Page 45 of Silver Angel

But they could at least get her dressed first. “Do you like it?” Rahine asked with a smile. “I knew the color would suit you the moment I saw it. And I thought you deserved something nice, now that you’ve settled in without any more disturbances.”

Chantelle glanced at Haji, distrustful of that unlikely statement, but when he didn’t dispute it, she smiled, too. “Then I thank you. Itislovely.”

“Well, then, what are you waiting for? Go and try it on so that I may see how you look. My women will help you.”

“No,” Chantelle declined, politely but firmly. “I have Adamma now to help me.”

Rahine looked at the girl in question, still on her knees behind the bench. “Very well, but, Adamma, be quick about it,” Rahine warned, adding for Shahar’s benefit, “I’m pressed for time.”

If Chantelle didn’t understand, Adamma certainly did, and she was too frightened of the Dey’s mother to warn her mistress, though she wanted to. From certain comments that Shahar had made in the past days, Adamma realized why Lalla Rahine was avoiding the truth until the last moment. Even when they removed themselves to one of the small chambers off the main room for privacy, she said nothing, praying silently instead, for she too realized that her mistress was going to balk at what had come about much sooner than anyone had expected.

With Rahine’s warning uppermost in mind, she had Shahar changed in record time, then just stood there in amazement at how such fine raiments could enhance her mistress’s pale beauty.

“Is it that bad?” Chantelle asked with a grin.

Adamma started. “Oh, no,lalla!His highness will find you more beautiful than the hummingbird’s song, more beautiful than—”

“Oh, don’t start with all that silliness, Adamma. And his highness’s opinion doesn’t count anyway, since he’s not going to see me. But I would like to see for myself. Didn’t you say there was a mirror in Safiye’s apartment? How much do you think it will take to bribe her to let me have a peek in it?”

“I—I—”

“Oh, never mind. Perhaps Lalla Rahine can arrange it.”

And with the intention of asking that favor, Chantelle returned to the main chamber. Only she was brought up short upon finding the room deserted of the other concubines, leaving only Rahine, Haji, and two other eunuchs who had entered while she was gone. One was Kadar, but Chantelle didn’t spare him even a fleeting smile. Her eyes locked with the emerald gaze of the Dey’s mother.

“The color does indeed suit you, Shahar.”

Chantelle continued forward. “Thank you, but would you mind telling me why you have sent everyone away? It is your doing, isn’t it?”

Rahine took the last step that brought her close enough to kiss Chantelle’s cheek. “I’m sorry, child, but Haji will take you to Jamil now.”

“Is that normal? I thought I wasn’t supposed to see him until…” The words trailed off as the color left Chantelle’s face. “No.” It was barely a whisper.

Matter-of-factly, Rahine stated, “Jamil owns you. This is a fact even you can’t dispute. And he has decided not to wait until your training is completed. It is his wish that you come to him now.”

“I won’t.” Still in a whisper.

“Yes, you will,” Rahine insisted. “You have no choice in the matter.”

It was the words “no choice” that broke through Chantelle’s horror to ignite her temper. “Like bloody hell!” she shouted, forgetting herself enough to speak in English. “I won’t go anywhere near that—that—thatman!You’ll have to drag me there and hold me down for his depravity—”

“That can be arranged,” Rahine replied coldly.

“You wouldn’t,” Chantelle faltered.

“On the contrary.”

Chantelle’s eyes widened accusingly as she exclaimed, “You’re speaking English!”

“IamEnglish.”

“Then he’s half English? Oh, God, that just makes it worse!”

“I don’t see why—”

“You don’t see anything! You’ve been here too long. You think like them now, you act like them. You’re no longer English, or you couldn’t force me into this!”

“It is not I who am forcing you, Shahar, but the circumstances that brought you here. You lost your freedom of choice when you were made a slave. Now you do as your master wishes, or you suffer the consequences.”