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Being ent of the household took charge

‘I wonder what is wrong with her,’ Rashad said tautly

‘I wonder what our excitable croill uards used his phone in the lift I frowned at him He should have desisted immediately What kind of discipline have we here when even thea part in thishimself up into a rant

‘She was so pale I should have realised it wasn’t natural for her to be that pale,’ Rashad breathed as if his adviser hadn’t spoken

Minutes later, Dr Wasem joined them ‘Heatstroke,’ he pronounced with a hint of satisfaction at the speed of his diagnosis ‘Noruest be taken to hospital but I am aware of the current mood in our city The women will ensure that she is rapidly cooled down and rehydrated I wonder whose idea it was to take a wo the hottest part of the day? Even our constitutions are taxed in such temperatures as we have in summer’

A slight flare of colour outlined Rashad’s stunning cheekbones Sunstroke

‘That is serious—’

‘Not as serious as what I have to tell you,’ Hakim whispered once the doctor turned away to reel off further instructions to the cluster of women at the bedroom door

With difficulty, Rashad rose above the guilt he was experiencing because sunstroke could be very serious and his guest could have had a fit, convulsions or even a heart attack if her temperature were not speedily reduced He was appalled by his own thoughtlessness ‘And what is that?’

‘Our guest may say she is called Polly but the naed in an even lower-pitched whisper

‘But that is…that is randmother’s name It is rarely used,’ Rashad framed in shock, for the name was not used in Dharia out of respect for his ancestor’s memory ‘How can her birth name be Zariyah?’

‘My suspicions have taken o,’ Haki and her use of that name for her child, added to her unexplained disa

ppearance all those years ago, deeply concerns me…’

‘It is not possible that she could be a relative!’ Rashad protested with rare vehemence

‘With the ti with pretty woriuest could be your half-sister’