“You can be doubly rude tomorrow to make up for it then,” Zafir said. “I deserve it.”
“Why are you more tolerable at night than you are during the day?”
Zafir paused as he unfolded the cot. “I didn’t realize there was such a difference in my behavior. There, that should do it.”
“Thank you.”
“Manners from you? What, are you more tolerable at night as well?” Zafir lay back down on his bed.
“As I matter of fact, I am. I tend to use up all my venom during the day so I’m worn out by night. Don’t worry; I’ll be back to my normal self in the morning.”
“As long as you manage to be charming around Julian, you can save your venom for me.”
I grinned into my pillow. “That sounds like a wonderful idea.”
Zafir yawned so widely that I heard his jaw crack.
“Good night, Zafir.”
“Good night, little viper.”
CHAPTER 14
Zafir woke up before me the next morning and was at his desk when I went to find him. True to his word, he had reverted back to his unfeeling, unexpressive tone of voice, complete with lack of facial expressions and the brusque manner in which he treated me.
“You’ll need to get ready early so we can begin lessons. We don’t know if or when Julian will turn up to issue you an invitation and you need to be prepared. He usually sleeps in, but not always,” he told me impassively when I entered his study. He barely even looked up from his notes. “Show me what you plan to wear before you put it on; I don’t want you to pick poorly again.”
“So much for the nice, nighttime Zafir,” I muttered under my breath.
His eyes darted over to the empty flask sitting on the desk next to him then he stiffened. “I wasn’t aware there was such a profound difference.”
“Okay, sure,” I said, going to the wardrobe and thumbing through. “I should find something extra flattering before I go see him,” I mused aloud. “I need something to get hisattention.” From the wardrobe’s depths, I pulled out flowing scarlet pants with a tight, matching top that was almost too small to be considered outerwear. There was barely enough fabric to earn the nameclothing. “This should work.”
“Absolutely not.” Zafir came up behind me.
“What, do you think something like this would be too distracting?” I asked, waving the outfit in front of his nose.
“Very much so.”
“Perfect. I want him to be distracted by me.”
“No, no. You have this seduction thing all wrong, and besides, a duchess would never wear such a thing. A man attracted with only his eyes will be just as easily distracted by the next beautiful girl. You need a man who is loyal and faithful.”
“But you made it sound like Julian is neither loyal nor faithful.”
“Which is true.”
“Then I only need to charm him for a short period of time, right? I don’t need his loyalty. This is a temporary arrangement until he gives us the money for the voyage, so this is perfect to wear.”
Zafir’s jaw locked. He must have already shaved that morning—there wasn’t any stubble coming in around his meticulously trimmed goatee. “I won’t allow it.”
I bristled. “You can’t tell me what I can and can’t wear!”
“I just did.” He snatched the outfit away.
I yanked it back and tried to hold it out of reach. “You can try but I won’t listen. Besides, I won’t get overheated in this. It’s boiling hot outside.”
Zafir, who was a great deal taller than me and had much longer arms, grabbed it and twisted the outfit out of my grip, then threw it back into the wardrobe. “No. I forbid it.” He slammed the wardrobe door and bopped the handle withhis fist before addressing the wardrobe directly. “What were you thinking, giving her something like that? Pick something for her that won’t make men drool!”
