She smiled up at him and said simply, "I adore you, Amir. Teach me to please you, and please me as you will. I have no fear of your love, for I know you will never hurt me. I trust in you, my love, so much so that I am willing to share you with your other wives."
"Never bring them into this chamber when we are together, Azura," he said gently. "I will always hold them in my esteem, but it is you that I will forever love."
Then he kissed her, his lips proving as they moved over hers the truth of the words that he had just spoken. Everything about her excited him. Her exotic scent, her silken hair, the very warmth of her sweet nature, her growing wisdom, her kind heart.
They could not seem to cease from caressing each other. He cupped her b.r.e.a.s.t.s in his two hands. She stroked his c.o.c.k with teasing fingers. Their bodies twined and untwined, learning and relearning. Their tongues tasted each other"s flesh, licking, nipping, their soft moans of longing echoing in the air. The time and the distance that had separated them had only increased the pa.s.sion they felt for each other.
Finally Azura took his handsome face between her two hands, scattering little kisses across his eyelids, the bridge of his long nose, and across his thin but sensuous mouth. "Am I shameless that I can wait no longer?" she asked him.
In answer he covered her with his body, sliding into her welcoming sheath. "Am I?" he countered, smiling. "I have waited too long for you to return to me, beloved." Then he began to move on her, slowly pressing forward, slowly withdrawing, over and over and over again until she wrapped her limbs about his torso. Her nails raking down his long back, she hissed one word at him.
"Faster!"
With a growl of delight he complied, his c.o.c.k flashing back and forth with increasing rapidity.
Azura"s eyes closed as she began to drown in pleasure. She reveled in the sensation of his thickness, his length, the fire he was arousing within her very soul. His body felt so solid beneath her hands, beneath her legs as they squeezed him. She could not remember being filled with such deeply felt gratification. It had always been wonderful with him, but suddenly it was beyond that. Her head was spinning with such intense feelings she wasn"t certain she could survive it.
"Amir! Ohh, Amir!" she cried out as the sensation of being swept up into the heavens overcame her.
He groaned deeply. He couldn"t seem to get enough of her. He thrust harder and deeper until his swollen manhood cried its surrender, exploding, his heated juices filling her hidden garden, overflowing onto the bedding beneath them. He could scarcely catch his breath. He was suddenly both exhausted and filled with contentment. When her legs fell away from his torso, he wrapped his arms about her, drawing her so close she protested, but only faintly. Then they both fell into a deep sleep.
Towards the dawn, Ali Farid came to find Nadim seated cross-legged outside the prince"s bedchamber door. "Why have you not escorted your mistress back to her own bedchamber?" he demanded of the old eunuch.
"They are not yet ready to be separated," Nadim told the head harem eunuch.
"He has never lingered so long with the other two," Ali Farid said, puzzled. "In fact he has taken his pleasure quickly, and then dismissed them."
"He does not love the other two," Nadim replied. "He does love my mistress, the lady Azura. She has his heart."
Ali Farid nodded slowly. The old eunuch could be correct, and if he was, no matter that Maysun and Shahdi were the first and second wives. It would be Azura, the third wife, who would hold the power in the harem. He would watch and think on this new information. "Continue to wait," he said to Nadim.
When the sunlight finally filled the room outside the prince"s bedchamber, the door opened. Nadim was instantly upon his feet, surprisingly agile for his age. He draped a soft cotton kaftan over Azura, and wordlessly led her from her husband"s quarters to the harem bath, where she was bathed, and then to her own small bedchamber where she lay down and slept for several hours. When she awoke there was a meal awaiting her.
The harem quarters were quiet. She called for Agata, and together they went out into the gardens. There they found Maysun and Shahdi carefully pruning some rosebushes. The two other wives greeted Azura with cheerful smiles, and Maysun suggested that they walk together, handing her shears to an attending gardener.
"You pleased him well last night," she told Azura. "We heard him singing this morning. It is rare that he sings." The truth was that they had never heard him sing.
Azura blushed. Having her intimate moments with Amir discussed so openly by another woman was a new experience. She wasn"t certain it was something she would become used to, and she was not certain what to say in return. The other two wives took her silence as modesty, and were well pleased by it.
"You have made him happy again, which means all here at the Moonlight Serai can be happy," Shahdi added. Secretly she was a little annoyed, for she had believed their husband was content before Azura came. Now it would appear he had not been. Why could she and Maysun not be enough for an unimportant prince who avoided both battle and the responsibilities of his great family?
"I am glad, then," Azura replied, finally realizing that the two older wives appreciated her demure manner.
"You have not been trained in the way of harem women," Maysun said. "I have heard that proper women from the West come to their husband"s beds as virgins, but know nothing of how to make love. They rely on their men to teach them these things. You had a husband once, didn"t you?"
"Yes, a cruel man," Azura said. "His manners with me were depraved and corrupt. When my mother learned of it she stole me from him, hid me away, and my family attempted to have the union dissolved. It was then I met Prince Amir. We became friends, but not lovers, as I was a married woman even if I did not live with my husband. Eventually my husband found me. He beat me, but the women who served me drove him from my house. He was returning to Florence to get aid in his attempt to bring me back when he was murdered upon the road."
"By robbers?" Shahdi asked. "Or enemies? Or was it your family?"
"It was not a robbery, for his jewelry remained upon his person, and his full purse was still on his belt," Azura said. "No one has ever found out who killed him. His reputation was such that no one, even his grown sons, cared. They were glad he was dead. He was an evil man, and had no real friends."
"Being a virtual innocent then was quite permissible," Maysun said, "but now we share a husband. We would be remiss if we did not school you in harem ways. Amir loves you, but as with all men, love is not enough. We will teach you how to entertain him like a good Turkish wife. He must not get bored, and seek a larger harem."
"You mean a fourth wife?" Azura asked.
"It isn"t just another wife we must all consider," Maysun said.
"He could add other women, such as concubines, to this harem," Shahdi explained. "He wouldn"t have to give them the status of wife as he has given the three of us, but he may have other women. You must learn how to keep him happy, Azura, for all of us."
Agata snorted at this, and spoke in their native Florentine dialect. "They would put a great deal of responsibility upon you," she grumbled. "I do not know if I would trust these two. What is it they wish to teach you? Will it be proper behavior, or will it shock the prince, causing you a loss of his favor?"
"I think I can trust Nadim to guide me," Azura replied. "I believe these two mean well. They have no illusions about Amir"s love for them or his love for me."
"What is it your woman says?" Maysun asked.
"This new language is difficult for her," Azura explained. "She wanted to know exactly what it was you were saying to me. She has been with me for many years, and did not have to follow me here, for my younger sister would have taken her into her service in Venice. But she came, and like a mother is protective of me."
"Ahh," Maysun said, smiling and reaching out to pat Agata"s arm rea.s.suringly. "You need not worry, faithful one," she said. "We mean your lady no harm."
Agata nodded enthusiastically, smiling back. "I understand now, lady," she told the first wife in halting Turkish. "Thank you! Thank you!"
It was a very credible performance, Azura thought. As far as Maysun and Shahdi were concerned, Agata was a devoted retainer, even if she was not too clever.
"In a few days" time when you have settled yourself," Maysun said, "we will begin to teach you the many ways in which a woman can pleasure and please a man."
"I will be happy to have my ignorance corrected and hope to be a good student of your wisdom," Azura a.s.sured the first wife.
Over the next few days Maysun became more rea.s.sured by the respectful att.i.tude exhibited by the new third wife. Bianca was a kind woman at heart. Shahdi, however, remained wary and suspicious. She had secretly hoped one day to win Amir"s heart, and especially now that he seemed to be home for good. Azura"s arrival had given her pause for thought. Shahdi wondered if she could win Amir away from the lovely Azura, or if he might come to share his heart with her as well. She must rethink her strategy.
Both women might privately resent the fact that their shared husband called Azura to his bed each night, but her manner was so sweet, and the truth was that Amir was the master of the house. They had no choice in the matter at all. But Azura was sensitive to the two other women who had struggled against their own jealousies and fears to welcome her. She could see that Shahdi in particular was having a difficult time despite the gentle Maysun"s efforts to keep her calm.
"You cannot keep calling only me to your bed, my love," she chided him several nights later as they lay together recovering from an enthusiastic bout of pa.s.sion.
"Yes, I can," he said. "I respect their position in my life, but you are the woman I love and adore, beloved."
"You are behaving like a child with a new toy," she replied, scolding him further. "All women need tenderness. They have made your home a pleasant place to live. And before I came into your life they gave you their bodies to slake your l.u.s.ts. You cannot simply ignore them now. If not for their sakes, then for mine, take them to your bed as well, my dearest husband. If you do not, they will one day resent you. They have no children upon which to lavish their love and attentions, Amir. They never will. Be kind to Maysun and Shahdi, for they have been good wives to you."
"I have spent more time in your world than my own these last few years," he said. "My own mother was English, and my father"s favorite. I have come to see that there is as much wisdom in having one wife as in having three," Amir admitted. "Yet you, beloved, raised in your strict society, have a more open heart than I do. When your moon link breaks I will entertain the other two. I promise." He caressed her face with a gentle hand. "Will you give me a child, beloved?" the prince asked her.
"If G.o.d wills it I will most gladly," Azura answered him.
"A daughter," he told her. "Do not give me a son."
"All men want sons," she said, surprised.
"Not I," he told her. "I would have a daughter as beautiful as her mother."
Azura could not help but repeat his odd request to Maysun and Shahdi. "Why would he not want a son?" she asked them.
"Ahh," Maysun replied, "if he were anyone but the sultan"s grandson he would want a son, but the blood running through his veins is ambitious and warlike. The Ottoman rulers always fight for their throne. Our own sultan has two sons who quarrel over which of them will inherit. Our husband"s father, Prince Jem, is a skilled warrior who leads his own men into battle. His half brother, Bayezit, however, is wiser. He delegates only the best generals to lead his troops.
"Prince Bayezit already has several sons, of whom one, Selim, is also among his grandfather"s favorites, as is our husband. Our prince believes his uncle Bayezit will inherit Sultan Mehmet"s throne. When that happens, he could follow a family tradition and slay all other male claimants to the throne but his own offspring; sometimes even a troublesome son is strangled. This is why Amir ibn Jem wants no sons. A princess of the royal house has value to the sultan. Another prince is but a rival for the throne."
"Then Amir could be killed when the old sultan dies," Azura said fearfully.
"Our husband is safer than most princes," Maysun replied. "He has never shown any ambitions. His uncle is also fond of his brother. Our lord husband is cleverer than most. If he thought he was in danger, he would flee."
"Then I shall pray for a daughter," Azura said.
"What kind of a world is this we are now in?" Agata grumbled in her own tongue.
"It is no better or worse than the worlds we have known in Florence and Venice, where poisoning and a.s.sa.s.sinations are almost an art," Azura answered her.
"But to murder your male relations when you gain a throne is barbaric," the servingwoman responded.
"I think it is probably very efficient," Azura said slowly, thinking about it. "You don"t want to waste all your time and resources quarreling and fighting with your relations over your throne. A ruler wants to rule, and for his people"s sake he must. Removing the troublemakers is probably best, although I would at least give them a chance before I did." She chuckled. "We must both pray if G.o.d gives me a child that it be a little princess, and not a troublesome prince."
Chapter 15.
Fearful for her mistress"s safety, Agata consulted Nadim. "If my lady has a son they both stand in danger," she fretted, having now learned that often the wives of unwanted princes were also disposed of by a new sultan. "Only G.o.d can predict the child"s s.e.x. Better there be no child then."
"Your mistress is young yet," Nadim said. "There is time for a child when she can feel safer. If she birthed a son and there was danger, the prince would not leave them behind. Still we can prevent any conception temporarily, Agata. Is that what you wish?"
"In Florence there was a woman who made a potion to do just that. My aunt, Fabia, sought just such a nostrum for my mistress"s mother when she wished to rest between the births of her seven children."
"Yes, there are such things available here as well," Nadim said. "Would you have me find such elixir for our lady?"
"Oh, Nadim," Agata replied, worrying aloud. "Do we dare to interfere with G.o.d"s will if we do this? And yet I fear for my mistress."
"There is no harm in protecting her for the interim, Agata," the old eunuch said, soothing the servingwoman.
"It will not render her sterile like the others, will it?" Agata asked.
"Maysun and Shahdi were made sterile by a physician in the sultan"s house," Nadim explained. "Our potion will simply prevent a child temporarily."
"Then we must do it," Agata replied.
"First you must make certain she is not already with child. The prince has used Azura most regularly and enthusiastically since she arrived," the eunuch pointed out.
"Her moon link broke this morning," Agata said.
"It was on time?" he asked.
"Exactly. She will bleed for four days. No more," Agata told him.
"Then tomorrow you will begin giving her a strengthening drink," Nadim said. "I will gather the ingredients myself and mix it for you before she awakens."
Agata nodded her agreement.
For the first time in many months her mistress was happy. She was wed to the man she loved, and if she had lost her family by this action she had gained a new one. Used to the company of other women, Azura was comfortable with Maysun and Shahdi. The three women had settled into a reasonably easeful relationship. Maysun actually seemed content with the situation. Shahdi waited and watched for what she hoped would eventually be her turn.
While the first two wives knew that Amir loved Azura above all others, her presence had brought him home again. He had not been able to take them to Florence, for two women, each called wife, would not have been tolerated, even if he was a foreigner. After several years of being alone for most of the year, Maysun and Shahdi were content to have him back, to have his attentions if only for a few days a month. There was always the chance that Amir would get a child on Azura. Then the first two would share him until well after the child was born.
Amir found himself pleased at how well his household had settled itself with the addition of Azura to his harem. He hunted. He rode and oftentimes he took Azura with him, which at first surprised Maysun and Shahdi. While they had both been raised in a tribal atmosphere, it was the rare woman who rode a horse. Women walked or rode in carts. They watched from a terrace now as Azura and Amir, accompanied by Darius, raced along the sandy edge of the stony beach below their small palace. Their enjoyment of the scene was suddenly interrupted by Diya al Din.
"Are they on the beach?" he asked, looking down to see for himself. "You!" He reached out to grasp at a servant"s arm. "Go down and tell the master he must come at once. A messenger has just come from Istanbul. Hurry! Run!" Turning, he said to the two women, "Go back to the harem, ladies."
"What messenger?" Maysun asked him.
"This is not your concern, woman," the head eunuch said.
"Do not be so pompous, Diya al Din," Shahdi told him. "If it has to do with our husband, then it is most certainly our concern."
"I do not know what the missive he carries says, but he wears the badge of our great lord and master, Sultan Mehmet," the head eunuch responded. "The sultan is old. Who knows what it is about, but until the prince comes we must wait for answers, and pray there are no Janissaries behind this messenger."
"Better we pray the sultan"s gardeners are not behind the messenger," Maysun said nervously.
"Allah forfend!" Shahdi cried, frightened, for she knew, as did everyone, that the men who so lovingly tended the sultan"s gardens were also his personal executioners.
"There is no need to fret," Diya al Din said, with more conviction than he felt.
"Where is this messenger?" Maysun asked.
"I have put him in the prince"s antechamber," Diya al Din told her.
"There is a spy hole into that chamber," Shahdi murmured. She caught Maysun"s hand. "Let us go now so we may watch and listen."
"I will come with you," Diya al Din said. "I was not aware there was a spy hole there, ladies. How did you know it?"
Shahdi smiled mischievously, but did not answer him.
The three hurried to the prince"s apartments and secreted themselves so they might listen. They could see the messenger pacing back and forth as he waited for Prince Amir. When the recipient of the message entered the chamber, the messenger bowed and slipped down upon one knee, holding out the rolled parchment to Amir. He took it, opened it, read it, and then said, "How long did it take you to come from Istanbul?"
"Two days, Highness. I rode hard," was the reply.
"Do you know if the sultan still lives?" Amir asked.
The messenger shook his head. "He was not in Istanbul, Highness, but had crossed over to Bursa and begun his spring campaign."
"Then who sent you?" Amir wanted to know.
"I do not know, Highness. I was simply dispatched from the palace," was the reply.