The Surrender of a Lady by Tiffany Clare Page A

grasped the girl’s arm before she left. “Thank you for the offer.”
    “I like you. You are kind—a little broken, but I think you’ll be fine in time. The rules are different here, but no one will cause you any harm.”
    “I don’t think I ever will find my way.”
    “You will. Give it time”—Maram chuckled and gave a shrug of her shoulder—“we have an abundance of that here.”
    There was no doubting the truth of the girl’s words, she thought as she watched Maram leave.
    With the affirmation that this was to be her life, Elena came to a series of conclusions. If she were adamant about doing this for her son, she would not be a martyr. That would make her miserable and kill a big piece of her spirit. How could she ever give her son a good, fulfilling childhood if she destroyed what spark of life was left within her?
    Accepting this fate meant taking what comforts this life might offer. Otherwise she’d spend the rest of her days shelled in a miserable husk. Her son deserved more. To grow up without bitterness, even here, in the life they’d landed haphazardly in.
    If she wanted her son to be happy, she’d make this situation work. She’d embrace this to the best of her abilities. No matter what she endured, she’d stay strong for Jonathan.

CHAPTER FIVE
    The Way of Life
    “It’s time to wake.”
    Her shoulder was nudged gently.
    “We have to go to the baths.”
    Elena rolled over on the divan and faced Laila. Covering a wide yawn, she rubbed at her tired eyes. “What do you mean, we go to the baths? We were in the baths last night, and for some hours.”
    “It does not matter. It is necessary here to follow all the customs.”
    She could probably argue with this woman until she was blue in the face. Besides that, she was too tired to squabble about anything. Sitting up, she gathered her hair on top her head and twisted it in a knot as best she could. What she’d give to get hold of some hairpins. “Where does Jonathan sleep?”
    Laila’s face lit up at the mention of her son.
    “He’s only across the courtyard.” Laila pointed out the open window. “In the room with the shutters blocked off. The air at night is not good for the baby.”
    “Will you take me to see him? I’d like to know the way.”
    “Of course.” Laila seemed surprised by the questions. “You can see your son whenever you are in the harem quarters. No one will keep you from him. Except when you are with Amir, or another lord. Those times will be spent in another part of the palace, which we call the ‘Pleasure Gardens.’ Your son will not be permitted in that section. Probably never.”
    Elena couldn’t agree more with such good sense. The fewer people who knew of her son the better; his reputation would stay intact.
    She’d almost forgotten about that part of the bargain. Not that it had been much of a bargain. It was a matter of choosing the lesser evil: accept the life of a harlot or stay in the slave quarters. She’d agreed to this place, this life.
    She followed her new friend through the corridors. Indeed, this was a new life.
    The man who had purchased her was not cruel. There was a whole harem of women who welcomed her as a sister. Above all, she’d been given her son when she’d thought him lost. But here she was, her spirit mending in the kindness offered by the other women, and open arms all around her.
    This time when they walked through the corridors Elena took in the surroundings to better remember her way around. Most of the walls were whitewashed. The floors afoot were great blocks of gray and tan stone. The way was simple to the baths. She attributed her earlier confusion to her fear when she’d arrived. So much had happened between her arrival yesterday and now. The weight that had constricted her spirit in the slave market seemed to have been chipped away overnight. Though she wouldn’t easily accept her owner, she would try as best she could to adjust to this place.
    That familiar choking