Bedazzled (Skye's Legacy Book 2) by Small Bertrice

Author:Small, Bertrice
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency
Published: 2022-04-11T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

The chief eunuch bustled into the harem, and, going to India, bowed politely. “My lady, your husband wishes your presence.”

India arose at once. “I shall never remember everything,” she said with a small laugh. “May I come back tomorrow?”

“Yes!” they chorused, and sent her on her way.

“Well,” Samara said as the harem doors closed behind the dey’s wife. “I have to admit she is likable. Or so it would seem. Prepare yourselves for a drought, ladies. He will not grow tired of her for some time, and we, fools as we are, are helping her to retain his attentions!”

“She will be with child the sooner,” Nila chuckled, “and then the dey will seek us out for his pleasure and amusement.”

“Why should she have a child when none of us have?” Leah asked.

“Foolish one,” Mirmah told her. “We are fed something in either our food or drink to keep us infertile. It is common practice in the harems of Istanbul. Did none of you know that? The lady India, however, will be given no such cordial. Indeed, she will be fed all manner of delicacies, as will the dey, to encourage them to produce a child. It will be nice to have a baby among us.”

“If she does not cease her cheerful, mindless prattle,” Samara muttered darkly to Sarai, “I may throttle our little golden bird.”

India, meanwhile, followed Baba Hassan back to her own quarters. As they entered the apartment, a young girl came forward, and bowed low.

“On the dey’s instructions I have been searching the slave markets these last few weeks, my lady, for a girl who could speak your native tongue and had a modicum of intelligence so you would have someone to serve you in whom you could put your trust,” the eunuch said. “I found this wench almost a month ago, and have endeavored to train her properly. If she pleases you, she is yours.”

India turned and smiled at the girl. She looked very young, and her gray eyes were quite apprehensive. She was slight of build and had carrot-colored hair that was quite startling in its brightness. “What is your name?” India asked the girl in English.

“Margaret, lady, though I be called Meggie,” the girl replied.

“You are English?”

“Nay, lady, I be Scots,” Meggie said.

“Ahhh.” India smiled. “I thought the accent not quite right. I am the stepdaughter of the duke of Glenkirk, Meggie. I grew up north and west of Aberdeen. Where are you from?”

“Ayr, my lady, where the laddies are braw, and the lassies are bonnie, ‘tis said,” Meggie told her new mistress.

India turned to Baba Hassan. “The girl will do excellently. You have chosen well, Baba Hassan, but then, I would have expected no less of you. She is not however, English, but a Scot. As I was raised in Scotland, I am comfortable with her. Now, where is the dey?”

“He dines tonight with Aruj Agha, who has this afternoon returned from his voyage. He will come to you afterward, my lady.”

“Is my

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.