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.
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!
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.