Read Online Enchantress by Constance O'Banyon - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Constance O'Banyon
Tags: Fiction
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you would make me a gift of her. I am in a position to reward you for your generosity.”
Simijin’s face darkened in anger. “She is not mine to give. If she were my own flesh, I would gladly give her to you, but the promise I made her mother prevents me from doing so. You know, Your Majesty, that I am a man of my word.”
The sultan’s features hardened, and his voice was threatening. “You will not change your mind?”
“Alas, I cannot.”
Sultan Selim’s eyes narrowed. “I will give you seven days to reconsider.” Without another word, he turned away and strolled leisurely out of the room.
Simijin sank down on the couch, knowing he must tell Jillianna about the reason for the sultan’s visit. He knew the sultan well enough to realize that Brittany was in real danger. Simijin would sooner see Brittany dead than in that madman’s hands. Something had to be done, and soon. Brittany would have to be sent away at once!
Brittany and her mother sat quietly on the sofa, waiting for Simijin to join them. They both knew that the sultan had committed a great breach of etiquette by coming to their private quarters, but they did not know what the consequences would be.
Jillianna shook her head. “They are talking for a long time,” she said anxiously. “I wonder what has happened.”
“Simijin was not pleased, was he, Mama.”
“No. And he had every reason not to be.” Her brow knitted in a frown. “Simijin is a powerful man and will not take this insult lightly. I only hope…”
At that moment the door opened, and a grave-faced Simijin entered. “Come,” he said, extending one arm to his wife and the other to Brittany. “Let us dine. Later we will talk about the sultan’s visit.”
Jillianna could tell something was bothering Simijin, but wisely, she did not question him. She watched him during dinner, and it was obvious that he was distracted. Once she found him watching Brittany with a sadness in his eyes, and it frightened her.
That night after Jillianna had gone to bed, Simijin came to her, gathering her into his arms.
“You are troubled,” she said, laying her cheek against his. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“Jillianna, we have to decide quickly what is to be done about Brittany. The sultan wants her, and we have to be very clever and keep her out of his reach!”
Chapter Six
Captain Thorn Stoddard stood on the deck of the Victorious overseeing the loading of cargo. Even though it was early morning, a punishing heat beat down on him.
He rolled up his sleeves and blotted the perspiration from his face. He was pressed to finish taking on supplies today because he intended to catch the morning tide and sail for home.
Tall and bronzed, there was a proud and haughty look in Thorn Stoddard’s blue eyes that reflected the mirror-bright water. His black hair lay damply against his handsome brow. There was an air of authority about him, as with all men who commanded their own ships.
“Looks like we got company, Captain,” Cappy Hamish, his second-in-command observed, with a nod at the gangplank. “And a strange one he is, too, from the looks of his appearance.”
Annoyed by the interruption, Thorn glanced at the tall black man who stood on deck, his legs spread wide to keep his balance.
Although Thorn had never seen a eunuch, his instincts told him that this man was one, because of his soft features and flamboyant manner of dress.
“Find out what he wants, Cappy,” Thorn commanded, “and then see that he goes ashore. If he’s selling something, I’m not buying.”
At that moment, one of the pulley ropes snapped, requiring all Thorn’s attention. Men scattered in every directionto keep from being crushed by the wooden crate that smashed onto the deck. Thorn’s lips tightened in annoyance that a whole crate of sugared figs was ruined. He was not in the best of moods when the black man approached him.
“Excuse me, Captain, sir.” The man spoke excellent English. “If I
Simijin’s face darkened in anger. “She is not mine to give. If she were my own flesh, I would gladly give her to you, but the promise I made her mother prevents me from doing so. You know, Your Majesty, that I am a man of my word.”
The sultan’s features hardened, and his voice was threatening. “You will not change your mind?”
“Alas, I cannot.”
Sultan Selim’s eyes narrowed. “I will give you seven days to reconsider.” Without another word, he turned away and strolled leisurely out of the room.
Simijin sank down on the couch, knowing he must tell Jillianna about the reason for the sultan’s visit. He knew the sultan well enough to realize that Brittany was in real danger. Simijin would sooner see Brittany dead than in that madman’s hands. Something had to be done, and soon. Brittany would have to be sent away at once!
Brittany and her mother sat quietly on the sofa, waiting for Simijin to join them. They both knew that the sultan had committed a great breach of etiquette by coming to their private quarters, but they did not know what the consequences would be.
Jillianna shook her head. “They are talking for a long time,” she said anxiously. “I wonder what has happened.”
“Simijin was not pleased, was he, Mama.”
“No. And he had every reason not to be.” Her brow knitted in a frown. “Simijin is a powerful man and will not take this insult lightly. I only hope…”
At that moment the door opened, and a grave-faced Simijin entered. “Come,” he said, extending one arm to his wife and the other to Brittany. “Let us dine. Later we will talk about the sultan’s visit.”
Jillianna could tell something was bothering Simijin, but wisely, she did not question him. She watched him during dinner, and it was obvious that he was distracted. Once she found him watching Brittany with a sadness in his eyes, and it frightened her.
That night after Jillianna had gone to bed, Simijin came to her, gathering her into his arms.
“You are troubled,” she said, laying her cheek against his. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“Jillianna, we have to decide quickly what is to be done about Brittany. The sultan wants her, and we have to be very clever and keep her out of his reach!”
Chapter Six
Captain Thorn Stoddard stood on the deck of the Victorious overseeing the loading of cargo. Even though it was early morning, a punishing heat beat down on him.
He rolled up his sleeves and blotted the perspiration from his face. He was pressed to finish taking on supplies today because he intended to catch the morning tide and sail for home.
Tall and bronzed, there was a proud and haughty look in Thorn Stoddard’s blue eyes that reflected the mirror-bright water. His black hair lay damply against his handsome brow. There was an air of authority about him, as with all men who commanded their own ships.
“Looks like we got company, Captain,” Cappy Hamish, his second-in-command observed, with a nod at the gangplank. “And a strange one he is, too, from the looks of his appearance.”
Annoyed by the interruption, Thorn glanced at the tall black man who stood on deck, his legs spread wide to keep his balance.
Although Thorn had never seen a eunuch, his instincts told him that this man was one, because of his soft features and flamboyant manner of dress.
“Find out what he wants, Cappy,” Thorn commanded, “and then see that he goes ashore. If he’s selling something, I’m not buying.”
At that moment, one of the pulley ropes snapped, requiring all Thorn’s attention. Men scattered in every directionto keep from being crushed by the wooden crate that smashed onto the deck. Thorn’s lips tightened in annoyance that a whole crate of sugared figs was ruined. He was not in the best of moods when the black man approached him.
“Excuse me, Captain, sir.” The man spoke excellent English. “If I
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