Enchantress Read Free Page B

its way down her cheek. She tried to pray, but how could one pray under such shameful circumstances?
    The Grand Vizier, Lord Simijin Ibrahim, motioned for the litter bearers to lower his sedan chair. He had come to the slave market today with the hope of finding a cook to replace the one who had died two days before. It was a tiresome business, but a good cook was valued, and he would not leave the matter to one of his servants.
    The Grand Vizier, like all the other men present, stared at the golden-haired woman on the platform, who was beautiful even though she was heavy with child.
    It was obvious that the woman was terrified. She appeared so delicate and vulnerable that he was angered by the men putting their rough hands on her. Though his taste did not run to light-skinned women, he could not condone the callous manner in which she was being treated.
    He admired her when she proudly raised her head as the indignities were practiced on her body. One of the tormentors ripped the veil from the woman’s face, and a gasp of appreciation moved through the crowd. She was fair of face, and golden hair spilled down her back. Lord Simijin found his interest in her intensified.
    He motioned to one of his guards, and the man stepped immediately to his master. Dropping a bag of gold into the guard’s hand, he nodded at the golden-haired woman. “Buy the female and cover her with this,” he ordered, shoving his own cloak at the man. “Bring her to me at once.”
    Jillianna was surprised when a cloak was folded around her and gentle hands led her down from the platform. She did not stop to ponder her fate; she was too grateful that the loathsome exhibition was at last at an end.
    The throng of people moved aside to allow her passage, and she realized that whoever had paid her purchase price must wield a great deal of power and respect. She had little time to reflect on her owner as she approached the litter.
    The shimmering gold curtains were pulled aside. A jeweled hand reached out to assist her into the litter, and the strengthof the man astounded her. She stared into dark-brown eyes, and she shrank from him, suddenly averting her gaze, too afraid to meet those probing eyes.
    Her body trembled uncontrollably. Ever since she had been taken prisoner, she had been under an illusion of unreality. Now it was difficult to believe that she had been bought and sold, the same as one would buy cattle.
    Jillianna was startled when a deep voice spoke to her in perfect English. “I trust you have not been made to suffer unduly from your ordeal?”
    She raised her eyes to the man, and found what appeared to be an expression of compassion on his face. But surely she was mistaken.
    He was much younger than she had thought at first, but it was hard to tell much about him since he was in the shadows. She supposed one might call him handsome if one did not mind dark-complected men. His brow was high and noble; his expression was one of authority. His hair was black, as was his immaculately clipped beard. Yes, his features were arresting, and he was a man one would notice even in a crowded room.
    “Who are you?” she asked, grateful that she could at least converse with the man.
    “You may refer to me as Lord Simijin,” he answered, his eyes sweeping her face and taking in the bright tinge to her cheeks. He had never seen a woman with eyes the color of rare green turquoise, and he suddenly found her most intriguing. He was beginning to believe he had made a fair bargain today, for she was a rare beauty indeed.
    Jillianna raised her head and gave him a scathing glance. “You may as well know right now that if you do anything to harm my baby, I shall find a way to escape from you, and you will have naught for the money you expended.”
    His eyes moved to her swollen stomach. “Why should I want to harm your baby? As I see it, I made a good bargain today, buying two slaves for the price of one.”
    A new and unsettling thought struck Jillianna.