'I prefer to remember my father's blood.

'
'That's a ridiculous thing to say!'
He was suddenly so still that she knew she had overstepped the mark.
'II'm sorry,' she stumbled. 'I had no right to'
'Don't worry about it,' he said thinly. 'Women always let their tongues run away with
them. That is why one should never take them seriously.'
Anger swamped her, but she swallowed it back, glad when they were able to return to
the lounge for coffee.
Somewhat to her chagrin, Khalid excused himself from her side and moved to talk to
another of the guests; nor did he return to her side when his conversation was over.
Instead he joined a group of men and was soon so immersed that she knew he had
totally forgotten her. But that was the way he regarded women: as objects of passion
and
light entertainment, to be placed on a shelf when something more serious was at
hand.
However she did not lack companionship, though the man who offered it was not to
her taste, and she was relieved when his wife signalled him that it was time to depart.
This heralded everyone else's leavetaking, and Khalid joined his sister and brotherinlaw
in the hall as they said goodbye. Overtly Lorna studied him, noticing how
selfpossessed
he seemed, his bearing firm and authoritative.
'I think the evening was a great success,' Hassan remarked with satisfaction as the
family returned to the lounge.
'And so was Lorna,' Khalid added. 'She was the delight of all the men and the envy of
all the women.'