Captive of the Harem

by Anne Herries

  lord. I bring bad news…’

  Suleiman felt chiled. He had spent two days fasting and

  praying, but since the remarkable recovery of the friend his

  physicians had given up as lost, his thoughts had been uneasy,

  though he did not know why.

  ‘Tel me at once!’

  ‘The concubine Fatima tried to poison the lady Eleanor,’

  Hasar said. ‘The concubines’ pet monkey ate the poisoned fruit

  and died—but Lady Eleanor chalenged Fatima and the

  concubine attacked your lady and wounded her with a knife.’

  ‘Eleanor has been wounded—badly?’ Ice was creeping

  through Suleiman’s veins as he saw the answer in the eunuch’s

  eyes. ‘What has been done for her—where is the wound?’

  ‘In her upper arm,’ Hasar replied. ‘The physician visits her

  every day and the women tend her—but she has a fever and…’

  ‘Go on,’ Suleiman said fiercely as the eunuch faltered. ‘Has

  ‘Go on,’ Suleiman said fiercely as the eunuch faltered. ‘Has

  the wound become infected?’

  ‘They say it is gathering putrid flesh…’ Hasar gasped as he

  saw the flash of anger mixed with pain in his master’s eyes. ‘I

  know nothing of these things, my lord. I thought you should

  know…’

  ‘When did this happen?’

  ‘Two days ago…’

  ‘For two days no one told me?’

  ‘You were at prayer, my lord. We dared not intrude upon

  your vigil.’

  Suleiman raised his clenched fist as if he would strike the

  eunuch, then turned away with a gasp of anguish and frustration.

  What good would it do to take his anger out on the unfortunate

  messenger? It could not change what had happened—and the

  man had done only as he had been told. Suleiman had left orders

  that he was not to be disturbed for anything—but he had not

  expected this!

  Yet he should have done. What a blind, stupid fool he was!

  Eleanor had come to him straight from Karin’s bedside with a

  request that Fatima should be sent away. He ought to have

  known that something lay behind such a request. Eleanor was

  not jealous of the other woman, she had no need to be. He

  should have realised that she was trying to protect herself and the

  others from Fatima’s spite.

  Had he not been so concerned for his friend, he might have

  realised her request was urgent. But his mind had been attuned

  to the vigil he had vowed to keep—and because he had done

  to the vigil he had vowed to keep—and because he had done

  nothing, she was like to die of her wounds. His grief tore through

  him, striking him to the heart so that he was gripped with a

  terrible agony and hardly knew how to stand upright. Had he

  been alone, he might have given way to his grief, but pride kept

  him from shedding unmanly tears. Instead, his heart shed tears of

  blood.

  ‘I shal come to her at once,’ he said to Hasar. He glanced at

  the eunuch who was shivering, clearly expecting to be punished.

  ‘You are not to blame. What has been done with Fatima?’

  ‘She is in the punishment cels—awaiting your order, my

  lord.’

  ‘Leave her for the moment,’ Suleiman said. ‘Give her only

  bread and water—and she is to see no one until I decide what to

  do with her.’

  Fatima’s punishment could wait—for the moment al he could

  think of was Eleanor. That she should have been harmed—and

  by a woman he ought to have sent away days ago—festered in

  Suleiman’s mind like a poisoned thorn. It was his fault, his

  stupidity in being lenient towards the beautiful woman who had

  once pleased him, that had brought Eleanor to this!

  If she should die! Suleiman hardly dared to alow the thought

  into his mind. She had been like a bright flame in the sky,

  bringing him closer to happiness than he had ever been in his life.

  He had thought to find content with her in this palace that had

  seemed like a prison before her coming; her smiles had soothed

  his restless nature; her anger had amused and sometimes burned

  him—and her spirit had delighted him.

  him—and her spirit had delighted him.

  As he walked towards the hals of the harem, a place that he

  had seldom visited, preferring to have his women brought to him,

  Suleiman’s thoughts were gathering darkness. Until Eleanor’s

  coming, he had sought a woman’s company only for sensual

  pleasure—but she had changed him, teaching him the joy of

  companionship with a woman…something he had never

  expected to know after his mother’s death.

  To find such treasure only to lose it was to taste paradise only

  to be cast back into the fires of hel. He felt as if a thousand

  demons tore at his flesh, their talons piercing him until his agony

  was like to drive him mad. How could he bear it if she should

  die?

  He heard the startled gasps as he strode into the harem

  unannounced, the women fluttering like jewel-bright birds as if a

  cat had got amongst them. He was annoyed that his presence

  should cause such a fluster, yet dismissed it in an instant. Why

  should they not fear him when they knew only that he was their

  master and could punish them for the slightest misdemeanour?

  He had never troubled himself to make them like or understand

  him, never spent time in discovering what made them happy. It

  had been enough that they were kept in comfort, awaiting his

  pleasure.

  One of the women came to meet him. She seemed not to fear

  him, for she looked him in the eyes. ‘You have come to see the

  lady Eleanor, my lord. Anastasia is with her now and is about to

  change her bandages. If you wil wait but a moment…’

  change her bandages. If you wil wait but a moment…’

  ‘And you are?’

  ‘Elizabetta, my lord. I have danced and sung for you.’

  ‘Yes, I remember,’ Suleiman said. ‘You have been nursing

  my lady?’

  ‘Yes, with others—but we have not Anastasia’s skil. She

  was angry when she came back and found Eleanor so il. She is

  making changes and I am sure my lady wil soon be much

  recovered.’

  ‘Pray do not delay me,’ Suleiman said. ‘I must see her.’

  He walked past Elizabetta, the other women watching him

  fearfuly from a distance as he entered Eleanor’s apartments.

  Suleiman was shocked as he saw Eleanor’s hair damp with

  sweat, her face flushed and heated from the fever that had her in

  its grip. Anastasia had just finished sponging her body with cool

  water, and, after covering her with a sheet, turned to look at him.

  He stood staring at Eleanor, his dark eyes tormented by fear.

  ‘She wil be more comfortable in a moment, my lord,’

  Anastasia comforted him. They have kept her too warm—but

  they did not know what they did was wrong. You must not

  punish them. We al love Eleanor, because she has been so kind

  to us. No one else would seek to harm her.’

  ‘What makes any of you think I blame you for this?’

  ‘We have been told t
hat we may al be punished if she dies,’

  Rosamunde said from behind him. ‘We have done our best for

  her, my lord—but none of us had any true skil in nursing.’

  Suleiman nodded, eyes narrowing. This was yet another of his

  harem he hardly recognised. A lovely woman, but one that left

  harem he hardly recognised. A lovely woman, but one that left

  him untouched—what was she doing here, wasting her youth?

  ‘How is my lady?’ he asked as he turned back to Anastasia.

  ‘Can you save her? Wil she die of her wounds?’

  Anastasia smiled and shook her head. ‘She is nowhere near

  as il as the Janissary you summoned me to nurse—she has a

  fever and her wound must be lanced again to let out a little pus,

  but she wil live, my lord. Had I been here sooner, she would not

  have been drugged—it is the drugs that have robbed her of her

  senses and frightened everyone else. Once they are no longer

  holding her mind prisoner, she wil know us again.’

  Suleiman controled his desire to shout his relief aloud. ‘Why

  have you so much knowledge when the physicians seem to have

  so little?’

  Anastasia smiled and shook her head. ‘That is not true, my

  lord. The physician has closed the wound more skilfuly than I

  could—but he was not wise to keep her so heavily drugged.

  And the others did not understand the importance of making sure

  she was cool. Now that I am here we shal soon reduce the

  fever.’

  ‘How can I repay you for al that you have done?’

  ‘You have already repaid me by giving me the freedom to

  serve others. I am a simple woman, my lord. I was born to serve

  and I have al that I need.’

  ‘You have not been unhappy here?’

  ‘Only a little, sometimes—when Fatima was unkind to one of

  us.’

  ‘Yes, Fatima.’ Suleiman nodded, his expression hardening as

  ‘Yes, Fatima.’ Suleiman nodded, his expression hardening as

  he recaled that she was responsible for Eleanor lying here

  injured. ‘You wil send me word of my lady—good or bad?’

  ‘Do not fear, my lord. Eleanor wil soon recover her health.

  She is young and strong and the fever wil soon pass.’

  Suleiman nodded, and then he walked to the bed and bent to

  kiss Eleanor’s brow. She stirred, moaned a little and whispered

  something he could not quite catch.

  ‘Rest, my darling,’ he said in a voice so low that no one else

  could hear. ‘I—I need you.’

  Suleiman’s shoulders squared as he left the bedside. He had

  work to do—things that had been neglected these past two

  days. As he emerged from Eleanor’s apartment, the other

  women fel back and looked at him uncertainly. He lifted his

  hand to gain their attention, and then spoke to them in a voice

  devoid of emotion.

  ‘You have none of you anything to fear from me,’ he said.

  ‘Only those who have harmed my lady shal be punished. Karin

  wil come to you soon. She wil ask you for the truth of this affair.

  When I have al the facts before me, the guilty shal be punished

  as the law demands. I shal take no petty revenge. Karin wil

  discuss other things with you—you may speak to her freely

  without fear. That is my sworn word.’

  The silence continued for several minutes after he had left,

  until curiosity at last forced them to ask, ‘What did he mean?

  What must we confess to Karin?’

  Only Marisa held her silence. She remembered what Eleanor

  Only Marisa held her silence. She remembered what Eleanor

  had told her and kept her promise not to reveal anything until

  Karin was wel enough to give them the news herself.

  Eleanor’s eyelids fluttered. She was aware of feeling very

  tired, and her arm was painful. She moaned and opened her

  eyes, looking up into Karin’s anxious face.

  ‘So at last you are come to yourself again. You foolish,

  foolish child,’ Karin said, her tone sounding relieved rather than

  scolding. ‘Did I not warn you to be careful?’

  ‘Water…’ Eleanor pleaded. She was becoming more

  conscious of the pain in her arm and her mouth felt dry. ‘What

  happened to me?’

  ‘Fatima sent you poisoned fruit. You chalenged her and she

  stabbed you in the arm. Thankfuly, you must have taken her by

  surprise for the knife was not contaminated with poison—as it

  wel might have been.’

  ‘Oh, yes…’ Eleanor sighed. She vaguely remembered

  something but her mind was stil hazy. Rosamunde brought her

  water and she sipped it gratefuly. ‘Thank you. What time is it?’

  ‘It is morning,’ Karin replied. ‘You have had a fever, Eleanor.

  It is five days now since this happened.’

  ‘Five days…’ She struggled to sit up, but found she was too

  weak and fel back against the pilows. ‘What of my lord’s

  friend…he was near to dying?’

  ‘He is much better,’ Anastasia said, bending over her to lay a

  hand on her forehead. ‘Ah, so are you, my lady. The fever has

  hand on her forehead. ‘Ah, so are you, my lady. The fever has

  gone and you wil mend now.’

  ‘You have been nursing me?’

  ‘Since my return three days ago. My other patient does wel;

  I have but this minute returned from seeing him.’

  ‘Thank you…al of you.’ Eleanor sighed and closed her eyes

  once more.

  She woke again that evening, feeling better. Rosamunde was

  sitting with her now and smiled at her.

  ‘Are you hungry, my lady? Anastasia said that we should give

  you a little nourishing broth if you woke. Morna wil prepare it

  for you—though none here would seek to harm you now.’

  ‘Fatima?’ Eleanor whispered.

  ‘Gone, my lady. We shal not see her again.’

  Eleanor nodded, satisfied. Suleiman had sent her home as

  he’d promised. She need not concern herself further.

  ‘Has Karin gone? She was here earlier. I meant to ask if she

  had recovered from her sickness?’

  ‘Karin is wel,’ Rosamunde replied. ‘She has spent the last

  few days talking to everyone. We have been promised nothing

  yet—but it seems we may be given our freedom should we wish

  it. Anastasia has already been granted hers, but she chooses to

  remain here—though she is alowed to go where she pleases

  within certain areas of the palace. She has not been out yet, but

  Karin said that a eunuch wil take her to the city markets if she

  desires it.’

  desires it.’

  Eleanor nodded. It seemed that Suleiman was keeping al his

  promises. She was too tired to inquire further for the moment.

  She did not ask and was not told that her lord had come three

  times to visit her while she was in the grip of the fever.

  Rosamunde went on, ‘I think I shal stay—if you want me, my

  lady. I have nothing to return to now. My life is here…’

  ‘Yes, yes, please stay,’ Eleanor said and smiled at her. ‘If

  Morna would fetch me something, I think I might try to eat a

  little…’

  ‘You must eat,’ Rosamunde agreed. ‘We have al
been so

  worried for you, my lady.’

  Eleanor closed her eyes once more as Rosamunde went

  away to order the food. She stil felt desperately tired, but the

  drugging heaviness was gradualy fading. Soon she would begin

  to feel more like herself.

  She ought to ask something, but she could not control her

  thoughts, could not remember what she wanted to know. Al she

  desired was to rest and be wel again and then… She was not

  sure what would happen then. Suleiman had said that they must

  observe the customs. Of course she could not expect him to visit

  her—why should he? A sigh of regret issued from her lips.

  If he loved her he would have come—but he merely desired

  her. He was marrying her because he thought her best fitted from

  amongst the concubines to bear his sons. She had no choice.

  She must obey, because he was her master.

  ‘Do you bring me news of my lady?’ Suleiman asked eagerly

  as Karin came in answer to his request. ‘You said that she had

  taken food and was able to sit up and talk to her friends—there

  has been no relapse?’

  ‘Eleanor improves with every hour,’ Karin replied, smiling at

  the way his eyes seemed to darken and glow at the mention of

  his intended bride. ‘She insisted on getting out of bed, and with

  help has been sitting in the gardens this morning.’

  ‘Is she wel enough to be out of bed so soon? It is barely

  eight days since I saw her lying in a fever.’

  ‘She is very strong, my lord.’ Karin frowned, hesitated, then

  decided she must speak. ‘Her arm is healing wel and it seems

  she wil be able to use it normaly once the soreness has gone—

  but I fear there wil be a scar.’

  Suleiman’s eyes narrowed. ‘Why do you hesitate to tel me

  this? Do you imagine that I care for such details? My lady is

  alive. I thank Alah for her life—a scar means less than nothing.’

  ‘I beg your pardon, my lord. I had not realised…quite what

  she means to you.’

  ‘And you wil keep your new-found knowledge to yourself,

  Karin,’ he replied with a rueful smile. ‘I would not have Eleanor

  know—yet.’

  ‘Ah…’ Karin nodded, smiling now herself. ‘I believe the lady

  Eleanor can sometimes be a little headstrong, my lord.’

  ‘Yes.’ His mouth quirked at the memory of various instances

  of her stubbornness. ‘That is very true, Karin. Now, to other

  matters—you have questioned the concubines? They are al