Brothers (Love Inspired Large Print) by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780764281440
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Published: 1997-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Four

He cursed until he could think of no more vile words to say, then he paced from wall to wall until he thought he would go mad with frustration. The sun set, the sounds and activities of the vizier’s house faded into the quiet lull of nighttime. Shim’on kept an eye on the door, sure that Mandisa would send Tarik to rebuke or punish him, but no one came to his chamber, no one moved in the hallway beyond.

When night had completely covered the villa, he stretched out on the too-short bed and closed his eyes. He slid into a thin doze, but the sound of the bolt sliding from its brackets brought him instantly awake.

His eyes flew open as anger and anxiety knotted inside him. Had Mandisa changed her mind? He wouldn’t have her now, not for all the silver and gold in Pharaoh’s treasure tomb. But Mandisa wouldn’t come to him in the night; this had to be Tarik, ready to punish Shim’on for affronting one of the vizier’s servants.

His hand closed around the makeshift dagger. In one agile move, he rolled from the bed and leaped to his feet. Despite his fears, he felt a hot and awful joy at the prospect of confronting his enemy and proving himself.

His chest felt as if it would burst as the door swung open. He held his breath, expecting to see the captain’s compact, muscled figure in the torchlight, but a woman stood in the doorway, draped in concealing veils.

The voice was unmistakable. “Did you think I would not come so soon?” Tizara purred.

Shim’on cleared his throat as sanity and calm returned to his fevered brain. “I did not expect you tonight.”

“After the madness of your afternoon, I expect you did not,” she answered, her dark eyes shining from beneath a veil. She lifted it with two hands and gave him a frankly admiring glance. “And I thought, Shim’on, that you burned for me alone.”

“Did the entire house hear?”

Even the smile in her eyes contained a sensuous flame. “None heard but me. I was lingering beneath your window in hope of forewarning you that I would come tonight. I heard everything, but Mandisa has said nothing to the others.”

Shim’on nodded, mollified. At least he would not be leaving Mandisa to face the humiliation of public shame—not that he cared, in any case. But for Adom’s sake, it would be better if the household did not hear what had happened between Shim’on and his mother.

Tizara tilted her head, and her smile took on a mischievous aspect. “That gossipy old steward tells me you have twice been married, Shim’on, so I marvel that you know so little of the softer sex. Did neither of your wives tell you that the joining of a man and woman has little to do with love?” One dark eyebrow slanted upward as she finished in a dry voice. “Trust me, I know about these things.”

“Women—” Shim’on clenched his jaw “—are foolish, and there is no pleasing them.

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