Chapter Seventeen, One More Night
Posted by DiF on Saturday, March 2, 2013
Title: Dark Horse: Chapter Seventeen, One More Night
Rating: R [language, sexual situations]
Summary: George, Donovan, and Kanti have one more night to release Sitara before her father returns. Do they succeed?
No matter what George and Donovan said, Sitara could not be convinced to run away with them that night. She was ever grateful to be outside of her father’s walls once more, even if it had been quite the ordeal to slip her out. But she could not just walk away from everything she knew, even with George’s promise of giving her the world.
It was all too much, too suddenly.
So just before dawn, Sitara and Kanti climbed back over the stone fence. George pleaded with the dancing girl, asking her to remain with him. She resisted and disappeared from his sight. Yet she continued to meet with the two musicians nightly and Pattie during the day. Between the three foreigners, Sitara was nearly convinced to leave.
As the sun set on the final night before Sitara’s father was to return, George paced alone outside the stone fence. Donovan had jumped over, but had yet to return. Part of him was jealous, thinking the Scotsman was usurping his time with Sitara, but he remained where he was. They would both appear soon — he hoped.
Hearing the rustling of leaves, he stopped his pacing and looked up into the tree.
A grin lit his face, “Sita.”
She hopped down into his arms and quickly kissed him, “Evening, George.”
“Where are Donovan and Kanti?”
Her lips touched his once more, “I don’t think they will be joining us.”
“No?”
“She seemed to think I needed time alone with you,” she proclaimed.
“For?”
“I have no idea.”
George flashed her a smile, “Let’s walk.”
Sitara nodded, slipping her hand in his. Squeezing it gently, the musician turned away from the wall, leading her away. At this point, he was very familiar with her neighborhood and how to easily leave it. Sitara said nothing, letting him decide where they would go. It did not surprise her when he led her towards the vacant pink palace.
“Sitara,” he sat down on an ancient bench.
“George,” she smiled as she sat beside him.
“Our time is nearly up,” he softly pointed out, his thumb rubbing the back of her hand.
“The sun just barely set,” Sitara pointed out.
“That’s not what I mean.”
“What do you mean?”
George paused for a long moment, “Come with us, Sita.”
Without hesitation, she pulled her hand free from his, stood and walked away. Not entirely sure what that meant, George remained seated, watching her. She did not move far from him, but enough to look out through a small window cut in the stone wall. Her green eyes looked over her city, the only city she truly knew. He watched her body language, trying to discern what she was thinking. The lithe dancing girl gave him no clues. Yet he did not feel the need to demand anything from her.
Turning back to face George, but not returning to his side, Sitara spoke, “I can’t.”
“Why not?” he instantly asked, remaining seated.
“This is my home, George. This is the only thing I have ever known,” she declared.
“But, baby,” he slowly stood and approached her, “this so-called home wants to force you into sexual slavery.”
“No,” she shook her head. “It’s not like that.”
“It’s not? How can you say that? Your father is going to force you to marry your uncle because he believes you’re no longer a virgin. How is that right in any way, shape or form?”
“It’s not… It’s not. But I’ll convince him otherwise,” she proclaimed.
“Sita,” he reached for both hands, “how are you going to convince him of that when all he wants to do is lock you up and beat you right now?”
“I don’t know. But I can’t just leave.”
“Sita, this world, this place, has nothing for you.”
“It is everything I have ever known, George.”
His hands released hers, cupping her face, “The world is so much bigger, so much better than this cage here, Sita.”
“I can’t just leave, George. I can’t.”
His lips gently touched hers, “You have to, Sita.”
Slapping her hand over his mouth, Kanti stopped bouncing on top of Donovan. She glared at him and quickly pivoted off. With little pause, he pursued her, parted her legs, and thrust back into her. She bit her bottom lip to keeping from moaning, not wanting to alarm anyone in the house. While she was free to do whatever she pleased, within reason, Kanti knew if the house woke to investigate the sounds of her and Donovan coupling on the grass near the back wall, they would discover Sitara’s absence. That would make her seduction of Donovan pointless, as the chains around Sitara would become stronger.
“Tell me,” he muttered in her ear, “that you don’t love me fucking you.”
She merely arched up and wrapped her legs around his waist, “Stop talking.”
Feeling her squeeze around him, Donovan groaned softly. He kissed her once and thrust twice before his body shuddered in orgasm. She quickly pushed him away and squeezed. A soft whimper left his mouth as he watched his semen ooze out of her.
“Goddamn, Kanti,” he uttered, reaching for a cigarette in his discarded clothing. “You are so fucking hot.”
“I know,” she snatched the cigarette out of his lips and inhaled. “You’re not too shabby yourself.”
Donovan chuckled as she handed it back, “You haven’t given me any care or anything since we were in the ashram. What changed tonight?”
Kanti sat up and reached for her clothing, “You think you’re the only one getting some tonight?”
His brows rose, “Sita giving George some? I don’t believe that for a moment.”
“Suit yourself,” she stood up. “Get your clothes on. I’m going to need your help.”
“Doing what?”
“Getting Sita’s things out of here.”
He pulled his pants on, “Really?”
“Her father returns tomorrow. We all know she needs to be out of here before then. It is George’s task to convince her to leave with him. It is your task to help me gather up her things and get them out of here,” she claimed, heading towards the house.
“That’s not fair. Who are you to decide who does what?”
Kanti turned around, walking backwards, “Had we set you to convince her to leave tonight, you would have spent the whole time trying to convince her to snog with you instead.”
“I would n—”
“Says the man who just shagged me.”
He smirked and took a deep drag, “So we’re going to spirit Sita away tonight?”
“That is the plan.”
“And you?”
“Of course,” she responded before turning back around.
Donovan followed her through the backyard and into the house. Leading him to her quarters first, Kanti quickly threw items into a couple of canvas bags and thrust them into his hands. Chuckling, he adjusted them in his hands and followed her out of the room a few minutes later.
His eyes looked around the corridors, trying to see what kind of person Sitara’s father really was. Had he known anything about Indian art, he might have actually had answers to his questions. As it were, the paintings and sculptures did not mean anything to him. He did however notice when they passed through a doorway the decorations and furniture became more ornate. Had they just left the servants’ quarters and entered the rest of the house.
Before he had the chance to ask, Kanti pulled him through another door. He noticed another change in the décor. It became softer, more delicate. That had to indicate they were close to Sitara’s room.
“Right here,” Kanti spoke softly, opening a door.
As he stepped into the room, Kanti closing the door behind him, he truly felt as if he was in an Indian princess’s room. Even with only a single lamp on, he could see the richness of all the fabrics draping around the room. It turned him on slightly… more than slightly.
“Kanti…”
“Not now, Don,” she responded, pulling open two ornate doors on a large wardrobe. “Be of some help and hold open that empty bag.”
“Yes, dear,” he set the other one on the large, lush bed.
Kanti dropped clothing in the open bag, “We’re not fucking on Sita’s bed.”
“Why not?”
Her eyes met his, no emotion on her face.
“Please?”
“No.”
“But—”
“No,” she repeated, before returning to the wardrobe to grab more clothing.
He watched as she grabbed a few accessories and a framed photograph from the vanity. While he wanted to know who the image was of, he did not ask. He knew Kanti would just blow him off. If only she would blow him…
“Stop thinking about sex, Don,” she stated, heading towards the door.
“But this is the most beautiful room I’ve ever been in… And that bed…”
“No,” she tied the bag closed.
He pouted, pushing his bottom lip out as far as possible.
“Not happening,” she declared. “Come on. Let’s go.”
Sighing, he followed her out of the bedroom. His eyes glanced around the hall as they headed a different way than they had entered. She stopped at one point and pulled him into a vacant room. Her fingers touched his lips to silence his question as someone walked pass the open door. Nodding, he remained silent and followed her lead, slipping out the window of that room.
“That was close,” she muttered before leading him through the shadows of a courtyard.
He realized they were in the courtyard Sitara was confined to during their initial visits, “Kanti…”
“Yes?”
“Sita was locked in here.”
“Yes, she was.”
“It’s beautiful but…”
‘Yes,” she stopped at the iron gate. “It’s still a cage.”
“Do you think she’ll go?”
She carefully closed the gate, “I hope so. I really hope so.”
Strolling the echoing corridors of empty pink palace, Sitara turned over the positives and negatives of remaining in India. It really was everything she had ever known, other than the worlds of the books she read. And while she had always dreamt of getting away, of exploring the world, now that she was presented with the chance of doing so it was… terrifying. This was her life. This was her everything.
“George…”
Puffing on a cigarette, his eyes went to hers, “Yes?”
“If I… if I were to go with you…”
“Yes?” he dropped the cigarette and stepped on it.
“What would… what would happen to me?”
“That would be fully up to you. You would be free to decide what you want to do with your life, how you want to live it.”
“But… I could not… I do not have any money.”
He chuckled and touched her nose, “You do not need to worry about money, little one.”
“George, I cannot just depend on you for everything.”
“Of course you can. I would love to take care of you.”
She sighed, “I just… I just can’t, George. I can’t ask that of you.”
He leaned down and kissed her softly, “You do not need to ask anything of me. All I have, I eagerly give to you.”
“What of Pattie?”
“She adores you too.”
“I know, but…”
“Do not worry about her, beautiful. She would love you to come with us too.”
“George…”
His lips touched hers, “I love you, Sitara. Come away with us.”
Eyes closed, she sighed, “I just…”
“Come away with us.”
“George…”
“Tonight. We will go back to the hotel and then tomorrow morning, we will leave this town behind.”
Her eyes opened, “I will.”
His eyes brightened, “Really?”
She nodded slowly, “I will.”
George quickly embraced her, kissing her happily. Though she was not entirely sold on the idea, Sitara forced a smile. He squeezed her once more before turning to guide her out of the palace. With his arm around her waist and a smile plastered on his face, George headed out of the former harem. After pleading, promising, and kissing her all night, he finally managed to convince her to come home with him. The amazing light filling his soul practically made him float down the steps as they headed to the streets.
Normally they returned to her home, he would kiss her goodbye, and she would climb over the wall, slipping back into her cage. Though he had no way to inform Donovan and Kanti of the change of fortunes, George did not head that direction. As he was pretty familiar with the streets now, he easily changed their destination. Sitara did not protest.
As they reached the hotel where George, Pattie, and Donovan had rooms, Sitara hesitated. It was one thing to actually agree to something, it was completely different to be faced with her decision in reality. If someone were to see her heading into the hotel with the Brit, the rumors would be even more damaging to her reputation. She would probably never recover from it.
But then again, why did it matter? She was leaving Jaipur; she was leaving India all together. There was no reason she should not stroll through the main doors, on the arm of a very well-known foreigner, as the sky began to lighten with the first rays of the morning sun. She was going to be a modern woman, not an Indian princess. This was the first step in that direction.
“Sita?”
She nodded slightly, “I’m okay. Let’s go in.”
He quickly stole a kiss, “Okay, sweetheart. I am right with you.”
Taking a deep breath, she headed towards the large glass doors with George. He paused to open the door, his eyes sparkling as he glanced down at her. Her hand dropped from his as she entered the hotel, stepping to the side of the entrance as she did not know where to go. George’s fingers brushed hers before he headed towards the elevator.
He pressed the button before reaching for her hand. Flushing slightly as he squeezed it, Sitara’s green eyes remained glued to the floor. Though she had decided to become a modern woman, she did not have the courage to look up, to meet the eyes of the hotel workers in fear they would know her somehow.
The elevator doors opened and George hesitated to allow the passengers inside to step out. His heart stopped as he recognized the man.
“Sitara?”
Her eyes snapped up at her name. All color drained from her face. She instantly attempted to release George’s hand. He held onto her fingers tightly.
“I knew it,” the man hissed. “I knew it.”
“Father, I don’t—”
“Not a word. Not another word,” he snapped, grabbing her other hand and attempting to pull her away from the elevator.
“No,” George declared strongly. “You do not—”
“She is my daughter. You have no say in this matter,” he tugged, forcing Sitara’s hand from George’s grasp.
George quickly stepped in front of the elder man, “I think she has every say in the matter.”
“She does not. She is only seventeen.”
“She is a woman, not a slave to be bartered.”
“She is my daughter to with as I will.”
“She is no—”
Not liking how the two men seemed to be fighting over her, perhaps emboldened by the fact she was not within her father’s direct realm, Sitara interrupted, “Enough please.”
Both men turned to look at the lithe dancing girl. George grinned at her interruption; her father frowned slightly. She shifted her weight and dropped her eyes, suddenly uncomfortable with their direct attention.
However, she took a deep breath and softly spoke, “Father, I do not wish to be kept in a cage like some pet monkey. That is not a life for… anyone.”
He sighed, “Sitara, the world is not a kind place for a girl like you.”
“The world needs girls like her,” George interrupted.
“This is none of your concern,” Geoffrey quickly snapped.
“Father,” Sitara warned.
His eyes returned to his daughter, “We are going home.”
“She is no—”
Her eyes narrowed slightly, suddenly realizing something, “Father, why are you even in this hotel? You were supposed to be out of town.”
Not even missing a beat, he responded, “So that you can runaway again? I think not.”
“Father,” she did not waver, “why are you in this hotel?”
Rating: R [language, sexual situations]
Summary: George, Donovan, and Kanti have one more night to release Sitara before her father returns. Do they succeed?
No matter what George and Donovan said, Sitara could not be convinced to run away with them that night. She was ever grateful to be outside of her father’s walls once more, even if it had been quite the ordeal to slip her out. But she could not just walk away from everything she knew, even with George’s promise of giving her the world.
It was all too much, too suddenly.
So just before dawn, Sitara and Kanti climbed back over the stone fence. George pleaded with the dancing girl, asking her to remain with him. She resisted and disappeared from his sight. Yet she continued to meet with the two musicians nightly and Pattie during the day. Between the three foreigners, Sitara was nearly convinced to leave.
As the sun set on the final night before Sitara’s father was to return, George paced alone outside the stone fence. Donovan had jumped over, but had yet to return. Part of him was jealous, thinking the Scotsman was usurping his time with Sitara, but he remained where he was. They would both appear soon — he hoped.
Hearing the rustling of leaves, he stopped his pacing and looked up into the tree.
A grin lit his face, “Sita.”
She hopped down into his arms and quickly kissed him, “Evening, George.”
“Where are Donovan and Kanti?”
Her lips touched his once more, “I don’t think they will be joining us.”
“No?”
“She seemed to think I needed time alone with you,” she proclaimed.
“For?”
“I have no idea.”
George flashed her a smile, “Let’s walk.”
Sitara nodded, slipping her hand in his. Squeezing it gently, the musician turned away from the wall, leading her away. At this point, he was very familiar with her neighborhood and how to easily leave it. Sitara said nothing, letting him decide where they would go. It did not surprise her when he led her towards the vacant pink palace.
“Sitara,” he sat down on an ancient bench.
“George,” she smiled as she sat beside him.
“Our time is nearly up,” he softly pointed out, his thumb rubbing the back of her hand.
“The sun just barely set,” Sitara pointed out.
“That’s not what I mean.”
“What do you mean?”
George paused for a long moment, “Come with us, Sita.”
Without hesitation, she pulled her hand free from his, stood and walked away. Not entirely sure what that meant, George remained seated, watching her. She did not move far from him, but enough to look out through a small window cut in the stone wall. Her green eyes looked over her city, the only city she truly knew. He watched her body language, trying to discern what she was thinking. The lithe dancing girl gave him no clues. Yet he did not feel the need to demand anything from her.
Turning back to face George, but not returning to his side, Sitara spoke, “I can’t.”
“Why not?” he instantly asked, remaining seated.
“This is my home, George. This is the only thing I have ever known,” she declared.
“But, baby,” he slowly stood and approached her, “this so-called home wants to force you into sexual slavery.”
“No,” she shook her head. “It’s not like that.”
“It’s not? How can you say that? Your father is going to force you to marry your uncle because he believes you’re no longer a virgin. How is that right in any way, shape or form?”
“It’s not… It’s not. But I’ll convince him otherwise,” she proclaimed.
“Sita,” he reached for both hands, “how are you going to convince him of that when all he wants to do is lock you up and beat you right now?”
“I don’t know. But I can’t just leave.”
“Sita, this world, this place, has nothing for you.”
“It is everything I have ever known, George.”
His hands released hers, cupping her face, “The world is so much bigger, so much better than this cage here, Sita.”
“I can’t just leave, George. I can’t.”
His lips gently touched hers, “You have to, Sita.”
Slapping her hand over his mouth, Kanti stopped bouncing on top of Donovan. She glared at him and quickly pivoted off. With little pause, he pursued her, parted her legs, and thrust back into her. She bit her bottom lip to keeping from moaning, not wanting to alarm anyone in the house. While she was free to do whatever she pleased, within reason, Kanti knew if the house woke to investigate the sounds of her and Donovan coupling on the grass near the back wall, they would discover Sitara’s absence. That would make her seduction of Donovan pointless, as the chains around Sitara would become stronger.
“Tell me,” he muttered in her ear, “that you don’t love me fucking you.”
She merely arched up and wrapped her legs around his waist, “Stop talking.”
Feeling her squeeze around him, Donovan groaned softly. He kissed her once and thrust twice before his body shuddered in orgasm. She quickly pushed him away and squeezed. A soft whimper left his mouth as he watched his semen ooze out of her.
“Goddamn, Kanti,” he uttered, reaching for a cigarette in his discarded clothing. “You are so fucking hot.”
“I know,” she snatched the cigarette out of his lips and inhaled. “You’re not too shabby yourself.”
Donovan chuckled as she handed it back, “You haven’t given me any care or anything since we were in the ashram. What changed tonight?”
Kanti sat up and reached for her clothing, “You think you’re the only one getting some tonight?”
His brows rose, “Sita giving George some? I don’t believe that for a moment.”
“Suit yourself,” she stood up. “Get your clothes on. I’m going to need your help.”
“Doing what?”
“Getting Sita’s things out of here.”
He pulled his pants on, “Really?”
“Her father returns tomorrow. We all know she needs to be out of here before then. It is George’s task to convince her to leave with him. It is your task to help me gather up her things and get them out of here,” she claimed, heading towards the house.
“That’s not fair. Who are you to decide who does what?”
Kanti turned around, walking backwards, “Had we set you to convince her to leave tonight, you would have spent the whole time trying to convince her to snog with you instead.”
“I would n—”
“Says the man who just shagged me.”
He smirked and took a deep drag, “So we’re going to spirit Sita away tonight?”
“That is the plan.”
“And you?”
“Of course,” she responded before turning back around.
Donovan followed her through the backyard and into the house. Leading him to her quarters first, Kanti quickly threw items into a couple of canvas bags and thrust them into his hands. Chuckling, he adjusted them in his hands and followed her out of the room a few minutes later.
His eyes looked around the corridors, trying to see what kind of person Sitara’s father really was. Had he known anything about Indian art, he might have actually had answers to his questions. As it were, the paintings and sculptures did not mean anything to him. He did however notice when they passed through a doorway the decorations and furniture became more ornate. Had they just left the servants’ quarters and entered the rest of the house.
Before he had the chance to ask, Kanti pulled him through another door. He noticed another change in the décor. It became softer, more delicate. That had to indicate they were close to Sitara’s room.
“Right here,” Kanti spoke softly, opening a door.
As he stepped into the room, Kanti closing the door behind him, he truly felt as if he was in an Indian princess’s room. Even with only a single lamp on, he could see the richness of all the fabrics draping around the room. It turned him on slightly… more than slightly.
“Kanti…”
“Not now, Don,” she responded, pulling open two ornate doors on a large wardrobe. “Be of some help and hold open that empty bag.”
“Yes, dear,” he set the other one on the large, lush bed.
Kanti dropped clothing in the open bag, “We’re not fucking on Sita’s bed.”
“Why not?”
Her eyes met his, no emotion on her face.
“Please?”
“No.”
“But—”
“No,” she repeated, before returning to the wardrobe to grab more clothing.
He watched as she grabbed a few accessories and a framed photograph from the vanity. While he wanted to know who the image was of, he did not ask. He knew Kanti would just blow him off. If only she would blow him…
“Stop thinking about sex, Don,” she stated, heading towards the door.
“But this is the most beautiful room I’ve ever been in… And that bed…”
“No,” she tied the bag closed.
He pouted, pushing his bottom lip out as far as possible.
“Not happening,” she declared. “Come on. Let’s go.”
Sighing, he followed her out of the bedroom. His eyes glanced around the hall as they headed a different way than they had entered. She stopped at one point and pulled him into a vacant room. Her fingers touched his lips to silence his question as someone walked pass the open door. Nodding, he remained silent and followed her lead, slipping out the window of that room.
“That was close,” she muttered before leading him through the shadows of a courtyard.
He realized they were in the courtyard Sitara was confined to during their initial visits, “Kanti…”
“Yes?”
“Sita was locked in here.”
“Yes, she was.”
“It’s beautiful but…”
‘Yes,” she stopped at the iron gate. “It’s still a cage.”
“Do you think she’ll go?”
She carefully closed the gate, “I hope so. I really hope so.”
Strolling the echoing corridors of empty pink palace, Sitara turned over the positives and negatives of remaining in India. It really was everything she had ever known, other than the worlds of the books she read. And while she had always dreamt of getting away, of exploring the world, now that she was presented with the chance of doing so it was… terrifying. This was her life. This was her everything.
“George…”
Puffing on a cigarette, his eyes went to hers, “Yes?”
“If I… if I were to go with you…”
“Yes?” he dropped the cigarette and stepped on it.
“What would… what would happen to me?”
“That would be fully up to you. You would be free to decide what you want to do with your life, how you want to live it.”
“But… I could not… I do not have any money.”
He chuckled and touched her nose, “You do not need to worry about money, little one.”
“George, I cannot just depend on you for everything.”
“Of course you can. I would love to take care of you.”
She sighed, “I just… I just can’t, George. I can’t ask that of you.”
He leaned down and kissed her softly, “You do not need to ask anything of me. All I have, I eagerly give to you.”
“What of Pattie?”
“She adores you too.”
“I know, but…”
“Do not worry about her, beautiful. She would love you to come with us too.”
“George…”
His lips touched hers, “I love you, Sitara. Come away with us.”
Eyes closed, she sighed, “I just…”
“Come away with us.”
“George…”
“Tonight. We will go back to the hotel and then tomorrow morning, we will leave this town behind.”
Her eyes opened, “I will.”
His eyes brightened, “Really?”
She nodded slowly, “I will.”
George quickly embraced her, kissing her happily. Though she was not entirely sold on the idea, Sitara forced a smile. He squeezed her once more before turning to guide her out of the palace. With his arm around her waist and a smile plastered on his face, George headed out of the former harem. After pleading, promising, and kissing her all night, he finally managed to convince her to come home with him. The amazing light filling his soul practically made him float down the steps as they headed to the streets.
Normally they returned to her home, he would kiss her goodbye, and she would climb over the wall, slipping back into her cage. Though he had no way to inform Donovan and Kanti of the change of fortunes, George did not head that direction. As he was pretty familiar with the streets now, he easily changed their destination. Sitara did not protest.
As they reached the hotel where George, Pattie, and Donovan had rooms, Sitara hesitated. It was one thing to actually agree to something, it was completely different to be faced with her decision in reality. If someone were to see her heading into the hotel with the Brit, the rumors would be even more damaging to her reputation. She would probably never recover from it.
But then again, why did it matter? She was leaving Jaipur; she was leaving India all together. There was no reason she should not stroll through the main doors, on the arm of a very well-known foreigner, as the sky began to lighten with the first rays of the morning sun. She was going to be a modern woman, not an Indian princess. This was the first step in that direction.
“Sita?”
She nodded slightly, “I’m okay. Let’s go in.”
He quickly stole a kiss, “Okay, sweetheart. I am right with you.”
Taking a deep breath, she headed towards the large glass doors with George. He paused to open the door, his eyes sparkling as he glanced down at her. Her hand dropped from his as she entered the hotel, stepping to the side of the entrance as she did not know where to go. George’s fingers brushed hers before he headed towards the elevator.
He pressed the button before reaching for her hand. Flushing slightly as he squeezed it, Sitara’s green eyes remained glued to the floor. Though she had decided to become a modern woman, she did not have the courage to look up, to meet the eyes of the hotel workers in fear they would know her somehow.
The elevator doors opened and George hesitated to allow the passengers inside to step out. His heart stopped as he recognized the man.
“Sitara?”
Her eyes snapped up at her name. All color drained from her face. She instantly attempted to release George’s hand. He held onto her fingers tightly.
“I knew it,” the man hissed. “I knew it.”
“Father, I don’t—”
“Not a word. Not another word,” he snapped, grabbing her other hand and attempting to pull her away from the elevator.
“No,” George declared strongly. “You do not—”
“She is my daughter. You have no say in this matter,” he tugged, forcing Sitara’s hand from George’s grasp.
George quickly stepped in front of the elder man, “I think she has every say in the matter.”
“She does not. She is only seventeen.”
“She is a woman, not a slave to be bartered.”
“She is my daughter to with as I will.”
“She is no—”
Not liking how the two men seemed to be fighting over her, perhaps emboldened by the fact she was not within her father’s direct realm, Sitara interrupted, “Enough please.”
Both men turned to look at the lithe dancing girl. George grinned at her interruption; her father frowned slightly. She shifted her weight and dropped her eyes, suddenly uncomfortable with their direct attention.
However, she took a deep breath and softly spoke, “Father, I do not wish to be kept in a cage like some pet monkey. That is not a life for… anyone.”
He sighed, “Sitara, the world is not a kind place for a girl like you.”
“The world needs girls like her,” George interrupted.
“This is none of your concern,” Geoffrey quickly snapped.
“Father,” Sitara warned.
His eyes returned to his daughter, “We are going home.”
“She is no—”
Her eyes narrowed slightly, suddenly realizing something, “Father, why are you even in this hotel? You were supposed to be out of town.”
Not even missing a beat, he responded, “So that you can runaway again? I think not.”
“Father,” she did not waver, “why are you in this hotel?”
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