Page 43 of Silver Angel

“And, Omar?”

“Yes?”

“I enjoyed it.”

This time Omar snorted. “Let us hope you find less dangerous ways of enjoying yourself in the days to come.”

“Oh, I intend to.” Derek grinned. “Beginning immediately. You did say there’s nothing for me to attend to today?”

“Nothing that will require your presence.”

“Good. Then do I send for Haji Agha, or will a messenger serve to bring Shahar to me now?”

Omar’s brows shot up. “Now?”

“Is there anything wrong with the time of day?” Derek wanted to know.

“No, of course not, but…she won’t be ready for you this soon, Kasim. You know how lengthy the training period is.”

“I don’t care,” Derek insisted. “Unlike Jamil, I’m used to untrained women.”

“But she’s only been here four days—”

“Was she bought for me or not, Omar?”

Omar cringed at the brusque tone, so like Jamil’s of late. “You know she was.”

“And if I want her today, right now, why should I wait?”

There were a number of reasons that would make it unadvisable, but Omar sensed Kasim didn’t want to hear them. Omar couldn’t remember the last time he had been this impatient for a woman. He couldn’t remembereverbeing this impatient. But then he wasn’t young and lusty anymore, and he hadn’t deliberately deprived himself of a willing bedmate these past four nights, as he knew Kasim had foolishly done.

Still, he felt it expedient to point out, “There are dozens of other women to choose—”

“Omar.”

The old man threw up his hands. “Then you had best summon Haji Agha. This particular summons coming from anyone else will not be believed.”

Haji Agha had not moved so quickly in twenty years. Immediately, Jamil had said. How to interpret “immediately”? Was there time to dress the girl properly? Pray Allah she was already bathed. But it was late in the afternoon, so a bath was hopefully the least of his worries.

He burst into Rahine’s apartment, so out of breath it took him several seconds before he could get out, “He wants her now.”

“Who?”

“Shahar.”

“What?”

“There is no time to wonder about it, Rahine. He said immediately.”

Rahine opened her mouth to argue, but the word “immediately” changed her mind. Jamil had never demanded one of his concubines immediately before.

She took a deep breath to calm herself, then turned to the women gathered around her. “You heard Haji Agha. There is no time to dawdle. Kalila, go to the wardrobe mistress. Tell her something in lavender, to match Shahar’s eyes. Saril, fetch one of my jewel boxes, the one with the pearls, I think. Oma, my scented oils, quickly. Come along, Haji.”

The old man smiled as he hurried after her. “You’re taking this very well, Rahine.”

She ignored the comment. “Did you at leasttryto tell him she wasn’t ready?”

“Of course.”