In the two weeks Jillianna had been in the harem, she had come to understand that the Grand Vizier was one of the most powerful men in Turkey, second only to Sultan Abdul Hamid I.
Her eyes moved over the gardens, which were spacious, and filled with tall, dark cypress trees, grassy terraces, and numerous ponds. The tinkling sound of water splashing from ornamental fountains seemed to be the dominant sound in this obscure section of the garden. She had come to this spot because it was the farthest point from the harem, and she could be alone.
Jillianna had not seen Lord Simijin since that first day when she had been delivered into the hands of his head eunuch. In the past days and nights, she had pondered her fate. What the Grand Vizier’s plans were for her, she could not guess, for he had many women more beautiful than herself.
She had discovered that the other women in the harem were as varied in their nationalities as they were in the colors of their skin. Jillianna had been told by one of the women that the Grand Vizier’s head wife had died in childbirth, and that he had neither replaced her in his affections nor elevated anyone to her station. There was much speculation as to who would have that honor, and Jillianna hoped she would not be considered; indeed she hoped the vizier would forget about her altogether.
Jillianna was not certain of the exact number of women in the harem, but it was soon apparent to her that they were all trained in the art of pleasing their lord. All day they would be pampered and preened in hopes that their master would cast eyes in their direction and choose one of them to share his bed for the night.
In this private world, that was located far away from prying eyes, the women appeared to pass their days in frivolous activities, some preferring to merely recline on silk couches with no purpose to their lives, or so it seemed to Jillianna.
She had learned that this was in impregnable fortress, a city within a city. Closely guarded by the head eunuch and his underlings, the doors were closed to all but the Grand Vizier and the serving women.
The harem itself was made up of nine pavilions. The lesser women lived together in several rooms, while the most important woman dwelled in the center apartment, which at this time was unoccupied.
Hearing the sweet sound of some exotic bird, Jillianna glanced up to see a brightly plumed bird in the nearby cypress tree. Scattered throughout the gardens were different varieties of birds in golden cages.
Although Jillianna had not seen her or been summoned into her presence as of yet, she was told that the mother of the Grand Vizier lived behind the palace walls. She was extremely powerful and extracted an oath of obedience from the women in her son’s harem. None dared visit her without her permission, and never without being formally dressed.
Even though Jillianna had only been in the harem for a short time, already she had encountered the jealousies between the women, which were like sores ready to canker. She found the whole situation demeaning to womanhood, and she had no intention of joining in their way of life. Her one fear was that Lord Simijin would single her out, while she preferred to remain one of many.
Accustomed to a cooler climate, she was feeling the heat more than ever, because she was heavy with child. She sighed, thinking England was so far away. She doubted she would ever see her family again.
Suddenly, a shadow fell across Jillianna’s face, and she looked up to see the pot-bellied eunuch, who was master of this domain. He motioned for Jillianna to follow him. Until today the man had paid not attention to her. Most probably he had not considered her important. As she fell into step beside him, she wondered what he wanted with her now.
She was learning that this black eunuch was a man of immense power and wealth and even owned his own slaves. He was also the only link the harem had with the outside world.
She glanced sideways at him. He wore a silken robe and a broad sash. A sable-trimmed pelisse reached almost to the ground, and a pointed headdress sat atop his bald head.
Jillianna paused at the door when he entered the bath, following only when he called her forward. There were white marble floors and several marble tubs inside. The water was heated in copper boilers and gushed into the tubs through delicately carved fountains.
It seemed the vizier was a fastidious man, who insisted the women of his harem not only bathe daily, but also wash their hands before each meal. This was the first time Jillianna had been brought to the bath, and she cringed inside, fearing it meant that the Grand Vizier had summoned her.
The eunuch nodded toward the tub. “It is time for you to bathe, English Rose.” He bowed to her and quickly departed, leaving her confused.
Not knowing what was expected of her, she looked at the walls, which were inlaid with semiprecious stones of remarkable color and designs. In a ponderous mood, she sank down on a crimson cushion, knowing that she did not belong here. She was shocked by how frivolous the women were. And she would never grow accustomed to how little clothing they wore.
She glanced up as a woman draped all in black entered the room, followed by six slave girls. The woman in black bowed to Jillianna and spoke to her in heavily accented English. “I am Lord Simijin’s mother, Lady Bija. I am here to see that you are prepared for my son.” Her eyes swept over Jillianna, and she nodded approvingly. “Yes, you may be the one who can make my son smile again. Many have tried, but none have succeeded.”
Jillianna came to her feet quickly, as fear pounded in her heart. “Surely you must be mistaken. I was told that women linger for years without seeing Lord Simijin. I have been told that some of them never see him. Why should he want to see me now?”
His mother shrugged. “It is not for you to question. Lord Simijin has asked for you, and you must be prepared to receive him.”
Jillianna knew the moment she dreaded had come. But why would the Grand Vizier want her, when he had so many beautiful women in his harem? Surely he could not want a woman who was heavy with child. Her mind was in a quandary as she tried to think how she could save herself from this situation.
Jillianna realized that she had no choice but to give in to the inevitable. Her body was shaved, and she was scrubbed and bathed, then wrapped in rice flour and oil to soften her skin. She was perfumed, and her long lashes were painted with kohl and her fingernails dyed a deep crimson. She was draped in a cloth of the finest gold, and shimmering jewels were placed about her neck and wrists.
At last the women stood back, studying their handiwork, and Lady Bija spoke words that struck fear in Jillianna’s heart.
“You are very beautiful, even swollen with child. It is easy to see why my son desires you.” Then the Grand Vizier’s mother withdrew, motioning for the other women to follow her.
Jillianna was alone for only a moment before the head eunuch reentered the bath. When he motioned for her to follow him, she had no choice but to comply.
He led her down twisting walkways, past colorful gardens, and finally into a brilliant, domed pavilion. Her golden sandals were noiseless as she walked across the colorful mosaic floor.
A magnificent door, which reached to the height of the building, was pushed open, and the eunuch motioned for her to enter.
After Jillianna reluctantly stepped inside, the door was closed behind her, and she found herself in an astonishing round room. The walls and floor were crafted from white marble, and priceless Persian carpets were scattered about the room. On the western wall, there were twelve windows decorated with delicately carved woodwork. The furnishings consisted of a desk, several divans, and a table laden with food.
She could see another room beyond a carved archway, and her eyes moved quickly away from the white, satin-draped bed with its scarlet tassels.
She had not seen him there at first, but the Grand Vizier himself stood before one of the windows, his hands clasped behind his back, his dark eyes closely observing Jillianna.
Simijin was dressed in a black flowing robe without benefit of ornaments, and his head was uncovered. When he spoke, his voice was deep. “I am delighted to see you,
Jillianna. I had feared your many adventures might have proved detrimental to your well-being. I am glad that is not the case. You look lovely.”
She stood like a statue, her spine straight, her head high, but still she clung to the doorknob, unwilling to venture farther into the room.
“My lord, how can you speak of my well-being, when you hold me here against my will?”
She thought he smiled, but she could not be certain. “I trust you are enjoying good health?” he inquired.
“Yes. My health has always been good.”
“Then you are most fortunate. I can assure you that good health is a gift from God.”
She met his eyes. “Which God, yours or mine?”
He inclined his head. “I believe your God and mine are one and the same, as you will soon learn.”
She looked skeptical, but decided not to pursue the subject. “You may as well know right now that I do not want to come to you tonight, my lord.”
She had expected anger, but his expression was composed. “I am aware of that. But allow me to assure you that you have nothing to fear from me.” He held his hand out to her. “Will you not be seated with me at the table? I have had my cook prepare many delectable dishes just to please you.”
Jillianna ignored his hand, and glanced at the food—succulent lamb, calf, lobster, swordfish, stuffed pheasant and venison, not to mention delicacies she had never seen before. Surely there was enough there to feed the whole harem. The air was thick with the scent of the onions and garlic that flavored the meats. There were dates and plums dipped in honey for sweetening. She saw a large variety of fruits and sherbets, iced in snow, and she was tempted by the sight of the thick almond cream sweetened with honey and sprinkled with ginger.
She took one hesitant step away from the door to stand on the edge of a yellow-and-blue carpet. “There is much you do not know about me, Lord Simijin.”
He drew near. “Such as?”
“Such as, unlike the women in your harem, I do not desire your company.”
He seated himself at a table and motioned for her to come forward. “I wonder why you should feel thus, Jillianna. Have you not been shown every kindness since I brought you to my home? I would think you would want to come here tonight, if for no other reason than curiosity about your benefactor.”
“You do not have to remind me that I owe you, my lord. I am not ungrateful that you saved me from the slave market.”
“I was not reminding you, Jillianna.”
She took a timid step toward him. “I have been treated kindly, and I must confess to a certain amount of curiosity concerning you,” she admitted. “But I have no wish to know you better, my lord.”
“I see. It was by my orders that you were left alone until you felt comfortable with your surroundings. Unlike you, I have anticipated this night because I want to know you… much better.”
Reluctantly, she moved across the room toward him, her fear lessened by her need to make him understand her feelings. As she stood before him, she looked into his eyes, thinking how dark and foreign he looked.
“I do want to talk to you, my lord,” she said, in a voice that came out in a painful whisper. “Will you hear what I have to say?”
“Please be seated, Jillianna, and then we can converse much more easily. I find it very difficult to talk to you when I am looking up at you.”
She dropped down on a cushion, glancing at the food with interest. “I could not eat a bite until I have had my say, my lord.”
He smiled. “I can see why your husband accused you of being a strong-willed woman.”
Her green eyes sparkled with feigned innocence. “Oh, I am most dreadfully strong-willed, Lord Simijin. You should be rid of me without delay. Most probably I shall soon disrupt your whole harem. I am not in the least humble. I could never be subservient to a man, and trouble seems to follow me wherever I go.”
Simijin picked up a golden plate and piled it high with food before handing it to Jillianna. “You must eat, for the health of your baby. I am told you take very little nourishment. Do you not find my food to your liking?”
Without thinking, she shoved the plate aside. “I suppose the food is all right. But, I find it difficult to accustom myself to eating without the aid of a knife and fork. I have not been taught to eat with my fingers, like some…barbarian.”
His laughter was soft. “It is a good thing that I do not take offense at being called a barbarian, Jillianna.”
Her face reddened. “Oh, my lord, I did not mean to imply that you are…that you—”
He held up his hand to silence her. “I have long admired the English and many of their customs. I shall see to it that you are furnished with whatever it takes to make you feel at home here.”
Her eyes met his. “My lord, I could never feel at home here. Will you not send me to England? Be rid of me with all haste, and save yourself grief later.”
He leaned forward and pressed a date between her teeth. When she shook her head, he persisted until she took it in her mouth. “Tell me about your home, Jillianna.”
She swallowed the date without tasting it. “There isn’t much to tell. I grew up in London, since my father, an impoverished nobleman, had lost his lands and holdings. I am certain my father despaired of ever being rid of me. So, when an offer of marriage came from a distant cousin from Philadelphia, my father quickly accepted the proposal on my behalf and sent me to America. There I was married and lived for four years.”
“I was certain that you were from the nobility, Jillianna. It shows in the proud way you carry yourself, and in your delicate features.”
He picked up a thin slice of lamb and offered it to her. This time Jillianna took it in her mouth and found it delicious.
“So you went to America to marry a distant cousin?”
“Yes. I was but fifteen, and Matthew was thirty-five. He and his mother were successful silversmiths, and they were wealthy, though miserly.”
She was only nineteen. He could see that she was losing some of her fear of him and it gladdened his heart. She was a rare and beautiful flower, and though he wanted to keep her, he knew that if she did not find happiness here, he would send her to England.
“Did you like America, Jillianna?”
“No, I was not happy there,” she admitted. “You see, I was always in a predicament. I have come to believe that the devil was always knocking me down and then kicking me for falling.”
His lips twitched, and his eyes danced with mirth. “So you were always in trouble?”
“Yes.” Her eyes sparkled with a determined light. “I tried to be obedient, but I was always doing things like singing an Irish ballad in the church to the embarrassment of my husband and his mother. Then there was the time I caught my slipper on my mother-in-law’s finest shawl, and most of it unraveled before I discovered what I had done. I once spilled a plate of corn in the minister’s lap. And that’s just the start. I am guilty of much worse. My mother-in-law would tell you that I am most disruptive.”
Simijin found her confession so endearing that a strong urge to protect her took hold of him. “You will not find us so critical of you here, Jillianna.”
“I am certain that my husband had great forbearance, but he had much to contend with in me.”
“And did you come to love your husband?”
She looked at Simijin, not knowing how anxiously he awaited her answer. She had never considered love to be a part of her relation with Matthew Sinclair. “I never really got to know Matthew. We lived in the same house with his widowed mother, and he spent most of his time with her. You see, his mother was a very religious woman, and I fear I was often a great disappointment to her…and to Matthew as well.”
Simijin could read much of what she had suffered in her eyes. It was apparent that she had known little kindness or happiness with her husband. He found himself wanting to see that she had both kindness and happiness from now on.
“So, your husband died, leaving you to bear hi
s child alone?”
“You make it sound like he died intentionally. Matthew had a fever, and he just wasted away to nothing in a matter of two weeks. I was sorry that he died, and I was grievously sorry that his mother had lost her only reason for living. She is a very sad old woman.”
“What made you decide to leave America and return to England? Surely your mother-in-law would have rather you stayed with her since you were having her grandchild?”
Jillianna absentmindedly picked up a ripened pear and bit into it. “Mrs. Sinclair was still grieving for her son when she learned that I was…with child, and I feared she might force me to stay with her. But poor Mrs. Sinclair was wishing for death at the time, and when I suggested that I return to England to live with my father, she readily agreed. She provided me with passage money, and was probably glad to see the last of me. I believe she thought of my unborn child as belonging to me more than to Matthew.”
“Why do you think she was displeased with you?”
Jillianna took another bite of the pear and savored its sweet taste. “I often wondered that myself. Since I am English, I was raised in the Church of England, while my husband and his mother were Quakers. I am certain they found me sadly lacking in humility and what they considered proper Christian spirit.” She took another bite of the pear and smiled at Simijin. “I fear you will soon see those qualities lacking in me as well.”
He reached out and took her hand, studying the delicate bone structure. “I believe your husband was undeserving of you, and his mother was a fool for letting you go.” He rubbed his thumb over her wrist. “Shall I tell you something else, Jillianna?”
She wanted to drag her hand from his grasp, but she dared not. “If you like.”
“I have been unable to get you out of my mind. I had to see you again, just to know if you were as beautiful as I remembered. I fear I shall never be able to let you go.”
Now she did jerk her hand away. “Beauty can be an evil thing, Lord Simijin. You would be wise to be done with me. I have been told that my heart is black with sin.”
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