"I cannot answer that question without the physician examining her, my lord," Azura told him truthfully, "but if I were to hazard a guess, I would say absolutely yes. She is a virgin. Her demeanor is modest and quite innocent." She reached out and took his big hand, saying pleadingly, "Promise me, my lord, that you will treat her with kindness."

"Do you know me for a beast?" he demanded curtly, pulling his hand from hers. His blue eyes were indignant.

"You are angry, my lord, but the girl is English," Azura said wisely. "Remember, you yourself believe she was cozened by your half-brother, who probably acted on your stepmother's instructions. She is as much their victim as you once were. Be kind to her, my lord."

"No wonder Sharif Mohammed loved you," Caynan Reis said. "Your heart is too good, Azura, but I will promise you that I shall not harm the girl. Provided, of course, that she does not attempt to harm me again," he concluded with a small smile. "I shall make certain I am not wearing any weapons when we meet later this evening."

"Then I shall bring her to you, my lord?"

"I must first bathe, Azura. I have not had the time today before now. Bring her to me in an hour's time, and then you may go to bed. Tell Baba Hassan that I will keep her with me until dawn. He is to come for her then, and escort her back to the harem."

Azura arose, and bowed to the dey. Then she hurried from the room to find the chief eunuch. Baba Hassan was ensconced most comfortably in his own elegant quarters, smoking on a water pipe, when the lady Azura joined him. Wiping the mouth of the pipe, he offered it to her as she seated herself opposite him. Drawing upon the hookah, Azura pulled the water-cooled tobacco into her mouth, and then released it. It was most soothing. Rubbing her essence from the mouth of the pipe, she passed it back to the eunuch.

"I have just come from the dey. He will keep the girl until dawn when you are to escort her back to the harem."

"So," Baba Hassan said with a smile, "you have put your little plan into operation, have you, my old friend?"

"I will not reveal to you what I have heard from his lips this night," Azura told her companion, "but he desperately needs to love, and be loved in return. Of this I am convinced. I believe this girl may be the one to find his heart."

"It is not a good time, Azura, for him to be distracted from the business of governing El Sinut," Baba Hassan said. "I hear whispers on the winds. There is trouble coming."

"What do you hear?" she asked him.

"It is the janissaries again," Baba Hassan said wearily. "They are planning yet another revolt against the Sublime Porte. Their people have been all throughout the empire seeking secret support, attempting to find weaknesses in the vassal states. I am told they will promise the rulers of Barbary autonomy, and freedom from paying tribute to Istanbul, in exchange for their aid."

She did not ask from where he had obtained his information, or if the source was reliable, for Baba Hassan would not have brought it to her attention if it were just idle gossip. Her only question was, "Does the dey know yet?"

The chief eunuch shook his head in the negative. "So far no emissary has come from Istanbul to El Sinut."

"And Aruj Agha?" she questioned him. "Do you think he will be loyal to the sultan or to his fellow janissaries?"

"Aruj Agha has been in El Sinut as long as Caynan Reis has," the eunuch said slowly. "I think he would be loyal to the sultan, but the camaraderie of the corps is strong, and his family has a history of service to it."

"And who would they replace Sultan Murad with, Baba Hassan?"

"The Valide Kiusem had three sons by Sultan Ahmed. Murad has two younger brothers, Ibhrahim and Bayazet."

"But it is the Valide Kiusem who is the true power in Istanbul right now as Sultan Murad is just thirteen," Azura said. "What difference does it make which one of her sons rules if she rules for them?"

"They intend to murder both her and Sultan Murad," Baba Hassan replied. "Then they will put their own people in place, and rule for the next sultan, who will be of their own choosing, and much too young to rule for himself. They might even slaughter the other prince to prevent any rival faction like the Siphatis from springing up. The janissaries are not merciful. Remember young Osman whom they brutally murdered a few years ago, my lady Azura? They have grown very powerful in the last hundred years, and as their strength has increased, so has their influence. They are rapacious in their desire for wealth, and for domination over the empire. If they could rule without a sultan, I truly believe that they would."

"Then perhaps it is a good time for the dey to fall in love, Baba Hassan," the mistress of the harem said thoughtfully. "Right now, his heart is cold, his memories of his family and his homeland bitter. He could act rashly, for what has he to lose? But if he loved the girl, if she bore him a child, then his actions would be wiser, for he would not want to lose this new family to capricious fate, as he lost his old family."

"I cannot fault your instincts in the past, Azura," the eunuch said slowly. "Mayhap you are right now, and perhaps the rumors will come to nothing and the janissaries be content for a time."

"The janissaries are never content," she replied, "but Istanbul is a long way from El Sinut. With luck we will escape the plotting and the inevitable betrayals that will come about from this latest conspiracy."

"I pray to Allah, the most merciful and compassionate, that you are correct, Azura," Baba Hassan answered fervently.

She smiled slightly. "So do I," she said. "Now our main goal is to see that India and Caynan Reis find love together."

"They are two difficult young persons. I suspect dealing with the janissaries may be easier," he told her with a small chuckle.

Chapter 8

India had been dozing. She was feeling very relaxed, and the soft fabric of the kaftan against her skin was soothing. Then, to her annoyance, she was shaken awake, and she heard Azura's voice in her ear.

"Awaken, my child. It is time."

India slowly opened her eyes, rolling back over to ask the older woman, "Time for what, madame?"

"Time for you to go to the dey," came the answer.

She was suddenly awake and completely alert. "Tonight? He would really ask for me? After what I did?" Her heart was beginning to pound with anxiety.

Azura gently pulled India from her mattress. "There is nothing for you to be afraid of, my child," she soothed the girl.

"I am not afraid!" India protested, but in truth she was. Still, had not Thomas Southwood warned her about appearing frightened? India determined to show no fear no matter what happened.

Azura ignored her protests, drawing a brush through her charge's dark curls, instructing her to rinse her mouth with mint water, and then leading her from the harem into a dimly lit hallway at the end of which were two large arched doors, studded with brass nails and hinged with heavy black iron hinges. Azura pulled the doors open slightly, and said softly, "Go in, my child. He awaits you." Then she gave India a delicate but effective push into the chamber, drawing the doors shut behind her.

The room was softly lit by a large hanging lamp burning scented oil. There was the sound of a tinkling fountain that, India reasoned, was in the gardens she could see beyond the room, past the curved pillars with their pale gauze draperies, that hardly stirred in the warm night air. The floor beneath her feet was tiled. The furnishings were simple but elegant, of polished wood, brass, and tile; some chests, tables, and a single chair with a leather seat.

"Come here!"

India started at the curt, commanding voice, and her eyes went to a large dais of carved wood, decorated in gold and silver gilt, which harbored a huge mattress covered in coral and gold-striped silk. The dey, wearing only his white pantaloons, lounged arrogantly upon the mattress. Her eyes widened slightly. She had never seen a man so… so… unclothed. It was very disconcerting. His chest was smooth and golden. His one garment was worn low on his narrow hips, and cut low to reveal his navel. Without the small turban he had worn in his audience chamber, she could see that he was dark-haired.

"Come here!" he repeated.

India shook her head imperceptibly.

Caynan Reis let his eyes examine the girl as she stood, visibly trembling, her back pressed to the door. She was absolutely the most beautiful creature he had ever encountered. The flawless porcelain, ivory skin. He had noted it when he had whipped her earlier. Cleaned up, he could see the prize he had snatched from his brother. He wanted to kiss the full, lush mouth and run his long fingers through her dark, silky curls. He could see she was terrified. Her golden eyes gave her away, but her stance was pure defiance. He slid off the mattress, curious as to how far she would challenge his authority over her.

Seeing him on his feet, coming toward her, India swung about, her hands pushing against the door desperately. She bit her lower lip to keep from crying out as she felt him behind her, his body pressed lightly against hers. She could barely breathe, but she swallowed the cry in her tight and aching throat, standing perfectly still even as she heard his steady breathing next to her. When one of his hands slammed against the door by her head, she jumped in terror.