The Kadin - Bertrice Small [192]
CH, Sultan Valideh.
Janet laid her message to Esther Kira aside, and taking up a second sheet of parchment began a second letter.
My son.
Word has reached me that Khurrem boasts openly in the harem that you will marry her. Should this be true, and I cannot believe it, I tell you that I forbid it! How dare you shame the memory of Cyra Hafise?! And that of every kadin who has borne her lord a son, including poor Gulbehar, who is mother to your own heir, Mustafa. Or is he to be set aside when you do this terrible thing? No sultan since Osman has found it necessary to formalize his relationship with a woman. Perhaps you have forgotten that in my great love for you I allowed you to keep a woman who twice tried to poison me; and then I departed from your life so there might be peace in your house. I have given up everything for you. My name. My final resting place beside your father. My home, my friends, my children, my grandchildren. And my position. I expected no reward for my great sacrifice, but to be shamed in such a manner is more than I can bear. If you do this foolish thing, my death will be on your conscience.
CH, Sultan Valideh.
Reading over the letters, Janet smiled, and sealing first with her tugra the missive to Suleiman, she placed it inside the message to Esther Kira, and sealed that with the Leslie seal. Taking a third sheet of parchment, she wrote to the head of the House of Kira in Edinburgh.
This message is to go by the absolute fastest route possible. It is imperative it reach Istanbul quickly. My personal thanks to Aaron Kira for his efforts on my behalf.
Janet Leslie.
“Marian, come to me!”
The door opened
“Has the messenger been fed?”
“Aye, madame”
“His horse properly cared for?”
“Aye, madame.”
“Bring him to me.”
“At once, madame.”
A few minutes later a young boy knelt before her. His hair was black, his eyes dark and luminous.
“Your name, lad?”
“Aaron Kira, my lady.”
“Ye are Esther’s nephew? Yes! I see the family resemblance now. I dinna think ye so young. Ye hae done me a great service, laddie, and I am going to ask ye do me another. At first light ye will come and receive from me an important message packet that must go back to Edinburgh. Ye must ride like the wind, Aaron Kira, for there is no time to be lost Ye will be told the posting places ye may change horses at by my captain, Hugh More-Leslie.”
The boy looked up at her, his eyes shining. “I will reach Edinburgh before the wind my lady.”
She laughed. “How old are ye, Aaron Kira?”
“Fourteen, my lady.”
“I thought so. Once I had four sons, and as I remember fourteen is a wonderfully confident age.”
“Where are your sons now?” asked the boy.
“Two are dead, and one lives here wi’ me.”
“And the fourth?”
“He is very far away, laddie.” She gently patted his head. “Off wi’ ye, boy. If you ride for the Lady of Sithean at dawn, ye must be well rested. Be sure cook feeds ye before ye go, and gies ye something for the road. Here are some coins which will buy ye whatever else ye need.”
He caught her hand, and pressing it to his forehead Eastern fashion backed from the room
“Esther would be so proud of him, wouldn’t she, Marian?”
“Aye. He’s a fine lad. Och! I’m forgetting! Lord Hay is here. I’ve put him in the small dining room wi’ some supper before him”
“Good. Go and see if he’s through. Then ye may go to bed. See that the Kira boy is fed and given food for his journey in the morning. Have Hugh tell him posting stations tonight and see Aaron is brought to me at dawn.”
“What have ye written to my lord Suleiman?”
That I forbid any formality between him and Khurrem.”
“Will he listen?”
“I pray to God he will!”
“I also. Good night, madame.”
“Good night, Marian.”
45
THE KING was coming to Sithean. He had sent word that he would return to Edinburgh from his highland progress via the Leslie lands. Anne was furious he was not staying at Glenkirk.
“Undoubtedly the countess’s reputation as a hostess