened to the bodyguard’s stumbled explanation, which was again cut short by a furious dismissal, and as the sodden and dispirited men and dogs crept away she actually felt a little sorry for them. Until she realised that maybe it was easier to feel sorry for total strangers than to feel sorry for herself. Or have to face the awful reality. The real reason why she had come running out here in the first place—as if that would help her escape the terrible inevitability of her situation. She stared at the ground, determined that Kaliq would not feel burdened by her heartbreak as she prepared to thank him for saving her.

‘And now…’ Kaliq was undeterred by the drops of rain which were continuing to drip through the leaves. His mouth curved at the corners—for wasn’t this like stepping back in time to when he had first met her? ‘Look at me, Eleni.’

Eleni thought that his voice was oddly gentle, more gentle than she had ever heard him before—expect perhaps when he was speaking to a horse—and, slowly, she raised her eyes to his.

Kaliq sucked in a breath—because even in the darkness he could see the bright beauty which had first so entranced him. A prince ensnared by a stable girl. It should never have happened—but it had. Had the great, guiding hand of fate been at work? he wondered dazedly. Because somewhere along the way she had forced him to confront his deepest fears, and, in so doing, to defeat them. He had done all he could to save Zafir, he realised—and now he must move on and accept that. Live in the here and now and take what was staring at him so beautifully in the face.

He suddenly realised that he felt light. Lighter than he had done in years. A burden lifted from his heart and his mind and all because of this one woman—his loyal and true, his feisty and determined Eleni.

He had planned to tell her that she should never have run away. Never have put herself in danger like that—but those words did not come. Others did. Strange, unfamiliar words which he felt as if he had waited all his life to say.

‘I love you, Eleni,’ he said simply. ‘And I want you to be my bride.’

It was perhaps auspicious that the moon chose just that moment to appear from behind the fast-scudding clouds—which meant that Eleni could see from the shining clarity in her prince’s eyes that he meant everything he said. But even if it had been pitch-black she would have believed him. Because Kaliq Al’Farisi was reckless, yes, but never with words.

Her heart was beating faster than when she had fled from the sound of the barking dogs and she lifted her hands to cup his dear, sweet face, swallowing down her tears of joy and offering him her tremulous smile.

‘I love you, too, my darling. My darling, darling Kaliq,’ she whispered as his face came down to blot out the pain of the past.

EPILOGUE

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.

About the Author

Sharon Kendrick has been writing stories for as long as she can remember, and completed her first book at the age of eleven! It featured identical twins fighting evil at their boarding school, but, sadly, this early manuscript has been lost.

Sharon wanted to be a journalist, so she enrolled in a secretarial course to learn shorthand and typing, but life kind of got in the way and she drifted in and out of a succession of jobs. She has been a waitress, a cook, a dancer and a photographer. She has worked in shops and sung in bars. Sharon also qualified as a nurse and drove an ambulance across the Australian desert.

When she settled down and married her dashing doctor, she decided life was not a rehearsal and that if she wanted to write a book she’d just have to sit down and do it. Not easy with a lively toddler and a six-month-old baby while living in a tiny apartment. But she did it, and so Nurse in the Outback was born, and it was accepted by Mills & Boon without any changes.

Since then Sharon has gone on to write many books for Mills & Boon, and they have been published worldwide. She adores writing romance and considers herself lucky to have the best job in the world! It is a fantastic way to spend a day—inventing gorgeous heroes and complex, interesting women and charting all the ups and downs, the highs and lows of their relationships until they are really ready to let love into their hearts.

Sharon intends to carry on writing forever, and why not? For what greater pleasure could be gained than when a reader writes to tell you that you moved her to laughter and tears?

Turn the page for our exclusive interview
with Sharon Kendrick!

We chatted to Sharon Kendrick about the world of THE ROYAL HOUSE OF KAREDES. Here are her insights!

Would you prefer to live on Aristo or Calista? What appeals to you most about either island?

Without a doubt, I’d opt for living on Calista every time—mainly because I saw it through the eyes of Elina, who had spent her whole life there. I loved the dramatic, often desolate landscape—which reflected some of the desolation I saw written in Zahir’s eyes. And I loved the natural splendor of the countryside; the mountains and incredible sunsets—such simple beauty, which contrasted with the sumptuous luxury of the royal palaces.

What did you enjoy about writing about the Royal House of Karedes?

What I enjoyed most about writing about the Royal House of Karedes was the sense that here was a real place, with a real community. The rival factions, the disputes over land and position and the long-simmering tensions and jealousies are exactly the same as those that most of us will experience at some point in our lives. And dominating all these is the age-old search for love, which is the most tantalizing and irresistible of all….

How did you find writing part of a continuity?

Writing as a community seemed no different to writing as a lone author…you’re still locked away in your humble garret while the story (hopefully) grows and grows! There was a bit of communication between the authors—when I wanted to introduce a couple of heroes from the other books, I made sure I checked with their creators that I wasn’t misrepresenting them!

When you are writing, what is your typical day?

My typical day is never really typical—because one of the nicest things about being a writer is the flexibility it affords. Having said that, I write best in the mornings, when the world is quiet and not quite awake. I like to watch the rising sunlight filter over the treetops, and from where I’m sitting now, the autumn leaves look as if someone has stuck shiny golden toffees to the branches! I try to do some form of exercise—I like running, and also a class that mixes yoga, Pilates and Tai Chi (I find a whole hour of yoga too boring). It’s good from the physical side, but it also gives me lots of ideas and inspiration. I also go into central London one day a week—to see a foreign film, or to visit an exhibition—also to get inspiration. Apart from that, I just try to avoid distractions and lose myself in the current story.

Where do you get your inspiration for the characters you write?

I get inspiration for the characters I write from films (see above) and portraits of people who lived long ago (see above). Also from newspapers (which I cross-read) and from the amazing and charismatic people you occasionally run across.

What did you like most about your hero and heroine in this continuity?

What I liked best about my heroine was her pure heart and her courage—and what I liked best about my hero was his fierce pride, and the fact that he allowed Elina to help him heal, and to dare to love.

What would be the best—and worst—things about being part of a royal dynasty?

The best thing about being part of a royal dynasty would be having servants and the ability to be able to travel anywhere in the world—and the worst thing would be the total lack of freedom and the sense of being watched wherever you were.

Are diamonds really a girl’s best friend?

Cold and glittering, with a million rainbows at their depths…are diamonds really a girl’s best friend? Of course not—but they’re a pretty fabulous consolation if she’s feeling miserable!

ISBN: 978-1-4268-3775-3

THE PLAYBOY SHEIKH’S VIRGIN STABLE-GIRL