Page 93 of Modern Romance November 2024 5-8

They slept, bathed by the stars, and in his arms she was perfection.

Sunrise woke him.

Sahir looked at Violet’s soft, round cheeks. They were usually pink, sometimes blushing, occasionally pale with anger, even fear, like when she’d first bravely faced him here. This morning, though...

He could not quite say. Perhaps they were the palest pink, and yet she was glowing. The desert sun had added little freckles to her nose, and as he put up a hand and touched her cheek it felt like a soft petal...

‘Morning...’ she said.

‘We have to go,’ Sahir said. ‘Pria will be arriving to escort you to breakfast soon.’

‘That’s right.’

They had to hide all the cushions in some cupboards and he locked them away.

‘Did your mother teach you that too?’

‘She did.’ He rolled his eyes. ‘She was a bit...wild.’

‘She was wonderful,’ Violet said. ‘Well, her taste in poetry was impeccable. There was one I read last night...’ Violet stopped.

‘Please don’t tell me any more about my mother’s private life.’

‘I won’t.’

Only that hadn’t been the reason she’d stopped talking. Her head was spinning as she thought about the words in that poem as Sahir led her down the stairs. So much so that she went to the wrong entrance and was about to press the handle.

‘Violet!’ He halted her, pointed to the gold sun etched into the door. ‘That would take you to my father’s wing.’

‘Whoops!’

‘Hurry! Have a quick wash and put on a fresh robe. Pria is always early.’

She was right about the meaning of that poem, Violet was certain. And even though she had to get ready for Pria, she was barely inside her room before she opened the poetry book and found the earmarked page.

This poem Anousheh had loved so, Violet had been so sure it was about the King...

Yet she frowned and read the lines again.

Or was itfromthe King?

‘Sahir...’ She dipped a piece of fruit in some honey as they shared a breakfast in the garden. ‘Do you think your parents ever...?’

He looked over.

‘Used the secret staircases?’

‘Violet!’ He laughed at the very notion.

‘Only...’ She stopped as more tea was poured and knew this really wasn’t the place to have this conversation.

‘What?’

‘Nothing.’ She smiled. ‘When is your flight?’

‘When I board,’ he said, and then conceded. ‘Now.’ He stood as Pria approached. ‘You’ll be okay?’

‘Of course.’

---