Enchantress by Constance O'Banyon

inclined to indulge her than punish her.
    Mrs. Potter also knew that Lord Simijin would never deny Brittany anything, and he would certainly not take the governess’s side against the stepdaughter he adored.
    At seventeen, Brittany considered herself too old for a governess who persisted in curtailing her movements. But she admitted to herself that poor Mrs. Potter did not have an easy time trying to make a proper lady of her.
    As the governess moved on down the path and out of sight, Brittany stood up, happy that she had once more escaped the woman. She was weary of the strict discipline that had been laid down for her; she was young and longed for adventure.
    All of her young life, Brittany had lived behind the high walls of Simijin’s palace, and she longed to walk free as her mother had in her girlhood in England.
    As often as possible, Brittany would sneak away to the harem, although it was forbidden to her because her mother disapproved of the women there. But Brittany had formedfriendships with the seven concubines who remained in Simijin’s harem. There was Adrianna, from Russia; Milo, the Egyptian; Asha, from India; Juanita, the Spaniard; and three others who were born in Turkey. If only her mother would understand that the women of the harem had befriended her and she had learned so many fascinating and interesting things from them.
    Most of all, Brittany liked the kindly eunuch, Achmed, who always managed to turn a blind eye when she wanted to enter the women’s pavilion. He was her friend, and she knew he would never inform her mother of her visits to the harem.
    Achmed had told her that Lord Simijin had once been master to over one hundred concubines, but that since he had taken the English Rose as his wife, he no longer frequented his harem. Most of the concubines had been allowed to leave to seek husbands, taking with them large dowries, while the ones who chose to remain had stayed with the knowledge that Lord Simijin would no longer seek them out. Twenty had remained, but only seven were still alive today, and they were no longer young.
    Since Simijin had never fathered children of his own, Brittany was the only child who had grown up in the shadows of the palace walls, and the women had adored and indulged her on those times she had secretly made her way to their quarters.
    It was in the harem where Brittany had learned to dance exotic dances. She had also been instructed in several different languages. She had even been trained in the ways to please a man. She was well versed in the art of love, and Brittany found it all intriguing, but she doubted she would ever put it into practice. After all, the only men she knew were Simijin and the eunuchs!
    With deliberate steps, she raced past the purple cloud of hanging wisteria on her way toward the forbidden harem.
    When she approached the tall double doors, they swung inward as if by magic, to offer her admittance. Achmed stoodwith arms folded over his broad black chest, his dark eyes challenging, yet shining with hidden mirth.
    “Who dares seek entrance to Lord Simijin’s harem?”
    “Hide me, Achmed,” Brittany said frantically. “Mrs. Potter is searching for me.”
    Suddenly Achmed smiled at the lovely vision, who looked strangely out of place, dressed in the French-style, high-waisted gown, rather than in garments like the harem women wore. Her golden hair made a halo around her face, her green eyes danced with impishness, and her rosy cheeks proclaimed her good health.
    He stepped aside with an exaggerated bow, allowing her to enter. “So, little mistress, again you have escaped the sour persimmon who is your governess.”
    “Poor Mrs. Potter, I fear I am a real trial to her, Achmed. She deserves much better than she gets from me.”
    The eunuch winked. “Let us hope she gets all that she deserves…in England or some other remote corner of the world, hmm, little mistress?”
    Brittany frowned. “Mama will never send Mrs. Potter away, Achmed.