‘Good morning, Violet.’
Her cheeks were red, and they stared at each other for a moment, both aware that last night he’d seen what lay behind the curtain.
‘Can I come with you?’ she asked.
‘I’m going riding.’
‘I know you are.’ Violet nodded. ‘I’ve decided I’d like to try.’
‘You’ve never ridden?’
‘I want to try new things, and you said Josie was a good horse to learn on.’
‘I’ll have the stable manager—’
‘No,’ Violet said. ‘I don’t want to go riding with someone I don’t know.’ Her eyes met his. ‘When do we leave here?’
‘Tomorrow night.’
‘Then I might never get this chance again.’
‘Very well. But a short lesson, or you’ll be in agony.’
He stood outside the curtain as she pulled off her nightgown.
‘What do I wear?’ she asked.
‘Just a robe. I shall sort out some chaps.’
‘Chaps?’ she asked from behind the screen, doing up the tiny buttons down the front of a lilac gown. ‘What are they?’
‘Leg coverings made of leather.’
‘Sahir!’ she chided in a voice she had never known she owned. ‘We barely know each other!’
And he let her flirt, let her be free, and even if she didn’t appreciate the way she’d arrived, oh, she knew she did not want to leave the desert.
Or him.
At the stables, he handed her the most awful-looking things. ‘What on earth...?’
‘You need to wear them,’ he said, watching as she attempted to put the chaps on. ‘The other way.’
‘Can you at least help?’ she asked, although she never usually did.
He glared but, ever polite, took the chaps and knelt.
And now he was being all gentlemanly, even as she lifted her robe, barely touching her as he buckled the straps.
As good as his word.
Aagh!
‘Stay still...’ he warned.
‘I’m trying,’ Violet said, feeling a touch deflated because he showed no reaction.
He seemed irritated, in fact.