Azura watched him go, thinking that in three more days they would be at the palazzo she would now call home. No, not palazzo. Serai. The Moonlight Serai. Amir had been teaching her Turkish, and although she had never before spoken any language but her own, she found she was picking it up surprisingly easily. It would allow her to speak with his other two wives, which was important to making friendships with them.

Agata was not having as easy a time, however. "It twists my tongue," she complained, but she nonetheless struggled on, discovering to her surprise that she understood more of the language when it was spoken than she herself could speak. That, she realized, could prove useful to her and to her mistress. If the new household into which they were being fitted thought she could not understand them, Agata could learn more information that might help them. She explained this to her mistress.

"That is very clever, Agata," Azura told her. "Amir tells me that his two wives are ready and eager to welcome me, but I am no fool. I cannot be certain of that until I know them. Their servants will talk in front of you, and you will be able to keep me informed. I shall be the third wife, Amir says, but first in his heart."

"These infidels are permitted four wives, I have learned," Agata said. "I do not deny he loves you, mistress, but you will have to work hard to keep his favor."

Azura nodded. "I know," she said. "I have said nothing before, but I knew this before I decided to come with him, Agata. I knew back at Luce Stellare that if I followed him, I would have to share him with the others. But I have loved him almost from the first moment we met. I should rather have part of him than none of him."

"You are a rare woman indeed, mistress," Agata said sincerely.

"Or a fool," Azura said with a wry smile. "Still, I am happier with him than I have ever been with another."

Yes, she was, but these past weeks at sea, bereft of his pa.s.sion, a pa.s.sion she had been denied for so long now, had been difficult. Why was it that people believed women could not have the same longings as men? She ached all over from the lack of his touch, and the few kisses that they had managed to steal since they had been reunited had made her need only worsen. And now she must share his pa.s.sion with two other women! Yet even such thoughts could not disturb the newly named Azura's happiness. She had made her choice and there was no going back.

Sultan Mehmet greeted his grandson warmly. "From your smile I am led to believe you have attained your heart's desire, Amir," he said.

"I have," the prince answered, bowing low before his grandfather and ruler.

"And how much trouble did you cause in Venice to attain it?" the sultan asked.

"Has their representative complained?" Amir countered.

"No," the sultan answered. He signaled a slave to bring refreshments, indicating that he wished his grandson to remain for a time.

"Let me tell you a tale of adventure," Amir said, and when his grandfather nodded, he began. "Once there was a prince so desperately in love with a beautiful lady that he would do whatever he had to do to make the lady his own." Amir then went on to tell the sultan of how, unbeknownst to the prince, his lady love and her sister had switched places on her fateful wedding day. He related the comedy of how the wrong girl had therefore been kidnapped and brought to the prince's vessel. How upon discovering the ruse, the prince had had to return the wrong maiden and fetch his lady. How they had then escaped Venice, undoubtedly leaving behind chaos and scandal for the two families involved. He used no names, so even the attending slaves, who got caught up in the story, could not possibly claim that the prince in the tale was Amir.

Sultan Mehmet roared with laughter as he considered Amir's eagerness to be reunited with his lover, only to discover it was her younger sister. He was admiring that the girl had kept her wits about her despite her fright, and helped Amir straighten out the whole situation. "So in Venice no one knows it was the younger girl who would have wed the man she loved, and not his lady love? An adroit plot, my boy. You have claimed a clever woman for yourself. I can only hope she will get on with Maysun and Shahdi. Nothing is worse for a man than a quarrelsome harem."

"My wives are pleasant and easygoing women," Amir said. "They will welcome Azura into our home."

"You have named her Azura?" the sultan asked.

"For her eyes, Grandfather. Her eyes are the most amazing shade of aquamarine," Amir explained.

The sultan smiled a slight smile. His grandson was indeed a man in love. It was fortunate for them both that he had not inherited his father's disobedient nature. Mehmet knew he could thank the English kadin who had been his son, Jem's, favorite for that.

She was a wise girl that they had named Zayna, meaning "beauty," who had quickly learned the ways of the harem. She had carefully protected her only son, teaching him utmost obedience to the sultan. By the time she died, when Amir was yet a boy, he had learned his lessons well. Amir was the only one among his male sons and grandsons that the great sultan trusted not to betray him.

The sultan's own sons were always quarreling. His eldest son Bayezit's sons were as ambitious as their father, each having different mothers aspiring to see their own son rule one day. But Jem's only son had wisely taken himself from the midst of it all once he was old enough to make such a decision. He had become a merchant prince living in Florence, sending back bits and pieces of information and gossip to his grandfather from time to time.

He had disappointed his own father in doing so. Now Amir was back within the bounds of Mehmet's empire. Would he really be content to be a country gentleman with his women, his dogs, and his horses? But then he would also have his three trading vessels, and his interest in them had always been very strong.

"My lord grandfather."

The sultan's thoughts were interrupted. He focused his dark eyes upon Amir.

"My lord, I would ask a boon of you. I would have Azura come to the Moonlight Serai as my legal wife. Will you represent her before your personal imam so this may be done today?"

"Of course!" the sultan said enthusiastically. "You do this lady great honor, Amir." Then he called for his imam to come to them. A scribe joined them in order to write up the papers that would make the woman known as Azura legally married to the Ottoman prince known as Amir ibn Jem. Under the law, it was not been necessary for Azura to be present at such an event. When it was done, the imam prayed for the health of the sultan and his empire before Amir departed back to his ship carrying the legal parchments declaring Azura to be his wife.

He found her and Agata in the large cabin of the vessel eating their main meal of the day. While Azura bemoaned the lack of that wonderful Florentine invention, the fork, she seemed content enough to use her fingers now, picking up small pieces of roasted lamb with two fingers and scooping the saffroned rice up with three in a spoonlike motion. He joined them, seating himself cross-legged at the head of the small table.

"You found your grandfather well, my lord?" she asked him politely as she ceased eating herself and prepared him a plate of food with Agata's help.

"Very well, and pleased enough with me to have his own imam and scribe see to the legalities of our union, beloved. You are now officially my wife," he told her.

"Do I not get to come to my own wedding?" Azura asked him, sounding slightly annoyed. "Remember that you swore I should not have to give up my own faith, Amir."

"You do not," he said.

"Then we must have a priest of my faith bless this union," she told him.

"You will not find a priest in all of the empire who would bless such a union, beloved," he told her honestly. "You must be content to know that within the laws of my grandfather's empire you are now considered my legal wife, Azura." He drew the parchment he had carried from the palace out of his robes. Unrolling it, he held it out to her. "There is the sultan's signature on this doc.u.ment. He acted for you as your parental guardian. He did you a great honor."

The old Bianca rose briefly, but she forced her away, allowing the woman she now was, and must be, to speak for her. She had chosen this life freely. She had gladly walked away from everything she had been born into so she might be with this man. "Was it a nice wedding?" she asked him mischievously. If she was already d.a.m.ned to a fiery h.e.l.l for this marriage, her words were not going to make it any worse for her with G.o.d.

"It was simple and quick," he said, reaching out to grasp her hand and squeeze it. He was not a fool. He knew how much this acceptance cost her, but that she was willing to endure it only proved her great love for him. He kissed the hand in his.

"Shall I leave you, mistress?" Agata asked. The servingwoman could feel the tears p.r.i.c.king at her own eyelids. The love between these two people was overwhelming.

"No." The prince answered for them both. "I had best go topside and give orders for our departure." He scrambled to his feet and left them.

"How very much he loves you," Agata said.

"I know," Azura responded. "I know."

Their ship sailed from its dock on the Golden Horn and made its way through the narrow straits of the Bosphorus. On either side of them, beautiful green hills edged the water. Finally they exited the straits into the Black Sea. Their route kept them within sight of the sh.o.r.eline, for this sea could be fickle. The storms that came up quickly were apt to be very dangerous and deadly. Then, on the third morning, Agata awakened Azura excitedly. "Come! Come and see," she said to her mistress. "We have anch.o.r.ed, and Moonlight Serai is within sight! It is like a pristine white jewel in the green hills, mistress! It is beautiful. In all of Florence or Venice, I have never seen anything so beautiful!"

Azura arose from her bed and came to look. "Oh, how lovely!" she exclaimed, gazing out at the small palace that would soon be her home. It was set upon a high cliff above the sea. There would be outbuildings, of course, and gardens, for Amir loved gardens. She didn't think any place that he called home would be without gardens. She was eager to see all of it. "Let us quickly dress," she said to Agata.

The cabin door opened and Amir came in. "Ahh," he said, pleased, "you are awake and can view your new home, beloved."

"When may we go ash.o.r.e?" she asked him excitedly.

"Shortly," he told her. "I must go and see that the messenger I sent from Istanbul arrived safely and that all is in readiness for you."

"A messenger?" Azura said, curious.

"A pigeon," he told her. "It is how I communicate with my grandfather or my women when necessary, or my captains communicate with me when their vessels arrive in port after a voyage. It is very convenient."

"Oh, look!" Agata cried. "A flag has just been raised from the rooftop of the Serai, my lord. It is green and has a crescent moon upon it."

"We are being welcomed," Amir said with a smile. "Obviously my message was received by my head eunuch, Diya al Din. He manages my household as a majordomo would serve a n.o.ble house in Venice or Florence. The eunuch serving as guardian of my harem is called Ali Farid."

"Have you other women in your harem besides your first two wives?" Agata inquired of the prince boldly. It was a query she knew her mistress wanted to ask but would not. Agata also understood that once they left this vessel her ability to ask such candid questions would be severely curtailed.

Amir looked amused by the question. "I have no need for a harem filled with quarreling women," he told them both. "There are none I need or wish to impress. The only other females in my household are servingwomen. Perhaps your mistress has not told you, Agata, but my first two wives were taken at my lord grandfather, the sultan's, request to honor the political allies from whose families these women came. Their positions are to be respected, but it is your mistress who has my whole heart.

"Now do not dare to question me again, woman. Though you are not a slave, you are a servant in my household and subject to the same rules and customs as all the others who serve me. Such boldness will disturb the eunuchs. Do you understand me?" He looked directly at her, his blue eyes grave.

"Yes, my lord prince," Agata replied, bowing from the waist as her mistress had recently taught her was the polite action to go with any response to him, be it yes or no. "Forgive my boldness. It will not happen again."

His mouth twitched but he managed not to laugh. This sort of adjustment was going to be very difficult for the outspoken Florentine woman, but Amir knew she would try hard for the sake of her mistress.

"If we have been welcomed, my dear lord, then are we free to go ash.o.r.e?" Azura asked him, smiling. "I will admit I am eager to take a bath, for certainly I am rank after our many days at sea."

"Get dressed and put on your pelisses," he told them as he left them. "I will go now and make certain the boat is ready to take us ash.o.r.e."

Shortly after he had gone, the two women, cloaked and veiled, joined him upon the deck. They were settled into a boat, which was then lowered from the vessel into the choppy sea. Despite the sunlight dancing upon the water, Azura could comprehend how the Black Sea had gained its name. She had never before seen waters so dark and forbidding. She thought of the bright blue and blue-green waters of the Adriatic, the Mediterranean, and the Aegean seas through which they had traveled. Even the little sea of Marmara had a far friendlier look than these waters. Both women were relieved to have their transport rowed quickly to the rocky sh.o.r.e, where a party of people awaited their arrival.

"My lord prince, welcome home!" A tall, thin black man stepped forward, bowing.

"Thank you, Diya al Din," Amir said. "The lady with me is my new wife, Azura, and her servant, who is called Agata. Know that Azura has my full love and trust, old friend. I have waited long to find and claim her."

"I am happy to hear it, my lord prince," Diya al Din said. Then he turned to Azura, and bowing, bade her welcome to the Moonlight Serai.

A litter had been brought down from the little palace, for the climb up was considered too strenuous for a woman. Both Azura and Agata were ensconced and carried up by the four bearers, who didn't seem in the least winded. They went at a trot through a magnificent garden now giving way to autumn, then into the palace itself. When they finally set the litter back down, its curtains were drawn open by a light-skinned eunuch, who helped them out. They found themselves facing another tall, coal black man. This eunuch, however, was larger boned than the elegant Diya al Din.

"I am Ali Farid, master of the prince's harem." He introduced himself in a high-pitched voice. "I welcome the lady Azura to the Moonlight Serai. Be advised that you will answer to me in all that you do, and your servingwoman as well. I will not allow disobedience among the women for whom I am responsible. As my master's third wife, you are the least among them. Now follow me, and I will take you to your quarters."

Agata looked as if she were going to explode like a Chinese firework, but a warning look from her mistress aided her in keeping silent.

Ali Farid led them from the hallway where the litter had been set down and through a set of large double doors opening into a large tiled room empty of furniture.

"Here we allow the local women to come so they may display their goods for your inspection. You may purchase what pleases you," he said, explaining the purpose of the chamber. "I will pay for your purchases." Turning right, he led them through a smaller paneled door into a little anteroom, and then through another paneled door into a square salon. It was furnished with low tables, lamps, and a rainbow of multicolored pillows. At the salon's far end was a wall of lead-paned windows. Beyond it, a wonderful garden looked out onto the sea.

"I have never before seen such a marvelous display of windows!" Azura said aloud. "It is beautiful, Ali Farid, as is this entire chamber."

"Yes, it is," he agreed, pleased by the compliment. It seemed as if the prince's third wife was an amenable woman. "This corridor," he said, pointing to his left, "leads to the harem baths. Perhaps the lady Azura and her servant would enjoy a bath shortly," he said, sniffing delicately.

"Indeed, yes!" Azura told him, and she laughed. "Even I find the scent lingering about me rank after all those days at sea, Ali Farid."

"If I have offended, I beg the lady Azura's pardon," the head harem eunuch said.

"Nay, I fear 'tis I who have offended," Azura told him.

He nodded slightly and then pointed to an open arch leading to another corridor. "The bedchambers for the ladies of the house are there. There are three on one side of the hallway, and one on the other. Each of the three smaller chambers has a separate chamber for a servant." He led them to the far end of the row, ushering the two women into the little suite. "Here are your rooms," he told Azura. "I will send a eunuch to serve you, my lady, and he will escort you to the baths." Then, with a little bow, he left them.

"Well!" Agata said. "I am not certain I like this Ali Farid."

"He serves Amir well, and that is all that matters," Azura said. "We have entered a different world. You knew it would not be as our old world was. Watch, listen, and learn. Did you see the other two wives as we came? It is almost as if this harem is deserted but for us. I didn't even see other servants."

"They are here, you can be a.s.sured, my lady, and have already peeped at you from wherever they have hidden themselves," Agata replied. Then she walked into the bedchamber. "Madre di Dios! This chamber is hardly a fit place to entertain the prince, my lady. There is no real bed either."

Azura followed her servingwoman and looked about her. The chamber was not large, but neither was it small. Its walls were half-whitewashed and half-tiled in beautiful turquoise blue tiles. The bed, a thick mattress that sat upon a low dais, would hardly fit two. There was a single painted chest for her possessions, of which she now had few; a small seating area of pillows; a low table of ebony; and several lamps, one hanging, the others set upon the table. "I must a.s.sume that this is all that I am expected to have," Azura said. "The prince's apartments will be larger. I suspect it will be where we have our private moments, Agata."

"It is indeed spa.r.s.e, my lady Azura, but like all new beginnings it requires a personal touch," a voice said, and an elderly brown man stepped into the chamber. "I am Nadim, sent by the officious Ali Farid to serve you as your personal eunuch, my lady Azura. I am not important or influential, but then a third wife is not considered so either. I suspect, however, having seen you, that the peerless Ali Farid has erred in his judgment this time. It will take him a while to realize it, but by then I hope to be invaluable to you so he will not be able to dismiss me. I will serve you loyally, my lady Azura."

She laughed, and even Agata, who had understood the eunuch's words, smiled. She liked this man already, and knew he would indeed serve her well.

"I am told you badly need the baths, my lady. I will escort you now if you are ready," the eunuch said. "I have already alerted the bath slaves."

They followed him from Azura's new quarters to the baths, but when Nadim followed them into the antechamber of the baths, Agata bridled.

"You cannot come in here!" she scolded him, struggling the find the proper words in this new language.

"It is my duty," he said slowly so she would understand. "I am a eunuch, and have no l.u.s.t for the female body."

Azura quickly spoke in their own native Florentine cant. "I know it is very different for us, but he is correct. And the bath women do what needs to be done, Agata. Nadim will just help me to undress and fetch fresh garments. You need have no shame."

"Well, mistress, if he doesn't mind, I'll just wait until he leaves to disrobe," Agata said nervously.

"My servingwoman is not yet comfortable with eunuchs in the bath," Azura told Nadim as she allowed him to help her undress.

He nodded, understanding. "It is different for women who come from the West," he said. "Will you object if I burn these garments? I do not believe they can be washed clean after so many weeks of wear. What else have you?"

"There were two changes of clothing for both of us aboard our ship," Azura told him. "These garments were the better of the two, I fear."

"I will see you have fresh clothing when you have bathed. And I will see that you are given a complete new wardrobe as quickly as it can be sewn, my lady. I do not intend to have either of those two complacent females who claim the t.i.tles of first and second wives outshine you. They are not worthy of Prince Amir. You, I can see, are." He looked her naked body over with a surprisingly sharp eye. "Yes, you are truly beautiful."

Then, with a little bow, he hurried off carrying her old clothing.

"Well!" Agata huffed. "He is very bold for an old slave man."

"No," Azura said slowly. "He will prove to be of great value to me in this new world once I can be a.s.sured of his loyalty."

"How can you know if he is your creature or not?" Agata wondered as she stripped her own dirty clothing off.

"I am not certain yet," Azura told her, "but I will know."

The head bath attendant hurried over to them now, smiling broadly. "Welcome, welcome, my lady Azura. Gracious, we have a great deal of work to make you presentable for the prince. We have already received word that he will want you in his bed tonight. I can tell you"-and she lowered her voice-"there were certain noses in this household very much out of joint when that news was bandied about."

"I very much appreciate your help," Azura said politely, already suspecting that this woman was very important within the harem hierarchy. Amir had informed her that good manners within the harem, even towards the lowliest, were very much valued. She let the woman lead her off while Agata, now as naked as her mistress, followed.

"I am Halah," the bath mistress said. "First you must be rinsed. Step into this marble sh.e.l.l," she instructed Azura. Then she clapped her hands and two women began to pour warm water over the new wife. Once rinsed, she was brought to another sh.e.l.l where the two, wielding large soapy sponges, washed her once, rinsed her, and then washed her a second time. But after the second soaping, Halah came with what looked like a long, thin blade, and carefully went over each inch of Azura's skin. The young woman was astounded to see the soapy water filled with dirt with each pa.s.s of the blade. She was rinsed again. A third soaping and rinsing followed. Then they washed her ebony hair.

While Halah personally served Azura, the other two bath women helped Agata, teaching her how to properly bathe. "I do not think I have ever been so clean in all of my lifetime," Agata said in the new language, and the two bath women smiled and nodded in agreement, leading Agata to a warm pool, where she joined Azura to soak for a time in the perfumed waters. Slave women brushed their hair dry while they rested.

"We will do this daily," Azura told her servant. "This is something I should like to share with my mother and sisters."

"The priests would denounce it as a vanity of the flesh," Agata said.

Azura laughed. "You are probably correct," she said.

They were taken from the pool before any part of them had time to wrinkle. The nails on their fingers and toes were pared and their mons plucked. Agata was led away and found Nadim awaiting her with fresh garments. She blushed but the eunuch ignored her other than to hand her each piece of clothing as it was needed. In the meanwhile, Azura was led to a marble bench where a down mattress had been laid out for her to lie upon. Lotion was spread over her body in sections as the strong yet gentle hands of a young eunuch ma.s.saged her until she was almost asleep. She was content and relaxed.

Nadim was awaiting her with fresh garments. "This is called a kaftan," he told Azura. "You will find it very comfortable to wear and sleep in. I have sent your Agata to the kitchen to fetch the light meal I ordered for you earlier. She told me that neither of you has eaten this day." He slipped the kaftan over her head, drawing it down carefully.