by Anne Herries
understand—questions about women who had disappeared and
others who had lain with two of the Janissaries. Since Suleiman
others who had lain with two of the Janissaries. Since Suleiman
had neither accused nor punished her, merely sending her back
to the harem, she believed that he knew nothing of her treachery.
She had been told nothing of Abu having been condemned to
the galeys, nor of his escape and subsequent treachery—nor of
his death. Had Fatima been aware of these things, she might
have feared for her own life, but on Suleiman’s orders no one
had told her. No whispers had reached her ears concerning
these matters. In her vanity and ignorance, she stil believed that
she had only to be patient and her lord would turn to her again—
once Eleanor had been disposed of.
But how was she to achieve this desirable end? Poisons were
uncertain, and did not always bring death; besides, without
Abu’s help they were difficult to come by. Fatima wanted
another way, one that would make certain Eleanor died.
She must act soon, while Karin was stil tied to her bed.
Karin suspected her; Fatima knew that the older woman had
heard the inevitable whispers concerning her. She had no proof,
of course. Had the proof been there, Karin would surely have
taken her suspicions to Suleiman.
She must kil Eleanor herself. It was a risk because she would
surely be put to death herself if her crime were discovered.
Fatima would have hesitated to take such a step if Dinazade had
not brought the news that Eleanor was to become the lord
Suleiman’s wife. Always before, she had watched as Abu
punished the women who displeased her—and she had smiled at
her own power. She had not needed to soil her own hands, but
her own power. She had not needed to soil her own hands, but
things had changed.
She did not know why Abu had not come to her in the
gardens as she had asked. They had plotted the meeting
between Eleanor and her brother together and their plan had
failed, for the Englishwoman went unpunished. It was very odd
that she had heard no word of Abu since then…a little tingle of
fear went down Fatima’s spine.
Had Abu been punished for the part he played in that
masquerade—and had he betrayed Fatima? She knew that there
were fearful tortures that might cause a man to reveal anything in
his agony, but if that were so something would have happened
before this. She would surely have been punished if Suleiman
suspected her of betraying him.
She must make him want her again. He was bewitched by
that golden-haired sorceress! Once she was dead, Suleiman
would turn to her again. Fatima would wait no longer. Tonight,
Eleanor must die!
Suleiman was studying his manuscripts when the eunuch
approached. He turned to look at him, his gaze narrowed, his
thoughts with the friend who now lay at death’s door after a
festering lump had been removed from his side by the surgeon’s
knife. It seemed that al their efforts to save him might be in vain, though the physicians, at first reluctant to try the poultice Eleanor had written of, were about to apply it that night. Suleiman prayed
that this last might be effective.
that this last might be effective.
‘Yes?’ he asked, brows raised at this intrusion by the eunuch.
‘Does the Caliph send for me?’
‘No, my lord. The Englishwoman asks if she might speak with
you.’
‘Eleanor?’ Suleiman frowned. It was unusual for such a
request to be brought to him by the eunuch. ‘Ah, yes, I
remember that Karin is il. You may bring my lady to me.’
He turned back to his manuscripts as the eunuch left, and then
he felt the touch of a hand on his arm and he swung round to
look at Eleanor, his eyes going over her hungrily.
‘Forgive me for the intrusion, my lord. I have been to visit
Karin, and I asked if I might see you for a moment before
returning to the harem.’
‘Yes, I understand. You are worried for her. The physicians
tel me she may have eaten something that was poisonous—but
fortunately the dose was not lethal. They tel me she wil live.’
‘Yes, my lord, thanks to your prompt action in sending your
physician to her.’
‘Of course it was done. Karin is a good woman, I respect her
and would not wish her to die from any neglect.’
‘I realise that, my lord.’ Eleanor took a deep breath. ‘I
wished to tel you…to tel you that I have come to realise many
things.’
‘Have you, my lady?’ Suleiman took her hand and led her to
one of the divans, indicating that she should sit beside him. ‘And
they are so important that they could not wait a few days?’ His
eyes reflected amusement. ‘This interest me greatly, Eleanor.
eyes reflected amusement. ‘This interest me greatly, Eleanor.
Pray continue.’
‘My lord chooses to mock me,’ Eleanor said and blushed.
‘And perhaps I deserve that—for I have been foolish.’
‘You admit your foly?’
Her blush deepened to a fiery red. ‘It is difficult for me to
admit, my lord, but I do. I was wrong to resist my destiny. We
are bound together—the stars have foretold it and I know it in
my heart. My lord told me to look into my heart and I have done
so. I know that it is my destiny and my duty to be your wife.’
Suleiman frowned. ‘Why your duty, Eleanor?’
‘Karin told me she believed I could bring change to the
harem, my lord. She said that it would be for good or evil and
that it lay in my hands—and I fear that it may be because of me
that—’
‘You think that someone may deliberately have tried to kil
her?’
Eleanor remembered Karin’s warning and her eyes fel before
his piercing gaze. ‘I do not know how that may be, my lord. It
may be that she ate something that she ought not by accident. I
did not come here to accuse anyone.’
‘But you came with some purpose in mind?’
‘Yes, my lord.’ Eleanor looked up, her eyes meeting his
steadily. ‘I came to beg your pardon for being so foolish when
you told me of your intention to make me your wife. And to tel
you that I should be honoured if that was stil in your mind.’
‘Did you think I had forgotten?’ Suleiman’s mouth curved in
amusement. ‘I could do nothing until Karin is better. She has
amusement. ‘I could do nothing until Karin is better. She has
charge of the women and it is for her to break the news and
make the arrangements for the wedding. Customs must be
observed, however impatient we may be, my lady. A wedding
cannot be arranged overnight—there are many things needful to
be done.’
‘Yes, my lord.’ Eleanor took a deep breath. ‘I understand
that we must talk of these things—matters of religion and
custom. But my lord asked me which of the other women I
would like to keep with me—and therefore who should be sent
away. I
shal consult with the others once the announcement is
made as to who would be happy to stay—but I have a
request…’
‘You want one of the women sent away?’ Suleiman raised his
brows, guessing her intent.
‘Yes, my lord. I bear her no il wil, nor do I want her to
suffer—but I think it would be more comfortable for everyone if
Fatima were to be sent to her home.’
‘Fatima?’ Suleiman looked at her, eyes narrowed. ‘Wil you
tel me the reason for your request?’
‘I have no reason, my lord—other than that she does not like
me.’
Suleiman nodded. ‘Yes, I see. It shal be done once the
announcement has been made. Do you think you can be patient
until then?’
Eleanor hesitated, but if she told Suleiman the whole truth he
might punish Fatima, and neither she nor Karin wanted that.
might punish Fatima, and neither she nor Karin wanted that.
‘Yes, my lord. I am content that she should remain for the
moment.’
‘And is there any other request you would make of me, my
lady?’
‘None, my lord. I believe we must speak of other things—but
I did not come to ask favours of you other than this.’
‘And you are content that we are to be married—because
you think it your duty to care for the women of the harem?’
She met the quizzing stare of his dark eyes and blushed. ‘I—it
is a part of my content, my lord.’
‘And what of this, Eleanor?’
Suleiman reached out, drawing her to him, crushing her
against him as his lips sought and found hers. She felt the heady
sensations swirl within her and alowed herself to melt into the
heat of his embrace, her lips parting in welcome of his mastery.
She felt that she wanted to stay with him like this for always and
keened for the loss as he released her.
‘You tempt me, my little bird,’ he said. ‘But I have sworn to
keep this night and two more in fasting for the sake of my friend
who lies close to death. Since I hunger for you more than food, I
should break my vow if I took you to my bed this night. Do not
look for me to send for you for two days, Eleanor. I shal be
keeping a vigil by his bed.’
‘I am very sorry he is so il,’ Eleanor said. ‘I wish that I might
help him—but I have no skil in these things. I told you of a
poultice I know from my studies, but I have never nursed
anyone, though I believe Anastasia has. If my lord required her
anyone, though I believe Anastasia has. If my lord required her
services for his friend, I am sure she would be glad to give them
—or perhaps that is forbidden?’
‘She shal be sent for,’ Suleiman said. ‘If she can save him,
she shal be given her freedom—that is my promise to you and
her.’
Eleanor nodded; she smiled at him as she left, and knew that
he was watching her until the last. Her thoughts as she returned
to the harem were a mixture of pleasure in the new understanding
she had reached with her lord, and anxiety for her friend and his.
Several of the women came to her anxiously as she entered
the communal hal. They had heard whispers of Karin’s sickness,
and they begged her to tel them what was the matter with their
friend and comforter.
‘She has been very sick,’ Eleanor replied, careful to give
nothing away. ‘The physicians have given her something to make
her easier and they say she wil recover—but she may need to
rest for several days. I shal visit her tomorrow and every day,
and bring you news of her.’
‘May we see her?’ Anastasia asked. ‘I might be able to help
her—I have some skils with fevers.’
‘You are wanted to nurse my lord’s friend,’ Eleanor told her.
‘The eunuchs wil take you to him—it is on the orders of the lord
Suleiman, so you need not fear that you are to leave the harem
quarters. You wil not be punished whatever happens—but
should your skils save my lord’s friend, he wil grant you your
freedom.’
Anastasia stared at her. ‘But I do not wish to leave the harem
Anastasia stared at her. ‘But I do not wish to leave the harem
—or you, Eleanor.’
‘Then you wil not be forced to do so,’ Eleanor replied and
smiled at her. ‘I shal request some other favour of my lord for
you. Indeed, I should be sorry to part from you, Anastasia. I had
hoped you might choose to remain with me.’
Anastasia stared at her, then she too began to smile. ‘Then
the rumours we have heard are true,’ she said. ‘You are to be
the lord Suleiman’s wife.’
‘We must not speak of this yet,’ Eleanor replied. ‘Karin wil
make al clear when she returns to us. My lord has other things
on his mind at the moment. He is sorely troubled by his friend’s
sickness, Anastasia. Please go at once and do what you can for
him.’
‘Yes, my lady.’ Anastasia’s manner had altered subtly. She
bowed her head submissively, as if acknowledging Eleanor’s
superior standing in the harem, but Eleanor shook her head at
her.
‘No, Anastasia. We are friends—it shal always be so as long
as you remain here.’
Eleanor noticed that some of the other ladies were staring at
her a little oddly. As Anastasia went off to join the eunuch who
was waiting to take her to the bedside of the sick Janissary,
Eleanor took her customary seat on one of the divans.
Immediately, one of the women brought her a dish of fruit,
offering it respectfuly.
‘Would my lady care for something else?’ she asked as
Eleanor shook her head. ‘May I send for food from the
kitchens?’
‘No, thank you. I am not hungry,’ Eleanor said. ‘We have not
spoken much before—but I believe your name is Marisa. How
long have you been here—and where did you live before you
were captured?’
‘I came from a Greek island caled Kos,’ the woman replied.
‘My family lived close to the sea for they were fishermen. One
day I was walking on the beach when the Corsairs took me. I
did not see them until they fel upon me and carried me away
with them.’
‘How long have you been here, Marisa?’
‘Three years, my lady. The lord Suleiman has never sent for
me in al that time. I think I am not beautiful enough…’
‘I think you are pretty,’ Eleanor replied. ‘And young. Tel me,
Marisa—if you had the chance, would you marry or would you
prefer to return to your family?’
Marisa blushed. ‘It is forbidden to think of such things,’ she
said, glancing over her shoulder as if she feared that they would
be heard and immediately punished. ‘But I saw the lord Suleiman
fighting with one of the Janissaries…a handsome young man who
I think they cal Ahmed… He saw me watching him, though I
was veiled, of course—but our eyes met…’
Eleanor nodded. ‘If Karin asks you this same question, you
must answer tru
thfuly, Marisa—wil you promise to do that? I
give you my word you wil not be punished.’
‘Yes, my lady.’ Marisa hesitated, then, greatly daring, ‘I
‘Yes, my lady.’ Marisa hesitated, then, greatly daring, ‘I
know that sometimes when an important man takes a bride some
of the concubines are returned to their homes or given in
marriage to another man.’
‘Yes, wel, we shal see,’ Eleanor said and smiled at her. ‘I
want everyone to have what they themselves want most…and I
know that some wil want to stay while others would prefer to
leave. But we shal say no more of this until Karin is better and
returns to us. I should not have spoken so openly. Please do not
repeat what I have said, Marisa.’
‘Oh, I give you my word, my lady,’ Marisa replied. ‘And I
am sorry I have not spent more time talking to you—but I was
afraid of offending Fatima.’
‘Yes, I understand,’ Eleanor replied. ‘I have not taken
offence—and you may repeat that to anyone who feels nervous
of change in the harem.’
‘Yes, my lady.’ Marisa smiled and went off as Elizabetta
brought the monkey to sit beside them. ‘Thank you for your
confidence.’
‘What was al that about?’ Elizabetta asked. She alowed the
monkey to climb over her shoulder and investigate the bowl of
fruit on the divan beside them. ‘You should know that Marisa is
one of Fatima’s most intimate friends, Eleanor. Do not trust her.’
‘Yes, I know that,’ Eleanor replied. ‘I am aware that I need
to be careful…’ She broke off as Elizabetta gave a little cry and
looked at the monkey, who had keeled over and was obviously
in pain. He had been eating a grape, and now his mouth was
frothed with blood as he twitched horribly and then lay stil. ‘Oh,
frothed with blood as he twitched horribly and then lay stil. ‘Oh,
no…the poor little felow. I think he is dead, Elizabetta. The
grape…it must have been poisoned.’ She stared at her friend in
horror. ‘Marisa brought the bowl to me…’
‘It was meant for you,’ Elizabetta said. ‘You were meant to
die…’
‘Say nothing,’ Eleanor warned as the other ladies began to
gather round, their cries of distress shril at the sudden death of
their pet. ‘Give this bowl to Morna and tel her to guard it wel,
but on no account to eat any of the fruit.’
Elizabetta took the bowl and left immediately. Marisa came