She turned to her maid. “Let us leave, Ikaia. I do not believe we should disturb Lord Simijin at this time.”
Achmed was out of breath because he had been running. He drew air into his lungs and paused before his master’s door, saying to the guard: “Open the door. I must see Lord Simijin at once.”
The guard stepped aside respectfully and immediately admitted the eunuch.
“Lord Simijin,” Achmed blurted out, “I have just come from the market, where I spoke with Cridia, the head eunuch from the Grand Seraglio. He told me that they are making ready for a new woman of great importance.” He paused to take a deep breath. “He said that the woman is the daughter of your English Rose. It is the young mistress he was referring to, my lord.”
Simijin, a man who was always calm in the face of adversity, now paled. “Did the man say just how this was to be accomplished?”
“Yes, my lord. Since Cridia knows how fond I am of the little mistress, he warned me, at great risk to himself, that a troop from the Janissaries will come and take her away this very afternoon! He could tell me nothing more, but he warned that we should get her to safety with all dispatch.”
Simijin nodded at the eunuch. “Thank you, Achmed. We shall make haste before it is too late.”
Brittany had been unable to find her mother, but as she was dressing for dinner, Jillianna came rushing into the bedroom, her face pale, her eyes wide with fear.
“Brittany, you must come with me at once; there is not a moment to lose!”
“But, Mama, what—”
Jillianna took her daughter’s hand and pulled her toward the door. “There is no time to talk. We must hurry to the harem before it is too late!”
Brittany was mystified. Why was her mother so afraid? And why was she taking her to the harem when she hated it so much?
As they moved quickly across the garden, they were joined by Simijin. Brittany could feel the tension between her mother and stepfather and she saw that her mother was trembling with fear. Something was terribly wrong.
When they reached the pavilion, the door of the harem swung wide, and she was immediately surrounded by Simijin’s women. Gentle hands pulled her into a secluded room behind the bath.
Before she could ask questions, she was stripped of her gown and then her thin chemise. Juanita and Asha began rubbing a dark walnut oil into her naked body.
Brittany’s eyes sought her mother’s. “What is happening? What are they doing to me?”
Jillianna took a deep breath, knowing it was time to tell Brittany the truth. “Do you recall the night the sultan came into our quarters?”
“Yes, but—”
“He came that night with the express purpose of seeing you. He is a devious and evil man, and he has decided he will stop at nothing to have you. That is why you must be disguised, and we must sneak you out of the city and away from Constantinople. Once the sultan finds out you are missing, he will have his Janissaries searching for you everywhere.”
Brittany trembled in fear, cringing at the thought of that odious man touching her. “I will not go with him, Mama.”
“No, you shall not. Simijin has a plan, and you must trust him.”
By this time, Brittany’s whole body was covered with the oil that stained her skin dark. Now she understood the reason for Simijin’s conversation with the American sea captain. He had been bargaining with Captain Stoddard to take her to safety.
“But where will I go, Mama?”
“You are not to worry, my dearest. Simijin will see that you are safe.”
Brittany stood trembling as her golden hair was covered with ebony dye, and her eyebrows were darkened with kohl. After this was done, she was dressed in a heavy black robe.
“Mama, I am so frightened. Will you come with me, please?”
Jillianna blinked back her tears. “No, my dearest, I cannot come with you, for I would endanger you. You are going to America, where you will be with your father’s people for a while. I do not know if your grandmother is still alive, but your father’s family will surely take you in until it is safe for you to return to me.”
Brittany knew that she must be brave for her mother’s sake. “I will be all right, Mama. Do not concern yourself about me.”
Jillianna’s eyes filled with tears. “You must remember to keep the dark oils on your skin and the dyes on your hair until you are safely with your grandmother. Simijin and I have discussed this at great length, and we have decided that you are to tell no one who you are until you reach Philadelphia, because you do not know who you can trust. Swear this oath to me, Brittany, that you will keep your identity a secret. Let those you meet believe that you are merely a woman from Simijin’s harem so that you will be left alone.”
“I give my oath, Mama…but I do not understand the reason for it.”
Everything was happening so quickly that Brittany was being swept along in a tide of unreality. The thought of becoming one of the sultan’s women brought a shudder of horror to her, but to be parted from her mother and Simijin would be so painful.
A dreadful thought tugged at Brittany’s mind. “Mama, will you or Simijin be in any danger from the sultan because you helped me escape?”
“Of course not. The sultan would not dare harm me or Simijin, for fear the people would rise up in revolt since they love Simijin well. Our concern is getting you safely out of that evil man’s clutches. You will have to be very careful and do exactly as you are told, Brittany. Remember, you must pretend to be a woman of the harem.”
Brittany stood before the mirror, staring at the image of a stranger. Her skin was dark, her hair black, and she did indeed look like a woman of the harem. Her slight body shook with fear, and she turned worried eyes to her mother.
“What will I do without you and Simijin?” She looked at the dear faces of the women in the harem and saw that they were all crying. “I shall miss you all.”
Brittany’s mother embraced her, trying hard not to cry. Several of the women came forward and hugged Brittany, their silent glances telling her they feared for her. One of them placed a heavy veil across Brittany’s face so that only her green eyes were visible.
Jillianna looked about the harem at the faces of the women who had befriended her daughter. She could see from their expressions that they, too, were worried about Brittany. There were none here who would betray Brittany to the sultan. Jillianna felt ashamed because she had always shunned these women.
Jillianna took her daughter’s hands, wondering if they would ever see each other again. Brittany’s tears ran down her face and she wanted to cling to her mother. It was frightening being cast into a world she knew nothing about.
Jillianna smiled sadly. “I have written a letter to your grandmother in America, hoping that she still lives. You must communicate with me as soon as you are able.” Again she hugged her daughter to her, then quickly released her, fearing she would lose courage and not be able to let Brittany go.
Simijin quickly entered the room, and he looked startled when he saw the transformation that had come over Brittany. He took her hand and spoke to her lovingly. “Take courage, daughter of my heart; you will be in good hands. One day we shall all be reunited.”
Brittany embraced the man whom she thought of as her father. “How can I leave you and Mama? I will miss you both so dreadfully.”
He gazed into her eyes. “It is but temporary. Always remember that you are the daughter of the English Rose, and be proud.”
Simijin was leading her out of the room. Brittany turned back for a last glance at her mother, and found she was being comforted by the women of the harem. Simijin led her to a donkey cart that had been driven up to the harem door. Ikaia handed Achmed a leather satchel in which she had packed Brittany’s clothing and toilette items.
“Brittany, you will not be alone,” Simijin assured her. “Put your faith in Achmed, for he will be with you and has sworn to protect you with his life.”
Before Brittany could ask questions, sh
e was hoisted onto a cart and Achmed whipped the donkeys into motion.
Too frightened to think clearly, Brittany wanted to jump down and run back to all that was familiar. She was about to enter a world that was foreign to her.
The gates of the palace loomed ahead. In her whole life she had never been on the other side of those gates, and she could only imagine what she would find there.
When the cart lumbered up to the main gates, Achmed halted and turned to Brittany, pointing to the satin-padded crate he had placed there earlier.
“You must get in and lie down among the cushions and let me close the lid. It is Lord Simijin’s wish that we take no chances on you being discovered.”
Brittany shook her head when she gazed at the small crate. “I cannot fit in that. How will I breathe? It frightens me, Achmed.”
“See…” he said encouragingly, “I have cut these holes in the wood. You will be able to see where we are going, and you can breathe quite well.”
Trusting Achmed, she gathered her courage and climbed into the crate.
For a moment, she was certain that she would suffocate. But she found she could breathe and the thought of being discovered by the sultan’s men gave her the courage she needed.
She closed her eyes, wondering if this horrible ordeal would ever be over. Why had the hateful sultan come into her life? How would she ever find her way home?
Chapter Seven
The streets of Constantinople hummed with life, so the donkey-drawn cart driven by Achmed attracted very little notice as it moved slowly along, stirring up the red-colored dust in its wake.
Achmed guided the donkeys past covered markets where spices, ivory, and silk were displayed to catch the buyer’s eye. There were shops where rare pearls, gold, and precious stones were sold. When they moved past the Grand Market, the air was filled with the delicious smell of hot bread baking.
As the shaggy animals plodded along at their leisure, Achmed glanced back over his shoulder at the wooden crate, knowing how uncomfortable Brittany must be in the limited space. Even though he had cut holes for her to breathe, she would be feeling the intense heat. He noticed that the sun was going down and felt the need for haste, but the mass of humanity that surged about the streets slowed his progress to a crawl.
When a troop of Janissaries rode past, heading in the direction of the Grand Vizier’s palace, Achmed cast his eyes downward and hunched his shoulders, hoping he would not be recognized.
Soon, the hue and cry would go out that Brittany had escaped, and the sultan’s guards would be scouring the city for her. Achmed was determined to get Brittany safely on board the Victorious before that occurred.
Thorn Stoddard placed his signature on the document that had been handed him by Sydak, the harbormaster. “I am sailing with a full load this time,” he told the man. “So, we are riding low in the water.”
Sydak, who had been harbormaster for over forty years, shook hands with the captain, as was his habit when he encountered an American. They seemed to expect it! “It is good that you are soon sailing, for there is trouble in the city tonight, Captain Stoddard.”
“I had not heard. Of what nature is this trouble?” Thorn asked, not really interested, but sensing the old man wanted to talk about it.
“The sultan’s Janissaries are out tonight on a nasty mission, I am told. It may even be that they will close the harbor. Perhaps you should leave as soon as possible.”
“I have heard no good of the Janissaries. They are a ruthless lot, are they not?”
The harbormaster looked around furtively, and when he saw that no one would overhear, he answered. “At one time they were the elite guard, but that has not been for many years.”
“What are they about tonight?” Thorn inquired.
“It is said that they seek a woman of rare beauty whom the sultan desires. She is a woman from the house of the Grand Vizier, and there will be trouble and woes before this is brought to a conclusion.”
Thorn’s interest was aroused. “Like everyone else who comes to your shores, I have heard that the Grand Vizier has a wife of great beauty. I believe she is referred to as the English Rose.”
“Yes, this is what they say, but of course none has ever seen the English Rose.”
“Could it be her whom the sultan seeks?” Thorn wanted to know.
Sydak shook his head. “No, never her! The streets would run with blood if anyone, even the sultan, tried to take the English Rose from Lord Simijin.” Sydak leaned in closer and whispered, as if he were afraid of being overheard. “I do not know who this woman is,” he shrugged his shoulders, “but to think a mere woman would cause such a commotion. She must indeed be beautiful. Pity her if the sultan does find her, for it is said that he is touched by madness. Many of us wish for the days before his uncle, Abdul Hamid, died and Selim came to power.”
Thorn recalled his audience with the Grand Vizier. He was grateful that he had rejected Lord Simijin’s offer to take his woman to safety; she must be the one the sultan was searching for tonight. All he needed was to become embroiled in the politics of Turkey!
Sydak saw the impatience in the captain’s eyes and bowed low to him, taking his leave. What did an American care about the fate of one woman, he thought regretfully, or the problems of Turkey and the ruthless Sultan Selim?
Thorn watched the old man depart before he went below deck to his cabin. He had to make ready to sail before dawn. If there was going to be trouble between the sultan and his Grand Vizier, he wanted to be out of the harbor when it happened.
Cappy Hamish, the first mate of the Victorious, watched the big black man lumber up the gangplank carrying a bulky crate with obvious ease.
Gently the eunuch sat the crate down, and smiled at the first mate. “You will remember that I was here this afternoon. My name is Achmed, and I come from the Grand Vizier with a gift for your Captain Stoddard.”
“The captain has left orders that he is not to be disturbed. I will have to stow the crate in the cargo hold for now. The gift will be given to Captain Stoddard after we have sailed.”
Achmed smiled. He had purposely waited until the hour was late in hopes that the captain would be too occupied with charting his maps to be disturbed.
Cappy called two of the crew. “Here…look lively, men. Stow this crate in the hold.”
When the men tilted the crate on its side, Achmed protested. “The gift within is of a great value, so I would caution you to have the greatest care and carry it upright.”
Cappy instructed the men to do as the eunuch requested. He also gave his consent when Achmed begged to be allowed to accompany the crew below deck to make certain the crate was properly stowed.
It was but a short time later when Achmed returned and bowed before Cappy. “Sir, it is my wish to take passage on your ship. I have always desired to see your America.”
Cappy looked surprised. “Are you aware that this ship is bound for Charleston, South Carolina?”
“It does not matter the destination. Here I am a slave; there I will be a free man.”
Cappy looked astounded. “Do you know anything about America—in particular, the South?”
“No, but I am willing to learn.”
Cappy shook his head. “You may be trading one master for another. I have never heard of a time when a man of black skin asked to be transported to the South. Sounds like Daniel asking to be put in the lions’ den to me.”
Achmed did not understand the first mate’s meaning. Taking a purse from his belt, he held out a gold nugget. “Will this pay my passage to America?”
Cappy nodded. “Yes, and you will have money left over. But you should know that there are no cabins available, so you will have to be contented with sleeping on deck.”
“If it is all the same to you, I will remain below with Lord Simijin’s gift. I will be quite comfortable there.”
Cappy found the request strange, but he had other matters on his mind and he readily agreed. He could not understand wh
y the eunuch wanted to watch over the Grand Vizier’s gift, when he was running away from him. He shrugged his shoulders. Turkey was filled with strange people with even stranger customs.
Jillianna stood behind the latticework, watching Simijin greet the sultan. Fear caught at her heart as the sultan glanced in her direction, and she had the feeling his evil black eyes were staring right at her. She stepped back a pace until she could compose herself. Even though she was still uncertain about her daughter’s future, she was thankful that Brittany was well out of that evil man’s hands.
The sultan’s voice was silky. “So, Lord Simijin, I come to seek my little bird and find only an empty nest.” His eyes narrowed to slits. “Where is she?”
Simijin merely shrugged in an offhand manner. “Are you referring to my stepdaughter?”
“You know very well I am. Where is she?”
“Do you not recall that I told you she would be going to England?”
A look of triumph gleamed in Selim’s eyes. “You would like me to think she is on her way to England, but I know better. I know she sailed on the American ship, Victorious. Several of my swiftest ships will put to sea within the hour, and I am sure they will easily overtake the merchant ship. And when they do, all aboard will be put to death, except, of course, the daughter of the English Rose.”
A cry escaped Jillianna’s lips, and she trembled with loathing and fear. With hands clasped, she dropped to her knees and prayed that her daughter would not fall into the evil sultan’s hands.
Simijin’s voice was calm. “I would not advise Your Majesty to touch my stepdaughter.”
Selim smiled. “Do you threaten me, Lord Simijin?”
“No, not I. But you are the leader of a great country. As you know, Turkey is important to many of the world powers because of her location. England will protect us because she craves this route to India, while France and Italy want to protect their rights to the Mediterranean. It might be well advised for you to remember that my stepdaughter is half English by birth.”
Enchantress Page 7
