Page 72 of Inconvenient Honor
Lily nodded.
“He is honor bound.”
“He believes so.”
“And you wish protestations of love. You are as silly as those girls you teach, Zambak. He honored you three times and you insulted him. I do not think he will ask again.”
Tears leaked from Lily’s eyes in spite of her best efforts. “I must talk with him.”
Valide Sultan’s shrewd eyes hardened. “You wish us to arrange another such meeting? It can be done, but to what purpose?”
Lily clamped her jaw tight. What purpose indeed?
“Men do not like to be commanded,” her companion said.
“No.” Lily’s laugh held little amusement. “He would not want to be commanded.”
“What then, Zambak? What is it you wish?”
I could write. I could tell him I changed my mind. I could apologize. I could?—
“I think I must go to him,” Lily said. “Nothing less than an apology and surrender will do.”
The Valide Sultan took Lily’s shoulders in her hands.
“If you go, you cannot come back,” she said.
Lily didn’t respond right away.
“You’ve led your marquess in a complicated dance. You will not do the same to us.” The woman’s imperial power, firm and unyielding,radiated from her.
“I understand, Highness. Your great kindness will rest in my heart forever. I will not abuse it,” Lily said.
The old woman searched Lily’s face as if looking for any weakness. “Sahin has told you of dangers.”
“Yes. I’ll be safe at the British embassy.”
“I can see that you are guarded that far, but Zambak, you must be certain.”
“I am.”
As certain as I can be.
The sunbegan its descent to the horizon behind the towers of Hagia Sophia when Lily, swathed in veils, stepped onto the boat that would take her across the Golden Horn. The fabled waterway that divided Stamboul, the Muslim quarter and seat of power, from Petra and the foreign quarter of Constantinople, glowed orange in its light.
Ahmet stepped in front of her, inspecting the quay and the crowd beyond. Satisfied, he helped her to shore.
“Thank you,” Lily smiled, even though he could not see her face beneath its covering.
“Are you sure of this, Zambak?” he asked without looking at her. His eyes, she noted, scanned the crowd continually. He had approved of her decision to meet Richard but not this trip to the embassy.
“As sure as we can be.” She also scanned the quay. At another time, without Volkov’s threats, she might have found this place exhilarating. Not this time. She shivered. Sahin warned her. Even if Volkov were not loose, this place is not safe for a woman alone.
Another bodyguard, a man she didn’t recognize, followed her to shore. He clambered up stone steps behind her. Both men were tall, towering above the crowds. Both looked strong. Both wore ornate swords in their belts. Lily suspected other less decorative and perhaps more deadly weapons were hidden on their person.
Don’t be a ninny, Lily. These men will protect you. If you fearanything, it should be Richard’s reaction to your about-face. What if he sends you away? You can’t go back.
The crowd alone would have been difficult to manage in her condition. In another time, without child, she might have enjoyed the flow of humanity and cacophony of languages. This time, she pulled her arms around herself protectively, fearing she might be jostled. In the face of her two companions, however, the crowd parted before them.
