Bought for the Harem by Anne Herries

Author:Anne Herries [Herries, Anne]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 978-1-4089-2355-9
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2011-09-25T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Kasim saw that Harriet was sitting in the courtyard in the cool of the evening, with the young girls he had chosen to keep as her companions. She was laughing, stroking the white cat he had bought as a pet for her and the others. At that moment she looked happy and perfectly at home in her surroundings.

He walked towards her. She looked up and a smile of such sweetness lit her face that his stomach tied itself in knots and he knew an urgent desire to sweep her into his arms and carry her to his bed. He thought she might respond to him if he taught her the meaning of love, but it was too soon. If he rushed into a passionate seduction, he would never know if she truly wished to stay. He must control the need she aroused and wait, let her come to him when she was ready.

‘I have brought the books I promised,’ he said and motioned to the ladies to stay. ‘No, I do not wish to disturb you or your friends, Harriet. If I may, I shall sit here with you for a while. Perhaps Catalina would dance for us?’

‘Catalina has been attempting to show me how to dance,’ Harriet said and smiled. ‘She is so graceful. I told her that I could never dance as she does.’

‘I should be honoured to dance for my lady and my lord,’ Catalina said shyly. ‘If Helene will play for us?’

Helene was the oldest of the three girls. She smiled and picked up her lute, beginning to play soft sensual music that accompanied the beautiful dancing performed by Catalina. Natalina ran to fetch a bowl of fruit and offered it to Kasim. He chose a ripe fig and ate it as he watched the dancing, applauding the girls’ performances at the end. When they had finished Kasim nodded and they disappeared into the harem. He turned to Harriet.

‘You will study these books when you have time and we shall talk about your feelings when you are ready, Harriet.’

‘Yes, my lord. I am sure I shall find them interesting. I have always liked to study.’

‘But will you believe, I wonder?’

‘I cannot promise that I shall believe all I read, my lord, but I shall learn as much as I can.’

‘Then that is all I can ask,’ Kasim said. ‘In the morning you may visit the children for an hour or so until the celebrations begin. One of the eunuchs will take you, because I have much to do. Afterwards, you should join Katrina and then someone will take you to the courtyard when it is time.’

‘Thank you … for everything.’

‘As yet I have done little. I hope you like the girls I chose to serve you?’

‘Yes. To serve me … I thought they were your harem?’

‘I have no harem. I freed my houris when I decided to bring you here. They have returned to their homes or chosen husbands from amongst the Janissaries, as they wished.

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