another man, a stronger?force in your life. He was with you before, and will return to you?in time. Follow your instincts, my dear. They will never fail you.”
“And my child?”
“Will be born safely, Skye, and live to a ripe old age, as will?you.”
“Thank you, Osman. I will always have my memories of Khalid?el Bey, but to have his child is a far dearer thing. Thank you for the?reassurance.”
The astrologer stood up. “I will go now, my dear, and I shall bid?you a final farewell now. Since I was away from the city when?Khalid died, it is understandable that I pay my condolences now.?If, however, the man who watches this villa so carefully for the?captain-governor should see me here again it will certainly seem?curious, and it will arouse suspicions, so I will not return.”
“Jamil has set men to watch my house?” she exclaimed. “How?dare he! The arrogance of the man!”
Osman laughed. “My dear, he fancies himself in Khalid el Bey’s?place and wishes to discourage any other suitors.”
“I would sooner wed a snake.”
“That will not be necessary,” replied the astrologer drily. “You?will easily escape him. He suspects nothing. When do you leave?”
“In two nights. It will be the dark of the moon.”
“Good, but be careful. What of your slaves?”
“I have freed them, and will give them money to start a new life.?Jean and Marie will come with me.”
‘Tell the others that I will employ any who choose to stay. Ask?those who prefer to go to remain here until I come to take possession?of the house in six days. If they go about their business as usual,?the captain-governor’s spies will suspect nothing. That will give you?a four-day start. It should be enough to get you out into the western?sea, and pursuit is virtually impossible then.”
“Oh, Osman, how can I thank you?”
He smiled at her. “By playing out your part as Allah has foretold?it, my dear.”
She walked with him back into the house, bidding him a final?farewell in the atrium. Taking his hand, she pressed it to her lips?and forehead. “Saalam, Osman, my friend.”
“Saalam, Skye, my daughter. Allah go with you.”
During the next few days Skye’s emotions fluctuated wildly. She?was frightened by the unknown awaiting her in the foreign-sounding?town of London. She was elated by the fact she was outwitting?Jamil, though frustrated that she could not inflict a terrible injury?on him in retaliation for Khalid’s murder. She was happy and relieved?that Jean, Marie, and Captain Small would be with her, but sad to?leave such good friends as Osman.
Then the night of her departure arrived, and she stood with Marie?making a final inventory of the few things she would take with her.?Most of her clothing would, of course, remain. This wardrobe was?hardly suitable to a life in England. She would, however, take some?caftans with her to be worn in the privacy of her bedchamber. The? flowing loose robes would be comfortable as her pregnancy went?on. The loose gemstones Khalid had kept, as well as her marvelous?jewelry, were all sewn into the garments for safe transportation. She?would take her wonderful gold brushes and combs, her crystal per-?fume bottles filled with rare and costly essences, and other things?of a sentimental and personal nature. They were all packed carefully?in carved cedarwood chests and passed quietly from servant to ser-?vant and finally to the silent English seaman who waited in the dark?outside the villa’s garden gate. Unaware of the little wicket gate,?Jamil had no one watching it.
Skye climbed to the roof of the house and gazed for one final?time over the city of Algiers. Below her, the night lights twinkled,?and she heard, faintly, the murmur of life as it brawled and sobbed?and laughed. Above her, the velvet heavens gleamed black, and she?stared deeply into them as if trying to pierce through the darkness.
“Oh, Khalid!” she sighed, then jumped, startled by the sound of?her own voice. She had not cried since the day they had buried him,?but now she wept without restraint. She stood in the center of the?roof terrace, her face upturned to the skies, letting her grief pour?over her. And when she had finished she said softly, ‘I shall never? grieve so deeply for you again, Khalid, my love. I have my mem-?ories, and I have our child, whom I regret will never know you.?Now, Khalid, I must leave our home, and I hope you will wish me?Godspeed. I wish you the same.” She stood quietly, and a great?peace flooded through her and she knew that he approved of what?she was doing. “Thank you, my love,” she said. Glancing around?the terrace a final time, she descended to the ground floor of the?house where the servants all waited to bid her good-bye.
She spoke quietly to each in turn, and they thanked her for their?freedom and the money she had given them. For now, they had all?deckled to remain in Osman’s employ. Her farewells over, she joined
Jean and Marie and walked through the gardens and then through?the little back gate.
By prearrangement, a closed litter awaited them. Entering it, they?sat wordless, each wrapped in his own thoughts. The bearers made?their way down into the city and to the docks. Captain Small awaited?them, and no sooner were they aboard his vessel, the
Skye could not remember her arrival in Algiers, but she would?always remember her departure. On a hill overlooking the harbor?she could pick out the spot where her husband’s tomb stood. Loom-?ing above the city she saw the sinister towers of the Casbah. Marie?smiled grimly.
“We are well revenged, madam. This morning I sent the captain-?governor a plate of sweetmeats in your name. I made them myself.?One of the ingredients was an herb that will render the evil Jamil?impotent for all time. He will never hurt another woman with his?lust again.”
“Marie! It is perfect! Imagine his shock, and then his shame! Oh,?how I wish I might be there to see his agony!”
The two women stood watching in silence as the lights of the city?disappeared in the distance. Then Marie put an arm about Skye and?led her to her cabin where, for the first time in weeks, she slept?soundly. With the tension gone from her life Skye suddenly began?to behave like the pregnant woman she was. She developed peculiari-?ties of appetite and was frequently sleepy. She became queasy and?then seasick when the ship hit rough weather off the Bay of Biscay.
Marie and Jean sat with Captain Small one evening discussing?Skye’s welfare. They all agreed that London was not the place for?a delicate expectant mother.
“It is your country,” said Marie to the little Englishman. “Where?would be a good place for Madam to have her
“There are many pleasant places near London,” replied Captain?Small, “but I would prefer she was someplace far from the city. It’s?not just the child we must worry about. The lady Skye has had the?severe shock of her husband’s murder. She ought to be in a quiet?place. I have set course for my own home port, the town of Bideford? in Devon. I own a fine big house several miles outside the town.?My sister, Cecily, lives there. She will welcome you all, and adore?taking care of the lady Skye. After the babe is born your mistress?may continue on to London. But perhaps by then she will not wish?to go.”
Thus it was that the
October morning to sail into Barnstable Bay and then a little way?up the River Torridge to Bideford. As Skye stood at the ship’s rail.?watching the undulating woodland scenery that sloped down to the?riverbank, she saw with sure instinct that this was a safe haven.?Robert Small had been right. It was here that she would have her?baby in safety. Whatever else came afterward, she would find the?courage to face it.
As Osman had said, Skye was following her destiny.
PART III
