Page 87 of Silver Angel

“But I mentioned it to you myself, didn’t I, the night you drove him to recklessly leave the palace? I told you he had put his life in danger.”

“That’s all you told me. But I beg to differ that Idrovehim to leave the palace that night,” Chantelle added tightly. “I’m not responsible for his hot temper.”

“Whether you were or not is a moot point now. But hewasset upon that night. It was inevitable, since they watch the palace constantly. By Allah’s grace, however, Jamil wasn’t harmed that time. Even without a weapon, he disarmed one assassin, and the other was too cowardly to face him alone.”

“Assassins? This sounds like a conspiracy,” Chantelle said in alarm.

“So it is, and it began nearly a half year ago with the first attempt on Jamil’s life. There have been numerous attacks since then. Twice now they have even gotten as far into the palace as his private apartment. Whoever wants him dead seems to have an endless supply of fanatics willing to brave impossible odds to collect the promised reward.”

“Then you don’t know who it is?”

Rahine shrugged. “Everything points to Selim, Jamil’s younger half brother, because he went into hiding about the time of the first attack and he still hasn’t been found.”

“Fratricide?” Chantelle frowned in distaste. “That’s—”

“Fairly common in the Turkish empire, my dear, where children are exposed early to the rivalries and petty jealousies of the harem. But as I said, everything points to Selim. That doesn’t mean that it couldn’t be someone else, although Selimisnext in line to succeed Jamil.”

“But Jamil has sons,” Chantelle pointed out, thoughthatsubject wasn’t one of her favorites.

“True, but they are all much too young. This is not England, child. A brother who has reached manhood will nearly always be chosen over a son too young to rule. Of course, there have been extreme cases in which a mother has bought the support of the army to elevate her son, but that has never happened in Barikah.”

“Then Sheelah—”

“Never Sheelah!”

Chantelle frowned at the interruption and obvious support for Jamil’s first wife by his mother. But then her eyes widened.

“Noura has the second oldest son, doesn’t she?”

“Yes, but…that is ridiculous, Shahar—”

“Chantelle.”

Rahine pursed her lips. “Very well—Chantelle. Speculation of this sort is pointless. And besides, Jamil has yet another half brother under Selim. Do you realize how many would have to die before Noura could come to power through her son? It would be much too obvious, even if the other deaths could be made to appear accidental, especially if Jamil should die first.”

A chill passed over Chantelle, hearing it said so plainly. If Jamil should die…. She hadn’t known he was in such danger.

“I wish you hadn’t told me about this.”

Rahine shrugged. “You asked, child. But I really thought you knew about it already. Why do you think we were so intent on keeping you from angering Jamil? His temper has been abominable these past months due to the restrictions imposed on him by this threat.” Rahine leaned over to squeeze Chantelle’s hand. “We have you to thank for taking his mind off it, even if you have done so in an unacceptable manner. ”

Chantelle knew very welt she was referring to her defiance, even up to last night. Did Rahine also know it had ended last night? Of course she did. She knew everything.

Cheeks heating with color, Chantelle was ready to change the subject. Rahine did it for her. “I really shouldn’t have stayed this long. You are to have complete bed rest for a week—”

“A week!”

Rahine couldn’t help smiling. “At the very least, several days without exception.”

“Jamil isn’t going to like that.”

“How so?”

Chantelle looked away in embarrassment before answering. “He promised me he wouldn’t summon anyone else.”

Rahine’s brow shot up because she knew Jamil was dining with Sheelah at this precise moment. How could he possibly have made such a promise? But to be fair, he hadn’t exactly broken it. He hadn’t summoned Sheelah but had gone to her instead. Had he thought no one would know of it just because he could reach his wives’ apartments without entering the main harem?

When Rahine said nothing, Chantelle glanced back at her. “Does he keep his promises, Rahine?”