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quarters. Brittany had often watched the sultan conversing with Simijin on state affairs, from her hidden place behind the wooden latticework at the top of the stairs. She was shocked, however, that he would enter Simijin’s private quarters, which were forbidden to all outsiders. No man had ever been invited to see Jillianna unveiled, not even the sultan himself.
    Selim III had vellum-toned features which were so delicate they were almost feminine. His face was thin, and his chin weak. His eager glance swept over Jillianna’s face, andthen his almond-shaped eyes stared at Brittany so long that she squirmed uncomfortably.
    When Simijin got over the shock of the situation, he came to his feet, quickly motioning Jillianna and Brittany to withdraw into the other room. “Your Majesty,” he said in a cold voice, “what an unexpected pleasure.”
    “Forgive me for barging in on you, Lord Simijin. But I have urgent matters to discuss with you.”
    Simijin was not pleased that the sultan had come into his private quarters, and his irritation showed on his face. “Had you sent for me, I would have come at once,” he said with the merest reprimand in his tone.
    The sultan watched the beautiful young girl slip through the curtains in the back of the room. “Who is that exquisite creature?” he asked.
    “She is daughter to my wife,” Simijin replied, not wanting to discuss Jillianna or Brittany.
    “Ah, yes, I have heard of your stepdaughter. The rumors that she is beautiful are understated. She is an enchanting creature.”
    “You said you came on urgent business?” Simijin reminded him.
    “What is the girl’s age?”
    Simijin was beginning to feel a sense of dread. Selim was showing far too much interest in Brittany. Simijin had never liked him, and now he liked him even less.
    The sultan had only recently come to power after the death of his uncle, the great Abdul Hamid. Head of the Ottoman Empire was a task he was ill-suited for and ill-equipped to handle.
    “Should we not be discussing your pressing matters, Your Majesty?”
    Sultan Selim ignored Simijin’s subtle hint. “It is well known that you gave up your harem for the English Rose. After seeing her today, I know why. She is a rare beauty. It is easy to see that daughter of the English Rose will one day match her mother in beauty.”
    With a heavy feeling in his heart, Simijin now realized that the sultan had purposely intruded into his quarters with the express hope of seeing Brittany. He was an evil man, and Simijin saw the way his mind was working—he wanted Brittany!
    “I am certain you would not expect me to discuss anything so personal as my family with you, Your Majesty.”
    Selim’s eyes narrowed in thoughtfulness. He knew what he was doing was unacceptable, but was he not the sultan? “Call the girl back so I talk to her,” he demanded.
    “You know what you ask is impossible,” Simijin replied in a cold voice.
    The sultan stroked his thin beard. “I have to confess to you that I have heard many rumors that the girl was lovely beyond reason, and that is why I came here tonight unannounced,” he admitted, confirming Simijin’s suspicions.
    “I cannot imagine how you would hear about my stepdaughter.”
    “Come, Lord Simijin, you are too modest. Everyone knows of the beauty of your wife. Now the rumors run hot that her daughter is also a beauty. Did you not think this word would reach my ears?” The sultan studied his hands. “I appreciate beautiful women, and I will stop at nothing to possess one who interests me.”
    “My stepdaughter can be of no interest to you.”
    “I would like to honor the girl by adding her to my harem.”
    “I cannot allow you to do that, Your Majesty. I made my wife a promise that her daughter would never be subjected to harem life. Only this evening we were discussing sending her to England to further her education.”
    “I am told she is already very well educated for a woman. I would consider it a favor if