Page 57 of Modern Romance November 2024 5-8

She marched into the musicians’ room—her sleeping area.

‘Violet, we need to—’

‘I don’t want to.’

‘You need to eat.’

‘Don’t tell me what I need,’ she said from behind the partition. ‘I’m going to get some sleep.’

‘Let me at least have the dress so I can send it back...’

He almost instantly regretted his suggestion when, through the fabric partition, he saw that she was stripping off.

Violet was correct that this room had once been where the harem awaited its summons.

But now Sahir came here for deep reflection, and always alone.

It was also where the monarch came after his wedding, or when the teller had informed the council that the time was ripe for an heir.

It was subtly erotic by design.

He turned his back, but her near naked shadow danced on the far wall.

So he looked up at the ceiling.

More Violets. A kaleidoscope of Violets, all dancing naked across the walls of the tent.

He examined his thumbnails until she threw out the violet dress.

‘That needs to be urgently sorted,’ she told him. ‘You had better not letanotherbride down.’

‘I don’t have a bride.’ He took a breath. ‘Here, a royal marriage is very different. I don’t even know who she’ll—’

‘La-la-la!’ she shouted.

Here, that meant, ‘No, no, no.’ He knew what she meant, though, for he could see her shadow covering its ears, and also that whatever she wore it was see-through...

‘Violet...’

Should he tell her she was as good as naked?

She’d soon work it out.

‘I am going to go to—’

‘Hell!’ she finished for him, and Sahir knew there was no chance of reasonable conversation tonight.

He should leave things for now; they could speak tomorrow.

Her anger he accepted.

What he could not accept was the certain knowledge that she was scared.

And from what Bedra had told him she was probably hungry too.

Finally, there was something he could do.

Although perhaps not very well...

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