supposed to marry the doctor’s son! And I, so arrogant, rejected G-d’s plan.”
“You didn’t stand in the way of his plan.” She took José’s hand in her own. “His plan was delivered through you. And this one,”—she placed his hand on her belly—“He is part of the plan.”
“Please, Reyna.” José’s body ached with the weight of exhaustion. “Go back to your room.” He turned away then descended a flight of stairs to the main floor landing. He found Moise, one of his Spanish servants, at the foot of the stairwell in the grand foyer.
“Don José, should I call for the Doctor?”
“Yes and do it quickly.” José paced back and forth as he spoke. “I’m afraid La Señora might not survive the night. Tell me, Moise, have any of the other servants fallen ill?”
Moise lowered his gaze.
“That bad?”
“Among the ladies, Esther and Arabella haven’t been able to hold down any food.”
“Wake Mehmet. Have him ready the boat. He’ll have to sail downstream towards the palace and fetch Doctor Hamon.”
“I’m sorry, Effendi , but Mehmet is not well enough to sail.”
José pressed his temples and squeezed his eyes shut.
“ Effendi , if I may make a suggestion. I have accompanied Mehmet many times to the palace...”
“Can you man the boat?”
“I can. I’ll bring one of the younger boys to help me with the ropes.”
“All right. Wait just a minute.” José hurried into his study. He fumbled for a few moments for a scroll of parchment, then penned a short note to Doctor Hamon. He did not waste time with formalities. “La Señora in grave danger. Your assistance urgently needed. Yours, Don José Nissim.” He waited a moment for the ink to dry, then rolled the parchment and secured it with his seal.
As he did, Doña Antonia’s let out a piercing cry, rattling the walls and windows all throughout the grand villa.
For a long moment, José sat unmoved. He shook his head as though breaking free from that frozen state, then handed the scroll to the young man. “Hurry, Moise.”
“Yes, Effendi .” He bowed his head and left the room.
*
“ You ?” José asked once Moise had returned, not with Doctor Hamon, but with his son.
“Yes. My father sent me instead.”
“But where is he? Didn’t he read my message? This is an urgent matter! I need the best doctor in the city!”
“I understand your concern. I can assure you that I know what I’m doing. I’ve been practicing medicine for years, working and learning alongside my father. I know it’s a surprise to see me here, when you were expecting my father, but I am qualified. I’ve even treated the Sultan himself, on several different occasions.”
José examined the young doctor from head to heel. He stood there with his medicine kit hanging by his side, his shoulders squared and his chin elevated. In his house, here then was the man that was to have been Reyna’s husband. He felt as though fate were playing a cruel joke on him.
“Did your father say why he could not come himself?”
“He was not permitted to leave the palace. At least three physicians must always be present at Topkapi in the event that their services are needed by the Sultan. Of course he would be here if he could. We both know how deeply he cares for La Señor—”
“We’re wasting precious time,” José cut in. “Follow me.”
José led the young doctor up the marble flight of stairs and through to Doña Antonia’s bedchamber. As soon as he opened the door, they were hit with the stench of sweat and vomit.
“ Tia ?” José took a few steps towards her bed. “ Ti a, the doctor is here to see you.”
When she did not respond, Doctor Hamon strode swiftly past José and laid the back of his hand on Doña Antonia’s forehead.
“Is she sleeping?” José asked the young doctor.
He raised her arm and felt for a pulse, then lowered his ear to her heart and listened for a beat. A long moment passed before the young doctor straightened
“You didn’t stand in the way of his plan.” She took José’s hand in her own. “His plan was delivered through you. And this one,”—she placed his hand on her belly—“He is part of the plan.”
“Please, Reyna.” José’s body ached with the weight of exhaustion. “Go back to your room.” He turned away then descended a flight of stairs to the main floor landing. He found Moise, one of his Spanish servants, at the foot of the stairwell in the grand foyer.
“Don José, should I call for the Doctor?”
“Yes and do it quickly.” José paced back and forth as he spoke. “I’m afraid La Señora might not survive the night. Tell me, Moise, have any of the other servants fallen ill?”
Moise lowered his gaze.
“That bad?”
“Among the ladies, Esther and Arabella haven’t been able to hold down any food.”
“Wake Mehmet. Have him ready the boat. He’ll have to sail downstream towards the palace and fetch Doctor Hamon.”
“I’m sorry, Effendi , but Mehmet is not well enough to sail.”
José pressed his temples and squeezed his eyes shut.
“ Effendi , if I may make a suggestion. I have accompanied Mehmet many times to the palace...”
“Can you man the boat?”
“I can. I’ll bring one of the younger boys to help me with the ropes.”
“All right. Wait just a minute.” José hurried into his study. He fumbled for a few moments for a scroll of parchment, then penned a short note to Doctor Hamon. He did not waste time with formalities. “La Señora in grave danger. Your assistance urgently needed. Yours, Don José Nissim.” He waited a moment for the ink to dry, then rolled the parchment and secured it with his seal.
As he did, Doña Antonia’s let out a piercing cry, rattling the walls and windows all throughout the grand villa.
For a long moment, José sat unmoved. He shook his head as though breaking free from that frozen state, then handed the scroll to the young man. “Hurry, Moise.”
“Yes, Effendi .” He bowed his head and left the room.
*
“ You ?” José asked once Moise had returned, not with Doctor Hamon, but with his son.
“Yes. My father sent me instead.”
“But where is he? Didn’t he read my message? This is an urgent matter! I need the best doctor in the city!”
“I understand your concern. I can assure you that I know what I’m doing. I’ve been practicing medicine for years, working and learning alongside my father. I know it’s a surprise to see me here, when you were expecting my father, but I am qualified. I’ve even treated the Sultan himself, on several different occasions.”
José examined the young doctor from head to heel. He stood there with his medicine kit hanging by his side, his shoulders squared and his chin elevated. In his house, here then was the man that was to have been Reyna’s husband. He felt as though fate were playing a cruel joke on him.
“Did your father say why he could not come himself?”
“He was not permitted to leave the palace. At least three physicians must always be present at Topkapi in the event that their services are needed by the Sultan. Of course he would be here if he could. We both know how deeply he cares for La Señor—”
“We’re wasting precious time,” José cut in. “Follow me.”
José led the young doctor up the marble flight of stairs and through to Doña Antonia’s bedchamber. As soon as he opened the door, they were hit with the stench of sweat and vomit.
“ Tia ?” José took a few steps towards her bed. “ Ti a, the doctor is here to see you.”
When she did not respond, Doctor Hamon strode swiftly past José and laid the back of his hand on Doña Antonia’s forehead.
“Is she sleeping?” José asked the young doctor.
He raised her arm and felt for a pulse, then lowered his ear to her heart and listened for a beat. A long moment passed before the young doctor straightened
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