“There are places yet that can benefit from Ottoman rule,” his grandfather responded with a smile.
The two men shared a meal together. Then Amir was shown to a bedchamber and invited to shelter for the night. The next morning he departed his grandfather’s palace, and taking a horse from the royal stables he rode to his own home known as the Moonlight Serai. He had sent Krikor ahead several days before to alert his two wives that he was coming. They greeted him warmly, exclaiming with delight at the gifts he had brought to them. He spent the night with them both.
Maysun was a tall, big-boned girl. She had dark brown hair and gray eyes. She had a sweet disposition, and was entirely content. His second wife, Shahdi, was more high-strung. A blond, brown-eyed Circassian, she had been disappointed to be given to an unimportant grandson of the sultan, although her family had been delighted. Still, as he was away much of the time, she had a freedom she might not have had with another man. Since she was a girl who had never been cloistered, this was a great relief to her.
After having spent the night with both of his wives, and having satisfied the two of them to their delight, Amir told them he would speak with them later in the day. Then he went to bathe. As much as he had enjoyed Italy, he realized he was very content to be in his own home once again. He was never more comfortable than when he was here. Breaking his fast with hard-boiled eggs, fresh apricots, warm bread, and yogurt, he smiled broadly when Krikor brought him a small cup of dark coffee.
“I’m going to go to Venice shortly to fetch Bianca,” he told his servingman.
“Can you reach her before they marry her off again?” Krikor wondered aloud.
“She is mine,” the prince said quietly.
Krikor said nothing. He had never seen his master so determined as he was in the matter of the beautiful Bianca. But then, she had been just as passionate. Surely they were meant to be together. “I will come with you, my lord. You cannot go without me.”
“I should never go without you,” Amir answered his faithful slave.
“When do we leave?” Krikor asked.
“Tomorrow. We sail from Istanbul to Venice, and back in one of my own ships. I don’t want to have to worry about loyalties, for we must be quick. It is possible we may be pursued. I don’t want Bianca in any danger.”
“Knowing the name of her grandfather will aid us in reaching her more quickly,” Krikor said.
“Send one of the eunuchs to bring my wives to me here and then go pack for us,” the prince instructed. “We will travel lightly. And I will want Darius with us.”
Krikor smiled, nodded, and went off to do his master’s bidding.
Several moments later, Maysun and Shahdi came into the chamber where the prince had eaten his meal and was now enjoying his coffee.
“You sent for us, my lord,” Maysun said. Both women bowed from the waist.
“Sit! Sit!” he invited them, and when they had made themselves comfortable he said, “I am going away again, but only for a short time. When I return I will bring with me another wife. Once she is with me, it is unlikely I will leave the Moonlight Serai again except at the sultan’s command. I will expect you to welcome her into your midst, my ladies. I will want you to pack proper garments for her to wear on our journey, and clothing for her good servant. I must rely on you both in this.”
“If you mean to remain at home, my lord, are not two wives enough for you?” Shahdi asked him, pouting. “Why must you bring a stranger into our midst?”
Maysun chuckled.
“What is it you find so amusing?” Shahdi demanded to know.
“This new wife is the woman of his heart, foolish one. Is that not so, my lord?” Maysun inquired of him, smiling.
Amir laughed. “She is, my wise Maysun. She is.”
“Then go and fetch her, my lord, so you will know true happiness at last. She will be most welcome in our home, which will soon be her home,” Maysun said. “If you love her, then we will too.”
But Shahdi frowned unhappily. She had always hoped to win Amir’s heart one day. Now, looking at him, she saw it would never be possible, and was sad. Maysun reached for her hand, for she knew her friend’s hope. She had known it would never be.
Chapter 12
Enzo Ziani began to court Bianca, despite the fact that she discouraged him at every turn. Francesca turned sulky to her grandfather’s entire household, despite her sister’s reassurance that she was not going to marry her suitor.
“If you are not going to marry him, then why do you encourage him?” Francesca demanded to know.
“I am not favoring him,” Bianca protested. “Nonnobrings me forcibly into the salon when Enzo Ziani arrives each afternoon. You see the footmen escorting me.”
“I’ve seen him kissing you in the garden,” Francesca accused.
“Then you have seen me struggling to avoid his kisses,” Bianca countered.
