Chapter Thirty-nine
Derek finally noticed her when he turned at the physicians’ arrival, but he didn’t recognize her.
It was because she was still there after he had ordered everyone out that made him wonder who she was to defy him.
And then he met her eyes, as emerald green as his own, and he knew. And the knowledge nearly undid him.
Christ, he had been racking his brain for a way to see her without her being aware of it, but it was easy to spy on him, not so easy on the women in the harem.
He had wanted to just summon her to his presence, but Omar had talked him out of it, because if anyone could see through his impersonation, it would be his mother, and they had agreed, Jamil included, that no one, not even Rahine, was to know about the switch.
And that meant Derek couldn’t talk to Rahine, at least not until it was over and Jamil was safe.
But here she was, only a few feet away, changed surely, older, reserved now, not the impetuous young woman he remembered, but, God, still beautiful, still regal in her bearing, still able to see into the soul with those eyes.
They were probing his now, wondering no doubt why he was staring at her like this.
What had Jamil said about her? Not much, because Derek wasn’t supposed to run into her.
He should have turned away and just ignored her.
He couldn’t do it. He walked up to her, aching to embrace her, yet knowing full well it wasn’t something Jamil would do.
But, dear Lord, she was just what he needed at the moment, the one person from whom he could accept comfort.
If she told him Shahar would be all right, he would believe her.
She was his mother. He felt like crying… .
“Are you certain you want these men to see Shahar?”
Derek pulled himself together to see that the two doctors were just standing there, their blindfolds still intact. The traditions of the harem suddenly disgusted him, that no man, not even a desperately needed physician, could look on another man’s women.
“I don’t give a damn who sees her, as long as they cure her.”
“They understand, Jamil,” Rahine said gently. “But it would be wise if you came into the other room. They are too nervous to do anything with you glowering at them.”
He nodded and followed her only because he knew she was right. And then, too, he wanted some answers, and not where Shahar could hear them.
“You know these women better even than I. Who would want to kill her?”
Rahine hesitantly joined him by the window that faced the marble court.
The area was empty now, the sun turning the spray in the fountain to diamond drops.
He hadn’t asked anything of her in so long.
She was gladdened that he did now, but at the same time wretched because she couldn’t help him.
And he was obviously upset by this incident, enough to make him behave out of character.
“Your women are not as vicious in their jealousy as they could be, Jamil. I honestly don’t know. Noura is the most spiteful, but then you know that. If she were going to have anyone poisoned, it would be Sheelah. It is the position of first kadine that she covets, not your bed.”
“Who else?”
“Mara lost her position when Shahar moved to the Pink Court, but I don’t think she would kill to get it back. She knows she serves a special purpose that no one else can fill.”
“Who else?” he repeated.
“Have you considered your own enemies?”
He glanced sideways at her, but only for a moment. “I presume you mean my main enemy?”
“Yes. It is no secret outside the palace that you are very well pleased with your new concubine. It is said you are content to remain inside the palace walls now that you have this new slave to entertain you. So it is not unreasonable to suppose that you might be distressed should anything happen to her, even careless enough to attend the funeral.”
“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.