She kept looking around nervously, half expecting to see them going at it on one of the cosy sofas somewhere in the vast club. ‘Sorry, what did you... say?’ she looked at Justin, realising that he was looking at her expectantly – he’d clearly asked her a question. ‘I asked how come I haven’t seen you in here before?’ ‘Oh, erm, I’ve been erm, I’ve been busy, erm, well you know’ Alex trailed of lamely. ‘Sure, of course. Would you like another drink?’ ‘Actually, I was just waiting for my…’ Alex was. It only takes one look at the gleam in the their eyes to know Gina and Wendy feel it too.We climb the hillside under soaring pines, and smaller trees that I don’t recognize, until the path brings us next to one. The trunk is ancient, gnarly and twisted with young, egg-shaped fruit hanging from the branches. Olive trees.The scent of burning wood is on the breeze. Reflected firelight dances in the upper pine branches, and we hear the crackle of flames. Overhead, a stream of red embers floats. James," she added pensively, "this thing of yours, what Connie calls your 'fluence', it's hell on relationships, isn't it? Except yours, of course, James darling." H'm," I said. I supposed I ought to feel guilty that another love affair had bitten the dust on my account but somehow I could not muster the energy."Anyway," Fran went on, "Gabriella stayed in her room last night and Connie's miffed because she was going to have it. She didn't appreciate sleeping on the sofa, and she wanted to move. ”“I’m sorry, Master, I’ll tend to the horses in just a moment.”She was completely out of it. He scooped her up and carried her to the bed. He needed to make some medicine for her, but he couldn’t do it while she was crawling around like this. He took the blanket and tore off a long strip, then used it to tie her wrist to the bedframe. Restraining her was not an ideal solution, but at least the fabric wouldn’t leave a mark.A strange look appeared on Tin’s face as she looked from her wrist to.