Lost Love Found (53 page)

Water
. It was all about them, not simply by nature’s design but because it was an important part of the religion of Islam. There were fountains everywhere, filled by underground waterpipes that stemmed from cisterns and water tanks that took the life-giving liquid from ancient aqueducts outside the city. The public baths were magnificent and open to all. There were even specific times set aside for the women, who, even if they had the luxury of baths within their houses, nevertheless enjoyed going to the public baths so that they might meet with their friends and gossip.

Peeking from her enclosed litter, Valentina took it all in as she was carried down the steep hillside streets from the ghetto of Balata into the city proper. She shared her litter with Sarai and with Cain Kira’s outspoken young wife, Shohannah. Beside the litter, mounted on fine horses, rode Lord Burke and the earl, suitably attired in Turkish garments so as not to attract the scornful cry, “
giaour
,” foreigner. The crowds gave way before the important-looking litter and its mounted escort as it moved toward its destination, the Grand Bazaar. The bazaar was a section of the city unto itself, comprising sixty-seven streets and enclosed by a wall with eighteen gates. There were four thousand shops within the wall, all under one huge roof.

“There is nothing that one cannot buy in the Grand Bazaar,” Shohannah declared emphatically.

“Nothing?” echoed Valentina, teasing her.

“Nothing!” Shohannah swore. “Slaves, jewels, carpets, cloth, camels, rose-petal jam, spices, pots, litters! There is nothing in the world like it!”

“Have you ever been anyplace else in the world?” Valentina asked the girl.

Shohannah shook her head. “I have lived my entire life in Istanbul,” she replied.

“Then you cannot know for certain that the Grand Bazaar is unique,” Valentina answered. “London merchants sell everything under the sun, too.”

“Not under one roof!” Shohannah declared.

“The Grand Bazaar is unlike anything you have ever seen, Valentina, I promise you,” Sarai said confidently.

Simon Kira’s wife was right. As soon as they entered the Grand Bazaar, they stopped at a small shop that made and sold copper lamps and vases. Everyone walked, for it was easier to see the shops on foot. The litter followed along behind them. Padraic and Tom left their horses in the charge of a small boy who earned his living at the gates of the Grand Bazaar by holding the horses of the rich.

Like all of the women shopping, Valentina and the Kira women were muffled in outdoor cloaks and heavily veiled. Not so much as a strip of forehead was visible on any of them. Valentina was amazed, not only by the profusion of shops, but by the huge building itself. It had high, great-domed and tiled ceilings. Small windows set high in the wall all along the streets let in light.

The cacophony of the many shoppers and the screeching merchants bargaining with them was indescribable. The smells of the animals, of their droppings, of leather being tanned, of perfumes wafted about to attract buyers, of cooking food, of furs being prepared, and of the body odors of all the people combined to create an odor that was unbelievable.

“I must have those carpets!” Valentina declared as they stood in the shop of a jewelry maker. They had visited a rug merchant shortly before, and Valentina had been unable to make up her mind. Now she decided. “They will add to the beauty of the main rooms at Clearfields. And knowing you, my lord, the master chamber will have to be entirely refurbished to suit my taste! I do not relish cold floors on frosty winter mornings. I am going back to purchase those rugs.”

“Wait but a few moments, Val, and I will go with you,” Lord Burke said.

“ ’Tis but two shops away, Padraic. Besides, I wish to be surprised by your gift to me. I cannot be surprised if I am standing here while you choose it.” She turned to Sarai. “Is it safe for me to go back alone as long as I am well muffled?”

“It is safe,” replied Sarai Kira. “Istanbul is the safest city in the world. Ottoman law is harsh on miscreants. We will join you in a few moments. Your Turkish is quite good now, so remember to bargain hotly with the rug merchant or else he will cheat you. I will come as quickly as I can, but I must finish my business here.”

“Tell Padraic I favor the rubies,” Valentina whispered to Sarai with a grin. Checking to be sure that her outdoor clothing was secured, then waving to her companions, she stepped from the jeweler’s shop and out into the bustling street. She had barely gone a few steps when she suddenly realized that she was closely surrounded by a party of six or more men, all of whom wore white robes and turbans and were as muffled about the face as she was. They closed in about her, jostling her as she tried to reach the rug merchant’s place of business. The press of their bodies against hers swept her past her destination. Then she felt hands beneath her elbows, lifting her off her feet. She had no time to cry out as she was rushed around the corner and into an alley where a closed litter was waiting.

She was set back down on her feet for a moment, and Valentina opened her mouth to scream, but before she could, a silk scarf was tied about her veiled face, successfully stifling her cries. A robed man knelt to secure her ankles, then she was swiftly lifted into the litter, where her wrists were quickly bound above her head. The thick litter curtains were yanked tightly shut, and in a moment the litter was lifted and the bearers left the alley, melting into the noisy main streets of the Great Bazaar.

Valentina’s head was whirling and her heart was pounding with shock and outrage. She forced herself to lie perfectly still, for panic made her want to scream. With a supreme effort of will, she drew several deep, calming breaths. Panic was not the solution, nor would it answer the many questions her frightened mind was now asking.
Who were these men? Where were they taking her? Why had they taken her? Was it a mistake? And if it was, what would they do to her when they discovered their error?

It was extremely difficult not to give way to fear. She was so busy trying not to be overcome by terror that she lost track of time and was surprised to realize that the litter was no longer moving. The curtains were opened a little and a dark-skinned man leaned in and removed her gag. Her veil was pulled aside and a cup put to her lips.

“Drink, woman!” he commanded.

Valentina turned her head away. “What is it?” she demanded.

The dark man gripped the back of her head with strong fingers and forced the cup against her mouth. “A simple potion to calm your fears,” he replied. “Drink!”

“I am not afraid!” Valentina lied.

The dark man looked straight at her, saying, “You prevaricate, woman, but I admire your bravery. Now drink, or I shall be forced to deal harshly with you.”

It was a small defeat. She accepted it gracefully, drinking the fruit-flavored liquid. The last thing she saw was the dark man smiling and praising her obedience. She had known that the liquid was drugged, yet it came as a surprise to have to struggle to stay awake. She lost the struggle.

When she awoke, it was from a deep and peaceful sleep. She was lying on a large square bed that sat upon a carpeted dais directly in the center of a large room. In front of her was a wall of lead-paned windows that looked across a garden to the night-dark sea, now silvered by the waxing moon. She stared through those windows until, slowly, her brain began to function. She stretched gingerly and groaned softly.

Immediately, a pretty young woman with large brown eyes and rich golden hair was standing by her bed.

“I am Gülfem,” she said in a sweet, clear voice. Two young women appeared by Gülfem’s side. One had pale gold eyes and silver-gilt hair, the other red-gold hair and black eyes. “These are my companions, Säh and Hazade,” Gülfem continued. “We have been told that you are to be called Naksh, which means the beautiful one. Indeed, you are very, very beautiful. How do you feel? Are you hungry or thirsty?”

“My name is Valentina St. Michael Barrows, Lady Barrows, and I shall answer to no other name,” Valentina said angrily.

“You must not distress yourself, Naksh,” Gülfem said gently. “It is always difficult at first for a new slave to adjust herself, but in a few days everything will seem quite normal to you.”

“
I am not a slave!
” Valentina was outraged. With difficulty, she struggled to a sitting position. Her head whirled, then cleared. She suddenly realized that she and the other three young women were totally naked but for delicate gold filigreed chains that sat atop their hipbones. “Where are my clothes?” she demanded of them.

Gülfem smiled. “It is not permitted that we wear clothing within the Starlight Kiosk. When we walk outdoors in the gardens, however, or travel to and from our lord’s palace, we are suitably garbed.”

“And who is your lord? Who is this man who has dared to kidnap me off the streets of Istanbul in defiance of the law?” Valentina demanded.

“It is not permitted that we reveal our lord’s name to you,” Gülfem said meekly. “You are not yet worthy to know it.”

Valentina felt unbridled rage race through her. Her first instinct was to claw at the serene pretty faces that looked at her so anxiously, but then she understood that the three girls were mindless slaves. They were not responsible for her plight. She forced her anger aside. “Where am I?” she asked them. “Is it at least permitted that I know where I am?” If I know where I am, she thought, I can plan my escape.

“You are on the Island of a Thousand Flowers, Naksh,” a male voice replied, and Valentina turned to see the dark man who had given her the potion.

“Who are you?” she asked curtly. She disliked him on instinct, having seen the enjoyment he derived from having power over her.

“I am Shakir. I have been chosen to be your personal eunuch. I am in charge here at the Starlight Kiosk. There are three other eunuchs here to aid me. Their names, however, are no concern of yours.”

“Why have you kidnapped me, Shakir? I am a wealthy and powerful woman in my own land, and I stand high in my queen’s favor. Are you aware that I am friends with the Sultan Valide Safiye? I am also an honored guest of the Kira family, who will certainly inform the valide and the sultan about my disappearance. You must know how much power and influence the Kiras have. You have done a terrible thing, but if you will return me to the Kira household immediately, I will forgive you. Nothing will be said of your foolish crime.” Valentina attempted to look as brave as her words sounded.

A small smile touched Shakir’s mouth. He was a tall, slender man with a long, straight nose and almond-shaped black eyes. His large lips and polished mahogany skin gave evidence of his African origin. His clothing was extremely rich: a brocaded velvet robe of scarlet and silver and a cloth-of-silver turban with a large black pearl in its center. “Unlike these frivolous butterflies who are to be your companions, Naksh”—he indicated the three other women—“you are a woman of intelligence. You have caught my master’s eye, and as he is high in the sultan’s favor, his behavior will be overlooked—
should
it be found out, which it won’t. You were merely one of many veiled women who shopped in the Great Bazaar today. My master’s servants worked so quickly that you did not have time to attract attention. Therefore, nothing unusual occurred within the Great Bazaar today that would cause anyone to remember seeing you. You have disappeared off the face of the earth. Your friends will attempt to seek your whereabouts, Naksh, but where will they look and to whom will they go for assistance?”

“The Kiras will go to the Sultan Valide!” Valentina snapped.

“What can she do, protest to the sultan that the streets are no longer safe? What will the sultan do? He will instruct my master to send his janissaries to find you. Strange as it may seem, they will not.” Shakir laughed. “Accept your fate, Naksh. You will never again know any life but this one.”

“Go to hell!” Valentina shouted.

The three beautiful girls were scandalized, if not by her words, then certainly by her tone. One never dared speak in such a fashion to a senior eunuch.

“Naksh, you must not insult Shakir,” Gülfem gently admonished her. “He stands high in the Grand Eunuch Hammid’s favor. He is to be respected. He seeks only to be your friend. With his help, you can easily become one of our master’s favorites. Without his help, you might be sold in the bazaar and end up in some terrible place.”

“I do not choose to become one of your master’s favorites,” snapped Valentina angrily. “I am Valentina St. Michael, an Englishwoman of rank and breeding. I am betrothed to Lord Burke. I am a free woman, and I will yield myself to no man other than my betrothed. Do you understand that, Shakir? Never will I yield myself to any man except my betrothed husband!”

“You are overwrought, Naksh,” was the smug reply. “Hazade, prepare a sherbet for Naksh. Sah, see to her supper, for she has not eaten all day.”

Valentina leaped at the eunuch, nails poised to claw, but he caught her wrists and hurled her onto the great bed.

“Attempt that again, Naksh, and you will be restrained,” he said calmly. “Do you understand me? I hold the power of life and death over you.”

She glowered at him in a test of wills, finally deciding to look away. Let the eunuch believe he had won. She must not let him know how strong she really was.

The red-haired Hazade handed her a cup. Nodding her thanks, Valentina drank the too-sweet peach sherbet down. Säh brought her a plate with slices of lamb, fresh bread, olives, and apricots. There were no utensils, so Valentina ate with her fingers. When she had finished, Gülfem removed the plate and drew her up from the bed.

“Let us bathe now,” she said in her sweet voice. All four women went to the pretty blue-and-white-tiled bath of the kiosk with its bathing pool of warm, perfumed water. “Although we are members of our master’s harem,” continued Gülfem, “we have been instructed to serve you, Naksh.” She unclasped the dainty golden chain about Valentina.

“I am quite capable of bathing myself,” Valentina said curtly.

“A great lady does not perform menial tasks, even for herself,” Gülfem chided Valentina. “Besides,” she continued, lowering her voice so that only Valentina could hear her, “if you do not allow us to do our duty as we have been ordered, Shakir will report us and we will be beaten. Our master’s instructions are quite explicit, and our master must be obeyed at all times. Disobedience can sometimes mean death.”