Bought for the harem, p.13
Bought for the Harem, page 13
Harriet must be content to stay here. He would not let her go!
Chapter Seven
Kasim saw that Harriet was sitting in the courtyard in the cool of the evening, with the young girls he had chosen to keep as her companions. She was laughing, stroking the white cat he had bought as a pet for her and the others. At that moment she looked happy and perfectly at home in her surroundings.
He walked towards her. She looked up and a smile of such sweetness lit her face that his stomach tied itself in knots and he knew an urgent desire to sweep her into his arms and carry her to his bed. He thought she might respond to him if he taught her the meaning of love, but it was too soon. If he rushed into a passionate seduction, he would never know if she truly wished to stay. He must control the need she aroused and wait, let her come to him when she was ready.
‘I have brought the books I promised,’ he said and motioned to the ladies to stay. ‘No, I do not wish to disturb you or your friends, Harriet. If I may, I shall sit here with you for a while. Perhaps Catalina would dance for us?’
‘Catalina has been attempting to show me how to dance,’ Harriet said and smiled. ‘She is so graceful. I told her that I could never dance as she does.’
‘I should be honoured to dance for my lady and my lord,’ Catalina said shyly. ‘If Helene will play for us?’
Helene was the oldest of the three girls. She smiled and picked up her lute, beginning to play soft sensual music that accompanied the beautiful dancing performed by Catalina. Natalina ran to fetch a bowl of fruit and offered it to Kasim. He chose a ripe fig and ate it as he watched the dancing, applauding the girls’ performances at the end. When they had finished Kasim nodded and they disappeared into the harem. He turned to Harriet.
‘You will study these books when you have time and we shall talk about your feelings when you are ready, Harriet.’
‘Yes, my lord. I am sure I shall find them interesting. I have always liked to study.’
‘But will you believe, I wonder?’
‘I cannot promise that I shall believe all I read, my lord, but I shall learn as much as I can.’
‘Then that is all I can ask,’ Kasim said. ‘In the morning you may visit the children for an hour or so until the celebrations begin. One of the eunuchs will take you, because I have much to do. Afterwards, you should join Katrina and then someone will take you to the courtyard when it is time.’
‘Thank you … for everything.’
‘As yet I have done little. I hope you like the girls I chose to serve you?’
‘Yes. To serve me … I thought they were your harem?’
‘I have no harem. I freed my houris when I decided to bring you here. They have returned to their homes or chosen husbands from amongst the Janissaries, as they wished.’
‘Oh …’ Harriet tingled all over. She waited, expecting him to say more. Was she to be his mistress or …? A feeling of disappointment swept over her as he inclined his head and turned away. ‘Why? I mean—’ She stopped as he turned and raised his brows at her. She thought there was laughter in his eyes.
‘Perhaps one day I shall tell you. Remember, Harriet, at the moment I am still displeased with you. You have yet to show me that you have learned your lessons. When you are suitably repentant we shall talk of many things.’
Harriet felt her cheeks grow hot. She was not sure how to take this new Kasim. Was he teasing her? Why had he sent his houris away—and what exactly did he have in mind for her?
After lessons, which ended early because it was a day of celebration, Harriet walked to Katrina’s apartments. She knew her way so well that she hardly needed an escort. The palace no longer had the power to frighten her and she was able to admire its beauty.
Katrina was sitting up against a pile of silken cushions. She had a bowl of fruit beside her and picked a luscious grape from a large bunch, popping it into her mouth. Wiping away the juice, she offered the bowl to Harriet, who shook her head.
‘You are waiting for the feasting I suppose.’ Katrina sighed. ‘Kahlid will not let me attend, because he says I am not strong enough to sit in the afternoon sun. I love to watch the Janissaries fight, though perhaps the wrestling is the most entertaining.’
‘Kasim did not come to fetch me after lessons. I think he must be preparing for the celebrations.’
‘Yes, he must. He is the champion and he will be one of those who fight in hand-to-hand combat.’
Harriet frowned. ‘Please tell me that it is not a fight to the death!’
‘In the time of the Caliph’s father it was often so,’ Katrina said. ‘Now it is until one man disarms the other. Kasim will win the gold spear. He always does—I think because he trains harder than any other man.’
‘How do you know?’
‘There is a way to see.’ Katrina looked mischievous. ‘I cannot show you today because I am forbidden to leave my couch—but one day I will take you. There are many places where you can watch the men as they train. It is possible to hear and see many things … things my husband would not be pleased for us to see and hear.’
‘You are wicked,’ Harriet laughed. ‘I thought you always obeyed the Caliph?’
‘Oh, yes, I do—but what he does not know …’ Katrina smiled naughtily. ‘There are always ways to learn what you wish to know, Harriet. We are often watched, in the gardens and all the communal rooms. Why should we not use the spy holes to discover what we wish to know?’
Harriet smiled and shook her head at her. Katrina seemed a submissive wife, but clearly she knew how to turn the tables on her husband. ‘I suppose forewarned is forearmed?’
‘Yes …’
Harriet suspected there was more to tell, but she was summoned by one of the women and at the door she found a eunuch waiting for her.
‘The lord Kasim sent me to tell you that you must get ready for the feasting, lady Harriet. In one hour the contests will begin. You will sit with the ladies from the Caliph’s harem, for it is the time when you are allowed to mix and talk.’
Harriet thanked him, but she had made few friends in the Caliph’s harem. She had deliberately kept herself apart, because she wished to have no regrets when the time came to leave. Her friends were Katrina and the young girls Kasim had assigned as her companions, to whom she felt almost as a mother.
Making her way back to her own apartments, Harriet bathed and then allowed two of the women to help her dress. The eunuchs came to escort them through the palace. Harriet walked ahead as was her right, the other women a few paces behind, their voices like chattering birds as they laughed and fluttered in their excitement.
In the courtyard some huge awnings had been set up to shade the women from the hot sun. They were escorted to the seats, but allowed to sit where they chose. Seeing that Mellina was there, Harriet sat beside her. Mellina turned her head to look at her and then smiled.
‘I must thank you, lady. I believe I owe my privileges to you.’
‘You owe me nothing. You were not to blame for what happened that day, and I believe the Caliph understood that—once his anger had cooled.’
Mellina nodded. ‘Everyone is saying that you are like the prince’s mother. When she died the court was in mourning for weeks. They say the Caliph thinks highly of you.’
‘I dare say he thinks I am a nuisance,’ Harriet replied and laughed. ‘I am glad to see you again.’
Their conversation was interrupted by a fanfare and then several Janissaries rode into the arena. They were dressed in ceremonial style in scarlet and gold and rode magnificent horses, whose coats gleamed from grooming.
A display of daring riding began, with men hanging half out of the saddle to spear a target with their swords. Others rode bareback or stood on their horse’s back and balanced as it careered around the arena at speed.
Applause greeted the end of this display, which was followed by other demonstrations of skill. Archery, spear throwing and feats of jumping, dancing and fire eating kept the crowd roaring their approval, and the ladies of the harem were as excited as any of the common folk who had been allowed to gather and watch.
After a pause when fruit and sherbet was offered to the ladies, the contests began in earnest. There was wrestling between evenly matched combatants and this brought more roars of approval from the crowd. Harriet had thought that Kasim might take part in the wrestling, though Hassan won his bout easily. He took his applause and then went to sit with his father. She was a little disappointed that Kasim did not appear, nor as she looked round the courtiers sitting with the Caliph and his son was he anywhere to be seen. It seemed odd and she was beginning to wonder why when a fanfare announced the highlight of the day. The matched fights were about to begin.
The first fight was between two well-matched gladiators, for such they were. Harriet could not help comparing the fight that ensued with the fights, which had taken place in the arena at the Coliseum at Rome, that she had read about in her father’s manuscripts. The match was won by a man with dark skin, who had used a net and a trident to defeat his opponent’s sword and shield. After them came two more who fought with swords and shields, and then, when Harriet had almost given up expecting it, Kasim entered the arena to roars of approval. He was carrying a golden spear, which he thrust into the ground, it seemed, as a challenge.
Harriet gasped as the winners of the last two bouts walked into the arena. Surely he did not mean to fight both of them at the same time? A shiver ran down her spine and she could barely watch as the men began to circle him. How could he fight two men at the same time?
When she looked again, she saw that Kasim had removed his tunic. His back was tanned to a deep gold and she could see the muscles flexing as he moved against his first opponent. The crowd roared encouragement, but Harriet closed her eyes. She could not bear to watch, because she was sure he would be wounded and perhaps killed. Why was he fighting two opponents?
‘Do not be afraid for him, princess.’ Mellina’s voice was soft and reassuring in her ear. ‘The lord Kasim has won against bigger odds before this. He scorns to fight only one man.’
‘But …’ Harriet’s words were drowned as Kasim sent the first man to his knees and the crowd rose to its feet as the second was dispatched soon after. The fight was over quickly, though to Harriet it had seemed an eternity. ‘Is it over now?’
‘For today,’ Mellina told her. ‘We shall feast now—and tomorrow there will be other games and other fights to watch. It has been a fine sight, has it not?’
‘Yes … I suppose so.’ Harriet saw that Kasim was being carried round the arena in triumph. When he was set down before the Caliph, he was invited to join them. She found it difficult to take her eyes from him and wished she might be there to hear what was being said. Kasim turned to look at her and inclined his head. She returned his look, but gave no sign of approval, though other ladies were cheering and throwing scarves into the arena.
She was pleased when the ladies began to move back into the palace for the feasting that would take place inside and attempted to follow them. A eunuch barred her away, bowing to her and directing her towards a smaller group of ladies, who were being segregated from the others. For a moment she felt a flutter of alarm, then realised that the other women looked excited and pleased.
‘You are being taken to feast with the Caliph and your lord,’ Mellina said. ‘The rest of us return to the harem to feast and dance by ourselves.’
Harriet nodded. She followed the small group of ladies into the cool of the palace, shivering a little as they were shepherded towards a large open room where silken couches had been set up on a dais and large cushions set all about the room. She was directed towards the dais with Fortunata and various other ladies of the harem. The Caliph and Hassan came in a moment or two later and then Kasim, who had changed into his usual plain white robes with gold leather slippers and a red belt. His eyes sought and held Harriet’s for a moment before he spoke to Hassan and took his place on a couch on the Caliph’s right side—she was seated with some of the other ladies to Kasim’s left. Hassan had chosen to lounge on some cushions close to the women.
The Caliph was laughing at something Kasim had said to him. Hassan leaned over to Harriet with mischief in his eyes. ‘My father says that you do not approve of our contests, lady. He says you had your eyes closed for most of the time Kasim was fighting. Kasim says you do not approve of him at all.’
‘Kasim likes to mock me,’ she replied.
‘Kasim needs a wife to tame him,’ Hassan whispered to her.
‘Does he?’ she asked, her throat tight.
‘Of course. I have told him he should take a wife, but he says he does not wish to be nagged.’ He chuckled. ‘I have heard that he often summons three of his women to his bed at one time.’
Harriet’s cheeks flushed, but she said nothing, staring straight ahead as the entertainment began.
A troupe of specially trained dancers, both men and women, moved rhythmically to the music. As the music and dancing continued, a succession of servants offered food and sherbet to the guests: platters of delicious spiced chicken, lamb in rich sauces and wonderful fruit and the rich dark coffee so beloved of the harem.
Was it true that Kasim summoned three women all at once? Were they the three girls that he kept to serve her? Though he’d told her he’d dismissed his harem she knew that he must have enjoyed women’s company many times in the past. The thought was painful and humiliating. She tried to dismiss Hassan’s careless words, but it was like an unpleasant taste in the mouth and would not go away.
She was not aware that Kasim had moved until he spoke to her and she saw that he had changed places with Hassan.
‘Are you not enjoying yourself, Harriet?’
‘I have a headache, my lord. I wonder if I may be allowed to retire early?’
‘Yes, of course. I shall escort you to your quarters.’
‘Please, do not leave the feasting on my account. I am sure I can find my own way.’
‘I shall take you, Harriet.’ He rose to his feet, offering her his hand. ‘I have more to do than watch the dancing and feast.’ He turned to Caliph. ‘If my lord will excuse us.’
Harriet rose to her feet. She bowed to the Caliph and Hassan, asking them to forgive her, and then followed Kasim from the room. She could still hear the music as they walked together through the palace to Kasim’s apartments. At the door of her apartments, Kasim stopped and looked at her in silence for a moment; then he bowed his head and left her without speaking. He was angry with her again! Did he think she was sulking? Harriet had given no sign of her feelings, but once she was inside her own apartments she was aware of the silence. Her serving women came running, anxious to please her, but she smiled and sent them away. She wanted nothing but peace and privacy. As she lay down on her couch the tears trickled down her cheeks, but she brushed them away impatiently.
She should have known that Kasim would be no different from his royal masters! He had embraced their way of life. Kasim had lied to her. He had kept three of his women because he favoured them and he sent for all three to pleasure him at once. Harriet did not know why that upset her so much.
Dismissing the painful thoughts, she sought her couch, but it was a while before she finally slept.
Harriet woke suddenly. She opened her eyes and was startled to see Kasim bending over her. It was still dark so she estimated it must be the early hours of the morning.
‘Forgive me,’ he said as she sat up and looked at him apprehensively. ‘Will you put on your clothes and come with me, please? Jason is worse and I need help to change his dressings.’
‘Yes, certainly,’ Harriet agreed instantly. ‘Please turn your back as I change.’
‘As you wish. I did not come here to ravish you, merely to beg for your help.’
‘Did you not summon the physician?’
‘He is an old man and I did not wish to disturb his rest. Besides, I am not certain his treatments are helping my friend. I should have brought in a younger man, but Kahlid will not offend an old friend.’
‘I thought him very efficient when he tended Katrina. It may be that your friend is beyond help.’
‘I suppose that is true. Yet I think he can be helped.’
‘Perhaps what he needs is proper nursing.’ Harriet picked up the long fine scarf she wore draped over her shoulders and sometimes used to cover her head. ‘You may turn, my lord. I am dressed.’
‘Come with me. Jason was burning up earlier.’
‘He may have a fever. Sometimes it helps to bathe a sick person with cool water, as you suggested for Marguerite on the ship. It helped her, and I think it will often ease a patient’s rest.’
‘You have had some experience of nursing?’
‘I was my father’s nurse for two years—and when my brother was young he often had fevers. Thankfully, he has grown out of them now.’
‘You have a brother?’
‘Lord Sefton-Jones,’ Harriet replied. ‘He must believe me dead—unless Marguerite has told him I am here. Perhaps you would permit me to write to him and set his mind at rest?’
‘We shall speak of this another time.’
‘Of course. You must be worried for your friend.’
‘Yes. I think of Jason as a good friend. I should not wish him to die of neglect.’
Harriet nodded, but said no more as she followed him. He led her out of the palace by the route she had been taken the night she was imprisoned. However, they passed the cells and walked on to the building that housed the infirmary.
Inside it was tiled, cool and clean like the palace. There was a long room with many mattresses on the floor, but Kasim took her to a small room where his friend lay alone. The first thing she noticed was that the room was very warm.
