The Charmingly Clever Cousin Read Free

be dying!”

4
Prince Ahmed Departs
    F ATIMA HUGGED HER SISTER. S HE KNEW Selime was very fond of her father-in-law. He shared her love of music, and they often sang duets together during visits.
    Yusuf stopped smiling, and the joking tone left his voice. “That’s right,” he said gravely. “And I’m afraid I’m the bearer of the bad news.”
    Looking up, Ahmed said, “Perhaps he’s not as ill as he thinks.”
    Yusuf sighed. “How I wish that were true.”
    Ahmed tapped his fingers on the arm of his chair. He seemed to be thinking. “I know my father well,” he said finally. “If he gets even a small scratch on his hand, he thinks he’s at death’s door.”
    Tansy nodded. “One of my brothers is like that. Every time Ethan coughs, he’s sure he’s coming down with the plague.”
    Yusuf frowned at her. “I’m afraid it’s different this time,” he said to Ahmed. “The doctors say there’s nothing they can do for him.”
    â€œDoctors can be wrong,” Elena said softly.
    Ahmed nodded, but his face fell. “I must go to him. I hope there’s been a mistake, though. My father worries a lot, but he’s always been as healthy and strong as an ogre.”
    Yusuf gave him a pitying look. “We canonly pray that you’re right.”
    â€œAmen,” murmured Lysandra.
    Ahmed rose to his feet. “I’ll leave first thing tomorrow morning.”
    â€œAnd I’ll go with you!” Yusuf declared.
    â€œThank you,” Ahmed said gratefully. “I’d welcome your company.”
    Poor Ahmed, thought Fatima. She’d feel awful if her own father were dreadfully ill. She glanced at Selime, who was twisting her handkerchief nervously. Poor Ahmed and Selime.
    Â 
    For dinner that night there was peacock in raisin sauce, peas, creamed potatoes, apple tarts, and stuffed figs. Everything tasted delicious, as always. But in spite of the Royal Chef’s efforts, the only one who seemed to have much of an appetite was Yusuf. Fatima supposed he must not have had much to eatduring his long ride to the palace. She watched as he tore off a huge hunk of bread, then swished it around his plate to soak up the raisin sauce.
    â€œI wish you were staying longer,” she said.
    Yusuf grinned at her. “Who knows? You might just get your wish.” Popping the bread into his mouth, he chewed vigorously.
    â€œReally? You mean you aren’t going to travel with Ahmed after all?”
    Yusuf patted her shoulder. “Sorry, Princess. I have to go. But I’ll try to come back as soon as I can. Then I just might stay so long you’ll want to get rid of me.”
    Fatima smiled. “You could never stay that long.”
    Yusuf wiped the raisin sauce from his mustache and glanced at the other princesses. “I wonder if your friends would agree,” he said playfully.
    The three princesses giggled. “Can’t say yet,” answered Tansy. “But if I can live with six brothers, I guess I could stand being around you for a while.”
    Yusuf roared with laughter.
    â€œHe’s certainly cheerful, isn’t he?” Lysandra whispered to Elena.
    Elena shrugged. “Maybe he’s just trying to make up for the bad news.”
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    After dinner Selime and Ahmed excused themselves from the table. Selime wanted to bathe Hassim and put him to bed, and Ahmed needed to make preparations for the next day’s journey.
    Yusuf entertained the princesses with stories about dragons, fairies, and ogres. Then he showed them some tricks he claimed to have learned from a traveling magician. The girls burst into laughter whenhe drew a hard-boiled egg from Tansy’s ear and made strands of Lysandra’s blond hair dance in the air like a snake. When he waved his hand in front of Elena’s eyes and turned them from hazel to blue to hazel again, the princesses were