Among the dead was her Markko, her betrothed. Desolate, unable to settle, dressed only in a shift and plain kirtle, she idly roamed the narrow, twisti...g streets her mind filled with visions of her lost love and concerns for the future. Many men would welcome the chance to bed her, marry her, breed from her, but how was she to find another who would love her? She turned a corner and blindly bumped into a stalwart man, ornately dressed in cloth of gold. Oh no! The Bastard Duke in person. She. ”“I agree, Joshua. You must call me Clara, also.”Patting her hand, Joshua replied, “A pleasure, Clara.As their conversation continued, Colonel Anderson led his guest through the front door of the headquarter building and into an interior plaza. This was a smaller version of the central plaza. Smaller and more private. In the center, a table and chairs had been set up. A pitcher of cold water with glasses stood in the center of the table. On the side table was a coffee and tea service.When. Aunty closed the door and glared at me. She did not say anything but silently pointed out to me the puddle formed by Ranjani's urine and my semen on the floor. It had not completely dried. She asked me "what is it?". I said "nothing — some water has fallen". Aunty brought a mopping cloth and wiped there. She said nothing and I felt very uneasy. I noticed her anger. She served my dinner wordlessly and even when I spoke out of necessity, she did not reply.In the night we were lying side by side. ‘I know. I have the perfect man. And I wish I could share him with you, but I’m so god damned jealous, I’d have to kill you right after.’ ‘No need for jealousy. Gilbert can’t see anyone else. He doesn’t know I exist outside of the fact that I’m your best friend. You have no need for any kind of jealousy.’ Penny had the relationship everyone wanted. Gilbert worshiped her. Kissed the ground she walked on. And had been doing it now for six years, so they were well out of the ‘early stages’ that.