Page 78 of Modern Romance November 2024 5-8

He nodded. ‘My father was taking breakfast meetings with aides the morning after her funeral. I know he had to be, but he should have made time for Jasmine, at least.’

‘What about Ibrahim?’

‘He wanted to go back to school pretty much straight after.’

‘And you?’

‘I was back by October. There were some formalities for me to attend to. After that, life just carried on. He barely mentions her now. I sometimes wonder if he misses her at all.’

The conversation was over. She knew that both from his curt tone and also because the stable hand was approaching.

She wished they had longer.

Even their whole week. Because it felt all too soon for their time to be over.

‘Slowly...’

He guided her down and she felt her feet hit the ground. As she headed for the tent she saw a look pass between Sahir and the stable hand as she rather gingerly walked away.

‘I warned you,’ said Sahir.

‘You did,’ Violet said. ‘I’m just a bit stiff...’

So was Sahir.

Back to being formal.

Even as she sank into the bath Bedra had prepared, Violet was naïve about the agony to come. Even as she sat and ate dinner, and tried to get comfortable on the floor, she had no idea what awaited her.

CHAPTER TEN

THEIRLASTMORNINGand she didn’t want it to be. Even before her eyes had opened she was dreading this day.

And then all her sorrows were dimmed by a new agony.

From her neck to her toes, Violet ached.

More than ached.

Somehow, she made it to the loo—and there was fresh agony there. It felt as if she was burning...

‘Okay?’ asked Sahir as she hobbled out, and there was nothing worse than feeling dreadful and being met by the sight of Sahir’s toned body, naked apart from a black towel tied around his hips, on his way to bathe.

‘I can barely move...’

‘I warned you,’ he said. ‘I’ll prepare you a bath.’

‘Where’s Bedra?’

‘Morning prayers, probably,’ he said. ‘Do you want a bath or not?’

She nodded, and just had to stand as he poured jug after jug of water into the beautiful stone bath, with far more speed than Bedra. Like some doctor, he peered at various bottles and added oils and gorgeous scents, then bent over and beat at the water with his hand.

‘It’s quite warm...’

‘I’m sure it will be perfect.’ She forced a smile. ‘Thank you.’

‘You want me to leave?’

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