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On the third day of Tair’s absence Tally permitted the ladies to henna her hands, her wrists and the soles of feet It was a lengthy process but it took up one day and part of the next The wons took shape and Tally had to ad a dramatic tattoo, but this one would eventually wear off

That third night lying in bed Tally lifted one hand up, letting the ht illuminate the intricate patterns on her pallad she’d had it done Even if she hated Tair

S, Tally finally drifted off to sleep

Tally’s mood took another dramatic turn when she woke to discover that Tair had returned in the night

Leena, Tally’s attendant, brought the news along with the breakfast tray to Tally on her patio adjacent to her roo the plate and cup and sht”

Tally’s heart jumped She felt a thrill of pleasure which quickly faded as she re to have this kind of relationship with a man She wouldn’t be a woman that just sat around and waited to be noticed Waited to be remembered

“That’s nice,” Tally said striving to sound indifferent even as she added sugar to her coffee She wasn’t going to get excited about his return She wasn’t But as she carried the small cup to her lips her hand shook and the coffee was tasteless in her mouth

Food was just as bad Blah, bland, ht as well be cotton or sawdust And yet she forced herself to eat, forced herself to act nonchalant despite the wild beating of her heart

She wasn’t entirely surprised when his shadow stretched on her sun-drenched patio His huge shadow see as that first day she e horrible man

She’d never love him She wouldn’t

“Gooda chair out but not i

She didn’t knohat he expected A kiss? A war it “You’re back,” she said coolly, so to hide her flurry of hope, hurt and nerves

The corner of his ed and he sat down “I didn’t die, no”

Tally forced herself to take another bite of her sweet roll but it was nearly i suddenly a skill she hadn’t mastered

“Everything all right?” he asked, accepting a coffee from Leena

“Just dandy”

His lashes dropped, concealing his expression but not before Tally saw the glea At her

She clenched her jaw, anger building Who was he to laugh at her?

Tair suddenly looked up, into her eyes “What’s wrong? You’re fit to be tied”

She was She was having a fit if nothing else A fit of o to bed with soant man on earth