“Not now, Felipe. It has been a long journey and I’m sure Maria and Zaybeth are exhausted and would like to freshen up before dinner. Come, Maria, let me show you and Zaybeth to your rooms.”
* * *
Francisca walked Zaybeth to her bedchamber. Inside, there was a tub filled with hot water and perfumed bath salts that filled the room with the aromatic, fresh scent of lilac and jasmine.
Zaybeth’s eyes lit up. She ran into the room, where chambermaids helped her out of her dress.
Maria turned to Francisca. “Zaybeth and I had to leave with just the clothes on backs, we don’t have—”
“Not to worry. I have a couple of dresses you can borrow. I took the liberty of having a dress made for Zaybeth. I hope I guessed the right size. Tomorrow we can go into the city, and my seamstress will properly fit the both of you.”
“But I have no money to pay—”
“Nonsense, Maria, we are like sisters. I just thank God you and Zaybeth are alive. Enjoy your bath, Zaybeth. Dinner will be served in an hour on the patio.”
“Gracias, Señora de Hayos,” Zaybeth said.
Next, Francisca escorted Maria to her bedchamber, which was just down the hall from Zaybeth’s room. The ladies entered the room. Maria stopped walking.
“Oh, Francisca it was awful. I was trapped in a terrible marriage to that dreadful man, Roberto. He would beat me and the children. He always suspected Zaybeth was not his, with her red hair and all. She looked nothing like her two brothers.” Maria burst into a flood of tears while resting her head on Francisca’s shoulder.
Maria sniffled, rubbing tears from her eyes.
“Ely loved me, you know. He never married. I suppose he was waiting on me to leave Roberto, all those years. Finally, the abuse got so bad, I knew I had to leave my husband. Ely and I met in secret. We came up with a plan for me and the children to escape. I knew Roberto had important meeting scheduled early Monday morning, so Ely waited for him to leave.
“The children and I were ready when Ely’s carriage arrived. By the time we reached the carriage, Roberto had stabbed my beloved in the heart. Ely died in my arms. Odd thing, just weeks earlier, Ely had told me about a strange dream he had, in which he was killed.” Maria paused as she swallowed back tears.
“After my husband murdered my lover, he still had rage in his eyes and turned his blood-soaked sword on me. If it wasn’t for my eldest son, David, punching his father square in the jaw and knocking him to the ground, Roberto would have killed me.
“David pinned his father to the ground and told me to run. I grabbed Zaybeth’s arm and we fled on foot, never looking back. I was too afraid to look back. All I could hear was Roberto yelling that he would kill us.” Maria put her hand to her mouth. “Oh, God, I will never be able to see my sons ever again.”
Francisca gave Maria a hug.
* * *
Zaybeth’s stomach growled loudly, as her mouth began to salivate at generous, heaping portions of meats, fish, vegetables and breads the servants piled high on her plate. Tapping her feet anxiously in anticipation, she couldn’t wait until wait Tomás finished saying grace. Francisca and several servants gasped as Zaybeth attacked her food like a voracious wild animal. She managed to wolf down the heaping piles of food with just a few, huge bites, barely chewing her food.
Someone was clearing their throat, but Zaybeth was too hungry to look up from her food.
Forgoing the silverware in front of her, Zaybeth used her fingers to stuff her mouth with thick slices of ham, roasted pork, and chicken. She stuffed her mouth with as much food as she could fit, licking her fingers. Zaybeth rubbed her greasy, fingers on her dress. Food crumbs gathered at the corners of her mouth. The month-long journey on the road, hiding without a proper meal made Zaybeth forget her impeccable table manners. She stopped momentarily to reach for a cup of cider. She took a long sip and burped loudly.
The younger brother burst out laughing, and his mother swatted at the boy. Alejandro ducked, allowing his mother’s hand to miss hitting him. Zaybeth grinned, but the frown on Tomás’ brow made Alejandro straighten up in his chair, suppressing his laughter.
The older brother, Felipe, however, did not share in his brother’s laughter. Instead, he looked sympathetically at Zaybeth and simply held up his knife and fork.
Zaybeth looked into Felipe’s eyes and quickly looked down with embarrassment. She sank into her chair, allowing her curly red mane to cover her face. Gently Zaybeth wiped the corners of her mouth with her napkin. She glanced over at her unused silverware and picked up the knife and fork, taking smaller bites of food and chewing her food in a lady-like fashion.
* * *
Zaybeth adjusted her dress several times, making it obvious to Francisca that the garment was too big for her.
After dinner, Francisca noticed Tomás signaling her.
“Well, goodnight, Maria, I’ll check on you and Zaybeth in the morning.”
* * *
Francisca took her husband’s by arm. The couple strolled through the lush, gardens, lined with palm trees and framed with fountains.
As Francisca admired the beautiful marble statues, Tomás also admired something, Francisca. She was a timeless beauty, tall, and slender. Her flawless complexion was a creamy ivory. She had a round-shaped face dominated by somber, deep-set blue eyes and high cheek bones. She wore her blonde hair in a modest upsweep, held together by an ornate, jeweled clamp. Tomás was always attracted to her long prominent neck, which her upswept hair made more noticeable.
“Tomás,” Francisca said, breaking the silence. “Don’t you think you were a little harsh on Felipe today? He’s a good boy and will one day follow in your footsteps as a statesman.”
“If I have anything to say about it, he will. I’m telling you, Francisca, bringing Maria into this house is a mistake. What will the Church say? We could be excommunicated.”
“What would you have me do? Maria is my best friend. She’s like a sister to me. I couldn’t let her and Zaybeth perish in the streets, running for their lives, now could I?” she asked. Looking up at soldiers positioned in the guard tower. “Besides, they are well protected here.” Francisca cast her eyes back to her husband, batting her eye lashes.
One look into his wife’s eyes and Tomás could feel himself giving in. He looked away, scratching at his chin. “Well, I want Maria and her bastard child out of here as soon as possible.”
“Tomás, her family has shunned her, they have no place to go.”
“Francisca, I have a reputation to uphold. I am a statesman. If anyone suspects I’m harboring an adulteress in my home, there would be a scandal.”
“Oh, you’re overreacting. Your reputation isn’t at stake. You hate Maria. Why don’t you just admit it? You’ve always despised her. You quarreled with me when I announced she was going to be one of my bridesmaids.”
Tomás stopped walking. He turned, holding his wife’s hands in his. “I don’t hate Maria. I hate her father. As you may recall, he double-crossed my father on a land deal and put him in an early grave.” Tomás stared deep into Francisca’s eyes. “All right, as a favor to you, I agree to allow them stay here. I shall keep my promise just as long as Maria and...”
“Zaybeth, darling, Maria’s daughter’s name is Zaybeth.”
“I’ve never heard of such a name. Look, Francisca, I do not want you filling Felipe’s head with any absurd notions of him marrying Zaybeth or anyone else for that matter. Do I make myself clear?”
“Tomás, Felipe had no idea know what he was saying.”
“I am sure Abraham Al-Salameh would be relieved to hear that. Francisca, I’m holding you personally responsible. It is your job to keep Felipe and Zaybeth apart. I do not want anything jeopardizing my reputation or my arrangement with Abraham.”
“Tomás, you are so worried about your precious reputation, yet you are willing to marry our sons off to Moors.”
“Francisca, my love, this is different. This is about gold. I’ve spent years
befriending Abraham and Nashiema, earning their trust and ensuring I would become Abraham’s partner in the gold trade. The way I figure, I will only need to stay in politics a couple of years after Felipe and Alejandro marry Lilith and Sarah. Then, you and I shall retire on a bed made of gold,” he said smiling. “Besides, Abraham and his family are white Moors, bred from nobility. Blending bloodlines with them would be much more acceptable than black Moors—mere slaves.”
“Well, let us pray Abraham’s daughters are alive and well, or you may have to look elsewhere for brides for our sons. Last I heard from Nashiema, Lilith and Sarah were gravely ill.”
ALLIANCES
Granada, Spain at the Palacio del Oro.
Abraham paced the floor of the lavish sitting room, scratching his bushy beard, avoiding Nashiema’s judgmental looks as she sat in her high-back wicker chair. His colorful, silk robe made a swooshing sound with each nervous step and pivot.
“Abraham, I cannot believe you went behind my back,” Nashiema said. “You were supposed to send word to Tomás and Francisca that Sarah succumbed to the fever and Lilith was recovering. Not rush Lilith’s and Felipe’s marriage! I thought we agreed they would wed in the spring or the summer next year?”
“Nashiema, we need this alliance. The Spaniards are growing suspicious of anyone who is not a Christian. They hate the Jews. Remember two years ago in Toledo, there was violence against the Conversos who were in royal service and they were excluded from public office in the city—accused of practicing their religion in secret. I fear this hostility and mistrust will soon be turned toward Moors.”
“We do not need Tomás and his political protection. Lilith is an immortal. Her powers can protect us,” Nashiema asserted.
Abraham stopped pacing and turned to Nashiema. “It may not be the will of Saturn to grant us protection against these uprisings.”
“Do you think it is wise to give Tomás rights to both our goldmines as part of Lilith’s dowry? The original agreement was a partnership, not ownership.”
“Nashiema, we promised him not one, but two brides, one for each of his sons. Now that Sarah is dead, Tomás may back out of our arrangement.”
“So let him. You know why Tomás befriended us in the first place, don’t you?”
“I knew what Tomás was up to eighteen years ago when we first met at the port in Seville. I had just returned to Spain after being in Eastern Africa for six months. When Tomás overhead I was a gold merchant, his eyes lit up. The next thing I knew, we were dining together at a nearby tavern. I was surprised that a man of Tomás’ prominence was so interested in me,” he paused.
“After all, he did not seem the type of a man who would strike up a conversation with a Moor. But I am just as guilty as Tomás. When I learned he was a statesman and he had an infant son, I sought an alliance between our families. I agreed to betroth Lilith to Felipe. Tomás wanted gold and I wanted political protection for our family. It was the perfect arrangement.”
“Well, I think we should call the whole thing off. Everything has changed. Lilith is different now, she’s an immortal. Perhaps Father Saturn has chosen another mate for her.”
“Nashiema, from the moment Lilith saw Felipe’s portrait in that locket, she was in love with him. Saturn will not deny HIS Elidaelohim her heart’s desire,” he said.
“But, the Elidaelohim doesn’t desire Felipe. Lilith desires him,” she said, lifting a sharp eyebrow.
Abraham turned to his wife. “Nashiema, we must respect our daughter’s wishes.”
“Yes, but Andalusia is ruled by Moors. Felipe does not understand our people or our culture.”
“So, we will teach him. Lilith will teach him—”
“But what about our faith, Abraham? Not every Moor worships Saturn. That’s why we have kept it a secret from our friends and neighbors. When do you plan on telling Tomás the truth about our religion and Lilith?”
“We will tell Tomás nothing.”
“What about Felipe? He will have to be told,” Nashiema shot back.
“We will leave that up to Lilith.”
“What if Felipe rejects Father Saturn?”
Abraham leaned down and embraced his wife. “How can he, when his wife is Saturn’s Elidaelohim? Felipe will have no choice but to accept our ways, and if I know Lilith, she will see to it.”
“When do you expect to hear back from Tomás?”
“We should receive a reply back in a couple of days.”
PERSONAL SANCTUARY
The next morning at the de Hayos estate.
Felipe heard his father’s booming voice echoing in the hallway and footsteps outside his bedroom door. A hard knock before the door swung open. Felipe looked up and breathed a sigh of relief, it was his mother standing there with Zaybeth in the hall.
“Felipe, could you please show Zaybeth to the breakfast terrace? Maria and I will join you shortly,” Francisca said.
Felipe turned to Zaybeth and held out his hand. She wrapped her hand in his and he guided her down the hall and around a corner. They walked up a couple of steps, which led out into an elaborate stone and wrought iron balcony outside a second-story parlor. The stone balcony was framed by ornate trelliswork and overlooked a great flowing fountain, embellished with colorful flowers.
“Hey, wait up!” Alejandro said, running down the hall, trying to catch up to his brother and Zaybeth.
Moments later, Francisca and Maria strolled onto terrace.
Tomás stood and greeted his wife with a peck on the cheek. “Ah, darling, what kept you?” Tomás pulled out a chair for Francisca while a servant escorted Maria to her chair. Tomás looked over at Maria. “I trust you and Zaybeth slept well,” he said out of courtesy.
“Yes, we did, Tomás. Thank you.”
“Darling,” Francisca said touching her husband’s arm. “If it is all right with you, dear, Maria, Zaybeth, and I would like to go into the city today. The poor darlings are in desperate need of clothing. I am employing my seamstress to make some dresses for them.”
Tomás’ eyes narrowed. “And how much will this cost me?” he said, under his breath, giving a strained smile.
“Not much, dear,” Francisca said, dipping a piece of bread in olive oil mixed with spices and quietly sipped on her coffee.
“Yes, of course. I’ll have a few soldiers escort you.”
“Mother, may I go with you today?” Felipe asked.
“Felipe, a seamstress shop is no place for a young man.”
“Your mother is right, Felipe. You will stay here with me today. I have the first of many lessons in fine wine to teach you starting this afternoon.”
A loud commotion at the front gate startled Maria. She jumped up from the table. With fear in her eyes, she reached for Zaybeth. “Oh, God, it’s Roberto!”
Tomás turned to Maria. “You and Zaybeth go inside!” he said, standing and drawing his sword.
The commotion at the front gate continued as soldiers interrogated a detainee. The disturbance grew louder and louder followed by a moment of dead silence.
Fear gripped Francisca’s throat as she stood up. “Felipe, Alejandro, go inside,” she said, drawing a dagger from a leg holster.
The boys stood, looking at each other confused.
“I said, now!”
Felipe grabbed Alejandro’s hand and dashed inside the manor.
A lone, black-clad man on horseback galloped fast, approaching the courtyard into full view of the terrace.
Tomás eased his sword back in its scabbard, while Francisca placed her dagger in its holster.
“I have a most urgent message for Señor de Hayos,” the messenger said, dismounting from his horse.
Tomás waved to guards to allow the messenger up to the terrace. He took the letter from the rider and read it silently, occasionally mumbling to himself. Tomás looked up and his gaze caught Francisca’s anxious eyes. His face reddened.
“Tomás, what is it?”
“It’s from Abraham and Nashiema, Sara
h, their youngest daughter, has died.”
“Oh, God! What about Lilith?”
“Lilith’s fever broke. She is expected to make a full recovery.”
“Well, at least there is some comfort. I, too, know the pain Nashiema must be feeling. The pain of losing a child...” Francisca, overwhelmed by emotions could not speak any further.
Tomás cradled his wife in his arms, kissing her on her forehead. “It is all in the past. Our beloved daughter, Victoria, is with God.”
“I know, but I almost lost Alejandro as well, and now I am unable to...” her words dropped under the weight of her emotions. She sat down, sobbing.
Tomás continued reading the letter. “Sarah has been laid to rest. Abraham and his family want to come for a visit.”
“A visit? So soon? Why Sarah is barely cold.”
“Abraham says it is most urgent, it’s regarding the terms of Lilith’s dowry. He had better not try and get out of our arrangement.”
“Tomás, this is no time to be thinking about gold. Abraham and Nashiema just lost their daughter, for God’s sake. We should be giving them our condolences.”
Tomás cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck. “Quite right, my love, I should be thinking about their grief.” Tomás finished reading the letter. He looked up smiling. “Francisca, Abraham wants Lilith and Felipe to wed this October.”
“October? What’s the rush? We planned on them getting married next year. October is too soon. We will need time to send out invitations, there’s the food... Oh, Tomás.”
“Calm down, my love. We have plenty of time to make all the necessary arrangements,” Tomás said, wrapping his arms around his wife. “Francisca, promise you won’t say a word to Felipe. We will tell him once everything is in place.” Tomás waved to the messenger. “Tell Señor Al-Salameh we will be looking forward to their arrival.”
Alejandro and Felipe walked onto the terrace.
“Mama, is it safe?” Alejandro asked.
“Yes, Alejandro.”
Eye of Saturn (The Daughters of Saturn Book 1) Page 5