The Surrender of a Lady by Tiffany Clare Page B

wall of heat greeted her at the public bath, and then clutched around her as they stepped inside. There were women everywhere, unlike yesterday when it had been just her and Laila. Now slaves and mistresses milled about and lounged in groups around the pool; the stone fountains were built into the wall where a steady stream of water poured into the wide, low bases. All the women were in various states of dress and undress.
    Some lazed by the great pool in the center of the room or sat on upturned wooden baskets close to the walls. Slaves walked around with trays of food ranging from fruits to nuts to sweet pastries. Others carried linens and towels or pitchers, which must contain something to drink to stave off the heat in this insufferable place.
    Elena couldn’t imagine eating in here; she could barely swallow the saliva in her throat the air was so thick. Though something cool to drink would be welcome if she had to stay in here for any length of time. She turned to Laila, who had already stripped out of her robe and waited for Elena to do the same.
    Looking to the eunuchs and other nude women around the bath, Elena swallowed any argument she thought to make, and slipped out of the material that did little to hide her figure beneath anyway. A slave stood by and whisked her garments away. Elena crossed her arms over her bosom.
    “How will I end up in other lords’ company, Laila?” she asked as she stepped down into the pool, and hunkered beneath the water to better hide her nakedness.
    “You will not be expected to share relations with other men for your first year. Amir will train you in your duties first.” Laila leaned back, her elbows on the stairs of the pool. “And I will teach you some tricks he cannot.”
    “A year,” she parroted. She didn’t know what to think of that. She didn’t know what to think of any of this.
    “Sometimes he keeps us longer but usually not. He will parade you in front of the rich lords, in the Pleasure Gardens. Draw their interest to drive up your first bidding price.”
    “Bidding? So we are auctioned? No better than the slaves sold at market?”
    Laila chuckled. “Not like a slave market.”
    “Everything is so different here. So unlike anything I’ve ever known.” Elena shook her head, pulling the heavy mass of her hair over each shoulder. “There seems to be a lot of adjustments I must make. So much to accept when I’ve never been exposed to such an environment before.”
    “You will figure these things out soon enough. You are not used to this place, but I think in a week or so you will feel as though you have always lived here.”
    “Only time will tell.” Elena sighed as she combed her fingers through her hair.
    “Amir has given you a few days, yes?”
    Elena frowned. She’d been so frightened that most of Amir’s words had escaped her. “I believe he said a few days. I can’t quite recall. He fairly took me by surprise.”
    “I do not know why you are afraid to spend time with him. Has he not shown you kindness in giving your son back, reuniting the two of you?”
    “I suppose . . .” She shook her head, not knowing how to make Laila understand her plight. “You have to understand that I’ve never been exposed to any of this type of forwardness. We English are a little more—”
    “Prudish,” Laila supplied.
    Elena couldn’t help but smile back. Was she prudish? Most likely. Though it seemed insulting the way Laila said it. Never had she thought it anything but an essential trait of any well-bred English lady.
    “This is a different culture from the one you are used to. I do comprehend your plight, Elena. In time you will see that our way of life is a little more freeing than your old one. You can express yourself without fear of repercussion. No one will judge you for enjoying some of the things we indulge in.”
    “I should embrace my becoming a whore?”
    That word no longer held the venom it used to. It didn’t matter; the austerity of the