9

Chapter 9

Tiernan came back to the suite earlier than his usual time that evening. Madison was still mulling over her afternoon tea and contemplating her place in the harem, so she was distracted when he entered.

He sighed harshly. “I thought you were moving past the silent treatment?”

She blinked. “Oh, sorry. I was lost in thought.”

“About what?”

None of your business. “Nothing important.”

He made a sound in his throat, but let the subject die. Instead, he handed her a small box. “Open it.”

She looked at the wooden box, admiring the carved hummingbird. “It’s pretty.”

“Open it,” he said again. He seemed to be reining in his excitement.

Was he that eager to be giving her a gift? Vowing to make a big production of whatever was in the box, she flipped the lid with her thumb. A genuine smile curved her lips as she touched the pretty necklace made from gold so shiny that it must have been purified and crafted before The End. The asymmetrical pendant had a pink stone in the middle, and she