At the baths the girls were scrubbed, massaged, bathed, denuded?of body hair, creamed, and perfumed. Their long beautiful hair was?washed, dried, and brushed until it shone. Marie’s rich chestnut curls were appreciated, but the blond locks of Renee and Celestine?made them far more valuable. They were garbed in transparent silks?and fed a light meal of capon breast and sweet fruit sherbet.
Promptly at moonrise the auction began. As they watched, Marie?felt a soft languor steal over her, and realized they had been drugged?to insure their cooperation. Helplessly she watched as Renee was?sold to a fat black Sudanese merchant whose delight as he bore her?off was evident. Renee opened her mouth to scream, but no sound?came forth. Only her terrified blue eyes told of her fear.
Girl after girl was sold, and then it was Marie’s turn. Khalid el?Bey quickly bought her, and because he looked kind she begged him?to buy Celestine too. The bey was agreeable, but the eunuch who?ran the harem of the captain-governor had marked Celestine for his?master. Khalid el Bey was forced by etiquette to withdraw from the?bidding for Celestine.
Marie was placed in the House of Felicity and trained as a cour-?tesan. But when the time came for her to make her debut Khalid el?Bey chose her to be a gift to Jean.
Celestine was not as fortunate. Her initial resistance to Jamil?assured her immediate success with him. But the naive young girl?fell in love with the cruel captain-governor, which made his interest?wane. When he instructed his eunuch to sell the French girl off,?Celestine committed suicide by leaping from the roof of one of the?Casbah towers.
Marie had been devastated by her cousin’s tragic death. It seemed?especially sad in light of her own good fortune. Jean’s strong love?had supported Marie through the worst of it. But the captain-governor?had made a bitter enemy in the young Breton girl. Marie did not?know how, but she was determined to have her revenge.
Thoughts of vendetta, however, were far from Marie’s mind on?this day. She was delighted to know that her mistress was also?pregnant. “I can deliver both our babies,” she told Skye proudly.?”My mother was the finest midwife in three villages, and I helped?her many times.”
“The doctor tells me,” said Skye, “that I have borne more than?one child, but of course I do not remember,” she sighed. “I wonder?about those children. Are they alive? Are they boys or girls? How?old are they?”
“Madam must not fret,” chided Marie.
Skye smiled sadly at the girl who, though several years younger?than she, still attempted to mother her. “I cannot help but wonder?if my children miss and mourn their mother,” she said. Tears filled?Marie’s hazel eyes and Skye felt guilty and hugged the girl. “Now?I’ve made you sad, and I did not mean to do so. I have heard that pregnant women are subject to emotional vagaries. Is it not true??I grow morbid, and you weep.” She made a face at herself, and?Marie laughed through her tears.
Skye smiled back, then asked, “Master Jean, are we through for?the day? If so, Marie and I shall spend the rest of the afternoon?luxuriating in the bath.”
The bey’s secretary nodded. As Khalid el Bey was a good, kind,?and gentle man, so was his wife a great lady, and Jean was grateful?that she extended her friendship to his wife. “Go along, my lady.?You have gotten so far ahead of me with the accounts that it will?take me at least two days to catch up.” He smiled with contentment?as the two women left him. Life was good here in the bey’s house-?hold.
In the early evening before the meal was served, Captain Robert?Small arrived at the bey’s home, laden with gifts for Skye, shouting?lusty greetings. Khalid delighted in the bluff seaman’s thoughtfulness, but Skye was truly touched by the care that had so obviously?gone into Small’s choice of gifts. There were several bolts of fine?China silk, rare spices, and a long strand of pearls from the East?Indies. From the New World Captain Small had brought an intri-?cately carved box of solid gold, lined in white velvet, containing?the most magnificent necklace, bracelet, and earrings of Colombian?emeralds that Khalid el Bey had ever seen. The emeralds, set in?gold, glittered with a blue fire found in only the finest stones. “They?reminded me of your eyes,” muttered the captain, flushing with the?words.
“Why, Robbie,” smiled Skye, “how observant you are, and how?very, very generous.” She bent and kissed his ruddy cheek. “My?thanks.”
“You’ll eat with us,” said Khalid. It was not a question. Skye?left to inform the cook.
The seaman settled himself on a comfortable divan. “I need not?ask, Khalid, for I see the married life suits you well.”
“Very well, Robbie. Do you think fatherhood will suit me also?”
“She isn’t!” A look of sheer delight crossed the Englishman’s?face as the bey nodded. “She is! By God, Khalid, you dog! My next?trip back I’ll have a fine gift for your son!”
“Or my daughter.”
“Nay, man, a brace of lads first, then a lass to spoil is always?best. Do it that way.”
Khalid laughed heartily. “The deed is already done, my friend.?We must take what Allah offers, and be grateful.”
The dinner arrived quickly, and Robert Small lowered himself?to the table amid the pillows. Skye sat at one end directing the servants. There was a whole leg of baby lamb rubbed with garlic?and stuck with sprigs of rosemary set upon a nest of greens and?surrounded by tiny roasted white onions. A white bowl held small?green artichokes in olive oil and red wine vinegar. Another bowl?was filled with fluffy white rice mixed with sesame seeds, sliced? black olives, green peppers, and sauteed onions. There were flat?dishes of boiled eggs, purple and brown olives, strips of red pimiento,?and tender green scallions. A basket of round, flat loaves of warm?bread and a silver dish of sweet butter completed the main course?of this simple family meal. Discreetly attentive slaves kept the three? crystal goblets filled with subtly spiced fresh pomegranate juice.
The main course finished, the slaves removed the plates and?brought in silver bowls of warm, scented water and tiny linen towels.?Desert consisted of a huge platter of fresh fruits, golden brown dates,?round Seville oranges, great black figs, bunches of purple and green?grapes, sweet red cherries, and both green and golden pears. A? filigreed basket was passed, containing tiny pastry horns filled with?a mixture of chopped almonds and honey. Skye brewed the dark rich?Turkish coffee.
Afterward, hot steaming towels were offered to cleanse sticky?fingers, and water pipes were brought to the gentlemen. Two pretty?young girls played and sang softly in the background while the men?smoked and talked. Skye noticed that Khalid seemed sleepier than?usual, and she teased him. “It is I who should be tired now. my? lord, not you.”
Stifling a yawn, he chuckled. “Impending fatherhood is exhaust-?ing, my love. I cannot keep my eyes open. I am going to retire now?before I fall asleep here. Robbie, stay. Skye has many questions to?ask you, I know, and I have not given her a chance.” He rose. Skye?rose and stood within the curve of his arm.
“You do not mind if I remain for a bit?”
“No, my Skye. Fill your lovely head with all the things you need?to know.” He kissed her tenderly. “Allah, how fair you are! The?white silk caftan and gold embroidery sets off Robbie’s emeralds?very well. The blue flame in their centers does indeed match your?beautiful eyes.” He kissed her again. “Don’t wake me when you?come to bed, my love. I’ll sleep through the night.”
She kissed him back. “Sleep well, my darling. I love you!”
He smiled happily at her, touching her cheek in a tender and?familiar gesture. Bidding Robert Small a good night, Khalid left the?room.
“You’ve been good for him,” remarked the Englishman.
“He is good for me,” she answered.
“You’ve had no return of memory, lass? Not even a glimpse?*’
“No, Robbie, nothing. Sometimes a sound or sight has a familiar?ring to it, but it is never anything I can put my finger on. And now?I don’t really care. I am happy as Khalid el Bey’s wife. I love him?dearly.”
They sat talking for some time. At the back of the garden the?little wicket gate creaked open to admit a dark, hooded figure.?Slowly, carefully, Yasmin made her way across the garden, keeping?well into the shadows. She saw two figures talking in the salon. One?was garbed in white. It had to be Khalid. He had worn white that?afternoon, while making his rounds. She heard a hearty laugh, and?recognized it as Captain Small’s. The captain and Khalid were talking?and would probably visit for some time.
Yasmin wondered if she should wait until Khalid had gone to?bed. The idea of disposing of Skye under Khalid’s very nose was?tempting. Yasmin wanted her master back, but she hadn’t forgiven?him for marrying Skye.
She crept on past the salon, keeping far enough away to avoid?the lights. She heard the low murmur of voices,
