Captive of the Harem

by Anne Herries

  matters—you have questioned the concubines? They are al

  innocent of malice against my lady?’

  ‘Most of them admire her for her bravery—some love her.’

  ‘And you have consulted their feelings on the matter of

  returning to their homes?’

  ‘Yes, my lord.’ Karin took out a journal in which she had

  made notes. ‘Ten of them have requested marriages be arranged

  here—with members of your own guard in most cases. It seems

  they have watched you at sport with your men—perhaps more

  often than we knew.’ She waited for his reply but he made no

  comment, seeming indifferent. ‘Five have asked to be returned to

  their families—they are mostly of our own faith and nationality.

  The others wish to remain here to serve the lady Eleanor, or in

  Anastasia’s case to be alowed to nurse the sick.’

  Suleiman nodded. ‘Eleanor wil make her choice. Those she

  does not wish to keep may have their wish.’

  Karin knew that Eleanor would keep no one who did not

  wish to remain. Besides, there were more than enough ladies to

  wait on her, and her three particular friends had al chosen to

  stay.

  ‘You wish me to speak to her—or shal you see her

  yourself?’

  ‘My lady must receive instruction in the true religion before

  the marriage can take place. I believe this news would come best

  from you, Karin. You must make her aware of her duty—though

  I do not wish her instructed in the arts of pleasing her husband.’

  ‘I understand, my lord.’ Karin hesitated. ‘The Caliph has

  granted me the favour of a visit to my daughters. May I ask

  granted me the favour of a visit to my daughters. May I ask

  when your marriage wil take place—so that I may arrange the

  details of my journey?’

  ‘If Eleanor is wel enough—two weeks should suffice. She

  need only learn sufficient to confirm outwardly to custom.’

  ‘Yes, my lord.’ Karin was pleased at the prospect of seeing

  her daughters so soon. ‘I shal convey your message to her—

  unless you have changed your mind and wish her to come to

  you?’

  ‘No. I shal not see my bride until the wedding,’ Suleiman

  replied. He did not inform Karin of his reasons, but he was afraid

  that if he was alone with Eleanor he would not be able to keep

  from confessing his love—or making love to her. ‘Let it al be as

  we have discussed, Karin. My lady must make her choice, and

  receive instruction—but she must not tire herself. I do not wish

  her il again.’

  ‘Do not fear,’ Karin said. ‘For the moment she seems content

  to spend her time sitting quietly with the other ladies. I doubt this mood of tranquility wil last long, but for the moment she takes

  things easily. If you wil excuse me, my lord, I shal go to her

  now.’

  Suleiman nodded. He watched as she left, dark eyes

  brooding. Would Eleanor accept instruction in the Muslim

  religion without complaint? He had meant to speak to her

  himself, to explain that she need pay only lip service—to pacify

  the feelings of others. In accordance with the law, Suleiman

  could marry only a woman of his own faith—but he would have

  no personal objection if she held to her own beliefs in private, as

  his mother had.

  It would have been better to have explained this himself, but

  she might have lost her temper, and he might have responded in

  kind—and she was not yet wel enough to be thus distressed.

  She would listen to Karin more easily than to him. If they should

  both lose control…he could not vouch for what might happen.

  He must control his own desires and needs until she was truly

  healed. He ached for her, longed to hold her in his arms and

  taste the sweetness of her lips—but he would behave as the

  civilised gentleman she would have for her husband. If she came

  to him now he might be tempted beyond bearing, unable to

  control this raging need inside him, so he would keep his distance

  until after the marriage ceremony had taken place.

  ‘My lord says he wishes me to study enough of the Qur’an to

  understand and comply with custom?’ Eleanor was aware of a

  little ache about her heart. Why had he not summoned her to talk

  of these things as he had promised? ‘Please tel my lord that I

  have studied his religion before I came to this country. I already

  understand al that he wishes me to—and I shal give the proper

  responses if I am examined by religious instructors. However,

  that does not mean I shal believe in them.’

  Karin looked at her stubborn face. No wonder Suleiman had

  left the task of teling Eleanor to her!

  ‘We shal study together for an hour each day—is that so

  very much to ask?’ Karin spoke persuasively. ‘Think of the

  good fortune your…compliance wil bring to others. You cannot

  be wed to the lord Suleiman unless you are believed to have

  converted to the true faith.’

  Eleanor sighed. Karin was teling her it was her duty to marry

  the lord Suleiman for the sake of the others. She knew that al

  the women were excited about the wedding. For some it meant

  freedom, for others a chance to marry—and for those who had

  chosen to stay with her it meant a life of ease, free from the

  anxiety of wondering whether they would please their lord when

  he sent for them. They were to be her companions and friends,

  but no longer concubines.

  Eleanor was already determined that once she was

  Suleiman’s wife, she would ask to be alowed to go shopping in

  the souks and markets of Constantinople, and some of her ladies

  would accompany her each time. There would be more freedom

  for everyone if Eleanor had her way, though she knew that there

  was no avoiding the customs of the veil and casacche.

  ‘Very wel, we shal study together,’ Eleanor replied. ‘It is no

  hardship, Karin—and I may learn something new.’ She laughed,

  a teasing look in her eyes. ‘Did my lord send you to tel me of

  my duty lest I fly into a temper with him?’

  Karin was tempted to tel her the truth, but held her tongue in

  check. Suleiman was being generous; there was no point in

  provoking his anger by betraying his trust.

  She smiled. ‘So I may tel him that you agree?’

  ‘Yes—but I want something in return.’

  ‘Yes—but I want something in return.’

  ‘What is your request?’

  ‘I have been told that my lord likes to wrestle and fight with

  the Janissaries. I would like to watch such a tournament—and

  the ladies who are to marry must be alowed to watch with me.’

  ‘I shal ask my lord if he feels inclined to oblige you.’

  ‘One more thing—we wish to come out into the courtyard to

  watch. We do not want to be hidden away out of sight.’

  Eleanor’s eyes sparkled with mischief. ‘Pray tel my lord that we

  shal wear the veil and the casacche as customs dictates.’

  Karin frowned. ‘You ask a great deal, Eleanor.’

  ‘My lord would have much of me,’ she said, her head going

&
nbsp; up proudly. ‘Unless I have some kind of amusement to distract

  me, I may discover that I feel unwel again. Already my head

  begins to ache at the thought of al that study my lord would have

  me do.’

  ‘Eleanor!’ Karin shook her head warningly at her. ‘If I were

  your lord I should have you beaten for wilfulness.’

  ‘But you are not my lord,’ Eleanor said and laughed huskily.

  ‘My poor friend—are you afraid to carry my message to him?’

  ‘Once I should not have dared…’ Karin smiled. ‘But I

  confess I am curious to hear what he wil say when he hears your

  request.’

  ‘The lady Eleanor says that she wil study diligently to please

  you, my lord, but…’ Karin hesitated. ‘In return she makes a

  request of you.’

  request of you.’

  ‘Ah…’ Suleiman’s expression became wary. ‘And what

  would my lady have of me? I thought I had granted al she had

  asked of me.’

  ‘She—she wishes to watch you at sport with the Janissaries,

  my lord.’ Karin saw that the idea pleased him and dared to go

  on. ‘But not from a window overlooking the courtyard. She asks

  that she and ten of her ladies be alowed to come outside and

  watch.’

  Suleiman stared at her for so long that Karin feared his anger,

  then his head went back and he laughed in delight. ‘I had feared

  her ilness might crush her spirit,’ he murmured more to himself

  than Karin. ‘They must be protected from prying eyes—I cannot

  have them exposed, but providing they wear the proper clothing,

  I agree.’

  ‘I believe the lady Eleanor understands that, my lord. I shal

  make certain their modesty is protected—and I shal be with

  them.’ She smiled in relief. ‘I, too, would enjoy this spectacle.’

  ‘Then it shal be arranged—the day after tomorrow. You may

  tel my lady that in return for her obedience I am pleased to grant

  her request.’

  ‘Obedience?’ Eleanor’s eyes flashed. ‘Ah yes, I see my lord

  stil means to mock me. Wel, we shal see…Go once more to

  the lord Suleiman, Karin. Ask that the ladies who wish to be

  returned to their homes should be alowed to leave at once.’

  ‘Surely that can wait until after the wedding?’ Karin looked at

  ‘Surely that can wait until after the wedding?’ Karin looked at

  her suspiciously. ‘What game are you playing, Eleanor? Are you

  trying to provoke the lord Suleiman? Remember that he is stil

  your master. You could be beaten if you try him too far.’

  ‘But then I should be too il to marry him.’

  ‘You play with fire,’ Karin warned.

  ‘I would tel him myself if he sent for me.’

  Karin’s gaze narrowed thoughtfuly. ‘Are you piqued because

  he does not send? Surely…’ She was once again tempted to

  speak of Suleiman’s feelings for Eleanor, but held true to her

  promise. ‘Wel, on your own head…’

  ‘I have been thinking much the same,’ Suleiman agreed when

  Karin presented Eleanor’s latest request. ‘Pray ask my lady if

  there is anything more I may do to please her. She asks so

  little…’

  Karin saw the mocking glint in his eye and smiled inwardly.

  ‘Why do you not send for her and tel her yourself, my lord?’

  ‘Convey my message, Karin.’ Suleiman waved her away.

  ‘Tomorrow we shal have our tournament. Afterwards, I may

  decide to send for Eleanor. For the moment I am too busy.

  Please make sure she understands that I have important business

  and cannot make time to talk of trivial things.’

  Karin nodded, wondering what game these two played with

  each other. Whatever it was, it certainly seemed to amuse the

  lord Suleiman, for she had seldom seen him in such good

  humour.

  humour.

  Eleanor fretted after Karin had brought the latest word from

  Suleiman. Why would he not send for her? She longed to see

  him, but it seemed he was determined not to speak to her until

  after the marriage ceremony. Why? It could only mean that he

  did not truly care for her.

  He had granted al her requests, and she had no more

  outrageous demands to make of him—save one. And that she

  could not make through a third party.

  She was beginning to be truly wel again. Her arm was stil a

  little sore, but the drugging weariness had gone. She was waited

  on hand and foot by the other women, who could not do enough

  to please her, and spent most of her time talking to them and

  getting to know those she had hardly spoken to before her

  ilness. They were al wiling and eager to be her friends, though

  she stil enjoyed most the company of those she had known first.

  Al three had chosen to stay with her, and she had promised she

  would win favours for them al.

  ‘We shal ask my lord to let us go shopping one day soon,’

  she said. ‘But first the tournament.’ She smiled wickedly at the

  ladies who were to accompany her into the courtyard. ‘This time

  it wil be for you to do the choosing—and what better

  opportunity? I think we shal have as good sport as the men.’

  The ladies giggled and looked at her excitedly. Several of

  them already knew which of the men they would choose, and

  could not wait for the tournament to begin.

  Eleanor too was looking forward to the outing. She had heard

  much about the lord Suleiman’s skil and now she wanted to see

  much about the lord Suleiman’s skil and now she wanted to see

  for herself.

  Karin came to inspect them before they were conducted

  through the endless passages of the harem and then a part of the

  palace that was normaly forbidden to them, unless special

  permission had been given. It was quite a procession, and made

  Eleanor laugh at al the fuss. Two eunuchs walked before them,

  thrusting aside any servant who dared to glance at them, and two

  behind.

  She felt a shiver of excitement as they emerged into the

  palace courtyard, remembering the night she had been brought

  here and unceremoniously dumped while the lord Suleiman rode

  back to help his men defeat the bandits who had dared to attack

  them. So much had changed since then that she felt as if she

  were someone else and not the frightened girl who had been

  brought to this place against her wil.

  Screens had been placed at one end of the arena, and stools

  were placed beneath a silken awning to protect the ladies from

  the fierce heat of the afternoon sun. They were to see, but not be

  seen or approached by any who might wish to stare at them. The

  men taking part in the tournament could of course see them

  seated at the far end—but woe betide any man foolish enough to

  let his eyes stray from his opponent!

  It was to be a contest of skil and strength, and no sacrifice of

  life would be demanded. Yet in the matched pairs the weapons

  were real and wounds could be inflicted, which might become

  infected—so the combatants would have no time to stare at the

  ladies!

  ladies!
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br />   The first contest was between a giant with coal-black skin

  and a man of equal size, but with fair skin and hair the colour of

  sunlight.

  ‘The Nubian is caled Mosra,’ Marisa whispered in Eleanor’s

  ear. ‘And his opponent is Ahmed…’

  Eleanor saw her smile and knew that this was the man she

  wished to marry. The contestants saluted the ladies, but their

  faces were expressionless. Did they know that they were

  performing to please their future brides?

  The women were whispering to each other. Hidden behind

  their veils and enveloping cloaks, there was little to be seen of

  them except their eyes. But what messages might pass with a

  flash of sparkling eyes!

  The contest was with the short sword, and fiercely fought.

  The two men pressed hard, seeming equaly matched, but

  Ahmed eventualy succeeded in overcoming his opponent. He

  came to salute the ladies as the victor, and Eleanor noted the

  way his eyes searched for and found Marisa’s. It seemed that

  their future had been settled—though how he could know his

  bride in her casacche was difficult to say. Perhaps the ladies of

  the harem had had more opportunity to see what went on

  outside the harem than anyone supposed! Eleanor imagined there

  was always a way for those with the courage to seek it. It was as

  wel that Suleiman chose not to notice.

  After that, there was a succession of fierce fights. Eleanor

  heard the indrawn breath and little squeals of fright and knew

  heard the indrawn breath and little squeals of fright and knew

  that their chosen partners were not always winners. However, no

  one was injured apart from a few scratches and bruises, and so

  no harm was done.

  The last contest was a wrestling match between Omar and

  the lord Suleiman. Eleanor’s spine tingled as they came to salute

  the ladies, her eyes meeting Suleiman’s—which seemed to gleam

  with mockery. He was stripped to the waist and wore only a

  loincloth to cover his lower body. She had known he was strong

  and lean when he pressed her in his arms, but she had not

  guessed how beautiful his body would look when he was al but

  naked.

  His muscles rippled like those of a thoroughbred horse, and

  the sweat made his olive-toned skin glisten like silk. She

  swalowed hard as desire gripped her by the throat and she

  wanted— Oh, damn the wretch! She wanted him to love her.