Page 85 of Silver Angel

“All right,” he said curtly. “You have made your point.”

“Haji Agha will, of course, have the harem searched. If we can find the poison—” She paused, ending with the obvious. “It is doubtful anyone would be so stupid as to not get rid of it.”

After a short silence, he said, “I want her moved to my apartments as soon as she is able.”

Rahine was so surprised by this, she thoughtlessly touched his arm to draw his eyes to her. “If it is a matter of protection, we can do that better here, now that we know it is needed. What can you be thinking of, Jamil? There are so many other variables to be considered outside the harem; in particular, the number of times the assassins have managed to get as far as your apartments. Was Shahar not in danger just last night?”

He conceded, placing his hand over hers. “I know. I just cannot seem to think clearly where she is concerned. Can you promise me this will not happen again?”

Rahine felt an unexpected moisture gathering in her eyes. Twice now he was asking for her help, and this time trusting her to protect his most prized possession. She couldn’t remember the last time he had wanted anything of her. And he hadn’t touched her, actually touched her, since she had sent Kasim away.

“Jamil…” No, she couldn’t bring herself to mention his brother. It had always thrown him into a rage whenever she tried to broach the subject. He was already too distraught over Shahar. “Yes, I can promise you there will be no more poisoned food. I will make my own cook and food tasters available for her henceforth. My people have been with me more than twenty years. There are none more loyal.”

He nodded, relieved on that score at least. It had been irrational for him to think of moving her out of the harem anyway. He had already made too many unusual precedents for her. Jamil wouldn’t return for weeks yet. He had to stop doing things that Jamil wouldn’t do, or risk giving himself away. But damn, he wanted to protect her himself, not leave it in the hands of others.

He glanced back out of the window. There was nothing more to say to Rahine. He had a thousand questions, but none could be asked now. Yet he was loath to end this rare moment with her.

“Tell me she isn’t going to die, Mother.”

“Oh, God!”

He caught her arm when she swayed back. “What is it?”

“Nothing, nothing,” she assured him. But she turned aside. She wouldn’t look at him again. “You must not fear for her, Jamil. You said yourself she is stubborn. And she brought up everything she had eaten, so whatever poison remains is minimal.”

“But she is in pain.”

“As likely from the purge as from the poison. Your physicians will give her something to ease it. She is probably better already. Go and see for yourself.”

He didn’t have much choice, since she quickly left him then. But he knew he had upset her. He just didn’t know it was because he had called her Mother, something Jamil hadn’t done for nineteen years.

Chapter Forty

“Are you feeling better now?”

Chantelle stopped Adamma from fussing with her pillows and motioned her to leave. Rahine sat on the other side of the bed. It was she who had made the inquiry.

“I’d hate to tell you what I really feel like, madame.”

Rahine smiled at the surly tone. “Much better, I’d say.”

Chantelle started to glower but didn’t want to waste the effort. She felt like her insides had been wrung out to dry. There was a horrible taste in her mouth, every bone seemed to ache, and she was as weak as a kitten. But this was nothing compared with how she had felt earlier. At least Rahine was speaking English for a change, so she didn’t have to tax herself by translating.

“Did you come here to pay your last respects?”

Rahine laughed outright. “Don’t be absurd, child. You’ll be as good as new in a few days.”

Chantelle closed her eyes against such good humor. No one should be cheerful while she felt so miserable, at least not in her presence.

“Am I to take it you’re glad I’m still among the living?”

“Very glad, Shahar. I don’t know what it is about you, but you have completely changed Jamil, and for that I thank you. It’s almost as if I have my son back.”

“I wasn’t aware you had lost him.”

“That’s a…long story, and nothing for you to be concerned with.”

That evasion should have aroused Chantelle’s curiosity, but she had other things on her mind. “Did I dream it, or was Jamil here?”