The Lake of Sorrows by Rovena Cumani & Thomas Hauge

Author:Rovena Cumani & Thomas Hauge [Cumani, Rovena]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: romance, drama, historical
Published: 2014-01-04T00:00:00+00:00

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LVII

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“We are done, Yulebahar, you are in perfect health.” Karayannis leaned back and motioned for the servant girl to bring him the washbasin.

The small room in the harem wing of the palace was discreet. That was why Eminee had sent the doctor there when he arrived in response to her urgent summons. The room was discreet because it was old and seldom used and smelt like rotting seaweed. The night’s storm had raged North and left a soaked Yannina in its wake, under a dusk-like, reluctant dawn. Everything seemed damp and this room more than most. Karayannis had respectfully suggested that the bedridden Yulebahar, and the slave girl tending to her, be moved to another room; Eminee had told him to examine her first.

Now he knew why and that Eminee was a wise woman.

“Am I pregnant, doctor?”

“Be silent!” Karayannis spoke almost the moment she did, but too late. Scowling at her, he washed and wiped his hands furiously, then sat fidgeting on his wooden stool, waiting for the slave girl to take away the washbasin.

The moment she was out the door, he almost pounced on Yulebahar and locked gazes with her.

“You women are such fools! Could you not contain yourself for a few moments? You should have asked me that under four eyes.”

She cowered under his withering gaze. “What do you mean, doctor? That was just a slave. Noone else is around to hear.”

“Noone else is around to hear!” Karayannis imitated her pleading voice in a cruel mockery, nodding towards the door that had just closed behind the slave girl. “She has no ears just because she is a slave?”

Yulebahar burst into tears and the doctor suddenly shuddered at his own behavior. He sighed, then spoke to her again, now with a pity in his voice that nevertheless frightened her even more. “Yes Yulebahar. You are with a child. You have succeeded in doing what all harem women wish for, and you will be second only to Eminee in the Pasha’s favor very soon.” He sighed again. “You will also be second only to Eminee as the rival to remove for others who want precisely what you want. I would imagine the lady Eminee has already told you that, though. And apparently it did not give you pause.”

Yulebahar sobbed and furtively looked left and right.

“But it is up to you. How careful can you be? You will have to become very cunning very fast for this baby and yourself to survive.”

Her eyes got brighter, but only for a moment. Then she shrank back into her pillows, gaze still darting to and fro.

“It is too late for second thoughts, Yulebahar. I apologize for my rudeness, but you women seem to always act first and think afterwards.”

She frowned, not at his words, but at the sheer hatred in his eyes as he spoke them.

He looked out the room’s one small window, towards the mountains swathed in heavy grey clouds. “Forgive a tired man’s foul mood, Yulebahar. I have been laboring all night to save another poor soul, but I fear it has been in vain.

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