message requesting
I give you the news. Jamal believes the caliph's family will be fully cured
within a few weeks, and he has requested that the wedding preparations begin at
once. He is most eager for the marriage."
Leila lowered her head, overwhelmed. Her dream had
suddenly moved that much closer to becoming reality. If she was to marry so
soon, that meant her apprenticeship was almost over.
"I take it you are pleased."
The sadness in her mother's voice cut through her own
happiness. Leila met her eyes, a stunning likeness to her own, and was
astonished to see tears trailing down Eve's alabaster cheeks. "Are you not
happy for me, Mother?" she asked, perplexed.
Eve did not answer for so long that Leila grew fearful,
not knowing what her mother would say.
"Jamal is a good man, the son of my beloved
husband," Eve finally replied, wiping away her tears with a gossamer silk
handkerchief. "If God wills it to be so . . ."
Her voice trailed off and she rose to her feet, a
tremulous smile on her lips. "We will talk more tomorrow, my daughter. Enjoy
your supper and rest well this night. May your dreams be sweet and full of promise. "
As Eve walked away, her silk garments rustling softly
in the breeze, Majida jumped up from the divan to
follow, but Leila caught her hand.
" Majida , please. What is
troubling my mother?" Leila whispered fervently, raising her voice when
Eve disappeared down the stairs. "You have served her since she came to my
father's house. You know her soul. Tell me. I cannot bear to see her so
distressed."
Majida's face became strangely
impassive, and Leila sensed at once that the odalisque was loath to answer. She
knew Majida's allegiance was first and foremost to
her mother.
"Please, you must tell me," Leila insisted,
almost pleading. "Have I hurt her in some way?"
"No, young mistress," Majida said solemnly, shaking her head. "You bring your mother great joy"—a
faint smile stirred her lips— "ah, in truth, a bit of trouble now and
then, but nothing that would so distress her heart."
"Is there unhappiness between my parents?"
Leila desperately hoped this was not the case. She had seen broken hearts
aplenty in the opulent harems she visited, neglected wives and forgotten
concubines. Another reason to be thankful for her profession. A physician was
always needed. Not so a wife.
Majida reached out and gently
stroked her cheek, as if sensing her unease. "Never fear, beloved one. My
master's love for my mistress is as eternal as the spring, her devotion to him
like the jade oasis in the desert with its deep, life-giving pools."
"What is it, then?"
Majida drew a deep breath,
and Leila could sense she was choosing her words carefully. The odalisque
seemed about to speak when a small, pale-breasted pigeon alighted on a nearby
trellis, distracting her. When she met Leila's gaze once more, Leila could tell
from the slave woman's guarded expression that she had changed her mind.
"I must go, my young mistress," Majida said, bowing so low that the fringed ends of her
veil touched the tiles. She turned and hurried away, her bare feet making no
sound.
Leila had it on the tip of her tongue to call Majida back and demand an explanation for her mother's
tears, but within an instant, she was alone again.
What right did Majida have to
keep her mother's troubles from her? she fumed. Surely
if it was something serious the odalisque would put aside her iron-clad loyalty
and let Leila know what was in Eve's heart. She was her daughter, after all.
Frowning, Leila poured herself a goblet of cool white
wine and took a long sip, enjoying the liquid's tart flavor. She was glad her
father did not so strictly adhere to his faith's dietary regulations that he
forbade wine in his home, although he himself did not drink it. She nibbled on
a meat pastry, ripe olives, and sliced pomegranate, easing her hunger pains at
last. Soon she felt much better, her stomach full, the wine soothing her
temper.
Perhaps whatever plagued her
I give you the news. Jamal believes the caliph's family will be fully cured
within a few weeks, and he has requested that the wedding preparations begin at
once. He is most eager for the marriage."
Leila lowered her head, overwhelmed. Her dream had
suddenly moved that much closer to becoming reality. If she was to marry so
soon, that meant her apprenticeship was almost over.
"I take it you are pleased."
The sadness in her mother's voice cut through her own
happiness. Leila met her eyes, a stunning likeness to her own, and was
astonished to see tears trailing down Eve's alabaster cheeks. "Are you not
happy for me, Mother?" she asked, perplexed.
Eve did not answer for so long that Leila grew fearful,
not knowing what her mother would say.
"Jamal is a good man, the son of my beloved
husband," Eve finally replied, wiping away her tears with a gossamer silk
handkerchief. "If God wills it to be so . . ."
Her voice trailed off and she rose to her feet, a
tremulous smile on her lips. "We will talk more tomorrow, my daughter. Enjoy
your supper and rest well this night. May your dreams be sweet and full of promise. "
As Eve walked away, her silk garments rustling softly
in the breeze, Majida jumped up from the divan to
follow, but Leila caught her hand.
" Majida , please. What is
troubling my mother?" Leila whispered fervently, raising her voice when
Eve disappeared down the stairs. "You have served her since she came to my
father's house. You know her soul. Tell me. I cannot bear to see her so
distressed."
Majida's face became strangely
impassive, and Leila sensed at once that the odalisque was loath to answer. She
knew Majida's allegiance was first and foremost to
her mother.
"Please, you must tell me," Leila insisted,
almost pleading. "Have I hurt her in some way?"
"No, young mistress," Majida said solemnly, shaking her head. "You bring your mother great joy"—a
faint smile stirred her lips— "ah, in truth, a bit of trouble now and
then, but nothing that would so distress her heart."
"Is there unhappiness between my parents?"
Leila desperately hoped this was not the case. She had seen broken hearts
aplenty in the opulent harems she visited, neglected wives and forgotten
concubines. Another reason to be thankful for her profession. A physician was
always needed. Not so a wife.
Majida reached out and gently
stroked her cheek, as if sensing her unease. "Never fear, beloved one. My
master's love for my mistress is as eternal as the spring, her devotion to him
like the jade oasis in the desert with its deep, life-giving pools."
"What is it, then?"
Majida drew a deep breath,
and Leila could sense she was choosing her words carefully. The odalisque
seemed about to speak when a small, pale-breasted pigeon alighted on a nearby
trellis, distracting her. When she met Leila's gaze once more, Leila could tell
from the slave woman's guarded expression that she had changed her mind.
"I must go, my young mistress," Majida said, bowing so low that the fringed ends of her
veil touched the tiles. She turned and hurried away, her bare feet making no
sound.
Leila had it on the tip of her tongue to call Majida back and demand an explanation for her mother's
tears, but within an instant, she was alone again.
What right did Majida have to
keep her mother's troubles from her? she fumed. Surely
if it was something serious the odalisque would put aside her iron-clad loyalty
and let Leila know what was in Eve's heart. She was her daughter, after all.
Frowning, Leila poured herself a goblet of cool white
wine and took a long sip, enjoying the liquid's tart flavor. She was glad her
father did not so strictly adhere to his faith's dietary regulations that he
forbade wine in his home, although he himself did not drink it. She nibbled on
a meat pastry, ripe olives, and sliced pomegranate, easing her hunger pains at
last. Soon she felt much better, her stomach full, the wine soothing her
temper.
Perhaps whatever plagued her
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