Chapter 15
The next morning, Francis awoke in his bed, content and a little tired. He had spent yesterday evening with his friends, eating supper in a private salon, and catching up. Archie had been discharged from the infirmary, and despite needing a bit of help to find his food, he was doing much better.
Francis had agreed to meet with them again later in the day, but first he wanted to see Hasim.
He was up and dressed when the servant bearing a tray of tea came in. Francis debated climbing out of the window again but instead asked the young woman how he could get down to that garden.
She spoke little German but seemingly understood him and beckoned him to follow. Francis stepped into his slippers, popped the veiled turban on his head, and followed her through a concealed door in the hallway, down a narrow set of servant’s stairs, and straight out into the garden below.
Much easier than shimmying down the trellis.
“I’m much obliged to you, miss,” Francis said, and she smiled at him before closing the door.
Francis set off into the gardens alone, and by now he had a fair idea of where he was going. Past the orange trees and the flowers, through the manicured bushes and mosaic paths, until he came upon a cat to guide him, straight to the oblong fishpond.
He looked about for Hasim but couldn’t spot him yet. There were plenty of cats, and it looked like they’d been fed already. The dishes on the ground had been licked clean, and each cat was washing their faces with their paws.
Francis decided he’d wait for a moment. Hopefully Hasim wasn’t too far away. He sat down on the raised edge of the fishpond and immediately gained a cat in his lap.
“Hello, there,” Francis murmured, stroking the silky grey cat. She purred and butted her head against his hand, then turned around and swished her bottom and tail in his face.
“Oh, I say,” Francis said, moving her tail from his eyes. “You don’t waste any time, do you?”
Eventually she settled down, gripping onto his knees with her claws while Francis tickled under her chin. Another cat rubbed up against his leg, meowing plaintively.
“I can see you’ve been fed already,” Francis replied, smiling. “What a life, eh?”
The cat meowed again.
Despite sitting in the sunshine, Francis didn’t want to move just yet. He tilted his head away from the sun’s glare and was pleased for the turban shielding him.
Then a familiar voice greeted him.
“Günaydin! Good morning.”
Francis looked up to see Hasim approaching. He was barefoot, wearing pastel blue and lavender robes and matching turban, and with a little kitten tucked into his chest.
“Good morning!” Francis replied, then yelped when the grey cat shot off. “Ouch.”
“Apologies.” Hasim sat down beside Francis. “Are you injured?”
“Oh, gosh, no,” Francis said. “Just surprised. Why do they fly off like that?”
Hasim shrugged, smiling. “Cats. No explanation other than, cats.”
“I see.” Francis smiled at him, exhilarated and nervous all at the same time. Luckily the small kitten Hasim was cradling against him provided a useful distraction. “Is this the same little fellow from the other day?”
“Yes,” Hasim said. “Much better today.”
“He probably missed you yesterday after I stole you away,” Francis said, then immediately felt himself blushing. He had to resist the urge to pull the veil over his face to hide. He cleared his throat. “Not to be a spoilsport, but I fear I must remove myself from the sun.”
“Ay,” Hasim said, like he’d just remembered. “Come.”
They got up and sought the shade under an avenue of cherry blossom trees, Hasim leading the way to a small pavilion made of stone. Underneath its canopy was one stone bench, just big enough for two.
“God bless all these pavilions, Hasim,” Francis said, and sighed in relief.
It was cool in here and provided a panoramic view of the cats playing on the mosaic path and darting in and out of the bushes.
“Would you like some tea?” Hasim offered. “Refreshments?”
Francis noted they were quite alone out here, unlike the busier pavilions. It would give them ample opportunity to talk.
“Maybe later?” he said, looking at Hasim. “May we talk a little first?”
Hasim nodded. “Of course.”
“Splendid,” Francis said, then fell silent. He thought Hasim might begin, but he’d fallen silent too.
As the moment dragged on, Francis caught Hasim’s eye, and they both chuckled.
“I’m afraid words are escaping me at the moment,” Francis said. “I have so much to say and I don’t know how to begin.”
“May I start?” Hasim asked.
“Yes, by all means.”
“Then, please accept my apologies,” Hasim said.
Francis held his breath. Had Hasim changed his mind?
“I did not mean to lie or deceive,” Hasim went on.
“Nor I,” Francis said.
Hasim nodded. “It was…pleasant to meet you without all of the…other things. To meet as two men. Without all the ceremony.”
“Yes,” Francis agreed, voice calm, but his heart was hammering inside his chest. “And…now?”
“Now…” Hasim exhaled lightly. “I wish you could stay, but last night I spoke with my advisors, and they suggest that, at some point, you must return home.”
Francis fought to keep a straight face amid the crushing disappointment he felt in that moment.
“Along with your ambassador, and my official offer to be my consort,” Hasim finished.
Oh.
Francis let out a shaky breath. “I see,” he said. “And, forgive me, why is it that I can’t extend my stay here while they sort out the particulars between them?”
Hasim made a face and shrugged. “I don’t know. I think they are worried to upset your family and want to…follow protocol.”
“Protocol.” Francis laughed. “Hasim, you had men competing in a tournament, for goodness’ sake.”
“That was not my idea.” Hasim grinned. “My wife, Fatima, did all of that. She wants to meet you, by the way.” He looked at Francis seriously. “As do my entire family, but I told them they must wait. Today, at least, I would like you all to myself.”
Francis smiled. “What about the cats?”
“And the cats,” Hasim amended with a smile. “Until they are asleep. Then I would like you all to myself.”
“That sounds perfect.”
* * * *
Francis spent the day with Hasim and the cats. They ate lunch with the little ones in the kitten pavilion, where Hasim left his small charge in safe hands, then they helped with the afternoon feed later.
They spoke of their families, learning about each other.
Francis now understood that the ‘King Omar’ he’d first seen behind a screen had been none other than Hasim’s wife, Queen Fatima.
Apparently, she wore his clothes and the royal turban for many official duties, using a screen to conceal her identity, and had the royal viziers read her speeches aloud.
Hasim’s teenage sons, Ali and Nasim, both studied and performed royal duties in both the eastern side of the city and also in Ankara, while his eldest daughter, Nadia, and his niece, Ameen, were studying in the south of Türkiye with a view to becoming economists.
Francis couldn’t imagine dividing up royal power like that. His family would never.
“Do you…I mean, is King Omar ever seen in public?” Francis asked.
“Yes, sometimes,” Hasim said. “There is a holiday soon, and I will be expected to be seen at court. But…I am not dreading it as much now. I feel lighter, thanks to you, dear one.”
“I’m happy to be of assistance,” Francis said with a smile. “I wish I could stay instead of going home.”
“I want you to stay,” Hasim said. “Will you take my offer home with you?”
“Yes, of course,” Francis said. “Gladly. Gustav and I will explain everything to Granny.”
“Queen Maria?”
“Yes, Queen Maria,” Francis corrected. “And we will encourage my brother to accept your offer, so I might return to you immediately.”
“You are certain?”
“Hasim, Granny is the one who insisted I come here,” Francis said. “She will be thrilled.”
“Very well,” Hasim said. “And when you return here, it will be as my consort.”
“What’s the official title?” Francis asked. “Do we know yet?”
“Fatima will think of something suitable,” Hasim said. “An ambassador or…foreign affairs, I think she said.”
“Sounds perfect,” Francis replied. “Wait, did your wife pick all the contenders herself?”
“With Yusuf, yes, she did.”
“So you never actually saw my portrait before meeting me?” Francis asked.
“No.”
“Oh, thank goodness,” Francis said. “Granny sent a terrible one.”
“Now I want to see it,” Hasim said with a laugh.
“No, please. Better off burning it.” Francis laughed. “I suppose I should thank Fatima.”
“You can do that when you meet her tonight,” Hasim said. “She wants to throw you a welcome supper.”
“I can’t wait,” Francis said gladly. “We had better make the most of our alone time now, then.”