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The words were there in histo be said But words could be dishonest—even if you meant them They could open up all kinds of unrealistic expectations If he tried to explain how much she had come to mean to him then would that not tie her to him anyway—no matter howthe on with her life?

She saw the discomfiture on his face and jumped in to rescue the situation—or rather to rescue herself She had had more with him than any woman could have hoped to have, and she would ensure that he renity

‘It’s been wonderful Gorgeous It was a fine affair,’ she said softly ‘But now it’s over’

His eyes narrowed He had expected…what? That she ht indicate sos of dejection! His pride was hurt, yet his pain cas than pride He pushed them aith an instinct borne out of self-protection ‘You seem almost pleased about it,’ he observed coolly

‘Oh, Hashim,’ she said inise that it has to be, so what’s the alternative?’

Woed hi to hiht that Sienna ht do the same? For if she behaved like all the others, then wouldn’t that make it easier for hiht?

But there had never been another relationship like this one, he recognised Nor ever would be again His destiny would not allow it—for his flings and his freedohty doors of his royal prison aiting to clang shut on hient analysis then what good would it do him? Or her?

‘Come here,’ he said simply, and opened his arms

Sienna didn’t need to be told that this was the last ti kiss and caress His hands and his fingers see her for the first ti her farewell as they did so

‘Oh, Hashim,’ she said, in a choked kind of voice

‘Let us lie once more in that old bed,’ he whispered, and she nodded

He carried her up the rickety staircase towards the roo his head so as not to knock it on one of the dark beams, and put her down as carefully as if she had been a cherished and delicate piece of filagree

Their undressing was slow and silent, and as she sank back into feather pillows his dark body ht about how many couples had lain in this bed, like this How many children had been conceived—o lovers joined the the indefinable space between past and present For at what point did the present become the past?