Lady Of Fire Read Free Page B

others would be so forward.
    “I would have an explanation for your behavior,” Sabine said when her daughter halted before her.
    Hating that she had agitated her, Alessandra leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her cool cheek. “Forgive me. I could not help myself.”
    Sabine’s compressed lips twitched, face softened. “You must learn to control these impulses.” She brushed Alessandra’s hair off her face. “When Jabbar hears of this, he will likely forbid you entertainment.”
    And he would hear of it. Leila, the first of his three wives, was likely sending word this moment.
    “It will have been worth it,” Alessandra said with an apologetic smile, “for I so enjoyed the dance.”
    “Well, do not complain when you are once more left to your boredom.”
    “Would I do such a thing?”
    “You would.”
    Alessandra laughed. “And still you will come to my defense.”
    Sabine rolled her eyes, took her daughter’s hand, and turned her toward the new eunuch.
    Up close, Alessandra was more disconcerted. There was none of a eunuch’s serenity in that scarred face. Indeed, his expression was hard, as if anger had engraved it. Still, there was light in his eyes. Amusement?
    “Why do you stare?” she asked.
    “He is from England,” Sabine said. “Thus, he has much to learn before he takes his place in our household.”
    Alessandra gasped, stepped nearer him. “England? Why did you not tell me, Mother?”
    “I wished to surprise you.”
    Alessandra looked across her shoulder. “That you have done.”
    Her mother smiled. “I thought he could help you with your English. In return, you can teach him our language.”
    Alessandra winced. She was not keen on being tutored in English. Though she could converse in her mother’s native language, it felt awkward upon her tongue. Not only did it lack the richness and superb delicacy of the language she had spoken all her life, there was none of Arabic’s singsong intonation to soften it.
    “I can teach him our language,” she agreed, though she had no intention of wasting time learning more of the English her mother wished her to know intimately. She returned her attention to the man and was further unsettled when his gaze once more lowered over her.
    Never had she felt uncomfortable in the clothes she wore within the women’s quarters. But then, never had a man—not even her betrothed—looked at her as this one did.
    Wondering what thoughts should so tug at the eunuch’s mind that they should also tug at his lips, she looked down her front. Heat rose to her face as she considered what the thinly-woven material of her garments half-heartedly concealed—the swell of her breasts and flare of her hips.
    Her first thought was to cover herself. Her next was that never had she felt ashamed of her body, and she would not begin now.
    She tossed her head and asked in English, “What is your name?”
    “He has taken the name of Seif,” Sabine once more spoke for him.
    “Seif.” Alessandra nodded. “And his Christian name?”
    “Of no consequence,” Sabine said sharply. “In this household, he is Seif.”
    Surprised by her mother’s vehemence, Alessandra turned to her. “Something is wrong?”
    Sabine shook her head. “I am but tired.”
    Understandable considering her mother hadspent the past three nights with Jabbar. Though he had two other wives and a dozen concubines, there was none he loved more than her mother. For this, Leila’s dislike of Sabine was unequaled.
    Alessandra put a hand beneath her mother’s elbow and urged her toward the others. “Come sit.”
    Sabine drew back. “I am going to rest now. Perhaps you could introduce Seif to the others?”
    Alessandra looked to the women of the harem. As predicted, they showed little interest in the musicians and dancers. However, the distraction provided by Sabine and her daughter had waned. It was the new eunuch who held their attention.
    Knowing what they contemplated, Alessandra scowled. They were