Early in the afternoon she was given a special bath of purification and brought to a women's mosque near the vizier's palace, where she automatically answered the questions put to her by the elderly muezzin. By late afternoon she was officially a convert to Mohammed.

She was not, however, aware of the fact that as soon as she returned to Cicalazade's palace the vizier signed papers making her his second wife. According to Muslim law, neither her knowledge nor her consent were necessary. Only the permission of her legal guardian was required. Hammid, who accepted a large sum of gold as her bridal gift, was that guardian.

When evening came, Cat waited impatiently for the litter that would carry her to the vizier's caique. Her small excursion of the afternoon had whetted her appetite for freedom, and she had even managed to reconcile herself to the fact that, for the present, Cicalazade Pasha owned her. She had decided to cease her resistance to him. Her objective was to return to her husband in Italy, and in order to do this she must be able to speak with the Kira family in Constantinople. She could only gain that privilege if she were trusted, and she would only be trusted if she appeared to have accepted her fate.

Not even her loyal Susan must suspect her thoughts. It was a secret she would keep to herself until her plans were completed. She started guiltily at the sound of Hammid's voice.

"You look so serious, Incili. What is it you think of, my beauty? Profound thoughts are not good for a woman."

She laughed. "You have indeed caught me, Hammid, but I think you would approve the direction of my thoughts. I have been thinking that you are right I will not say that it is easy for me, but I have decided to try to accept my fate. After all, 'tis not so terrible a fate. Perhaps in time I shall be able to love my lord Cicalazade. Do you think it will happen, Hammid? The vizier does appear to harbor some small affection for me."

Hammid could scarcely control his delight and excitement. She could not have made her decision at a better time. "I can," he said carefully, "if you will allow me, ease some of your anxiety. Will you trust me?"

"I will try," she answered him, "but what is it you would do?"

"It is an ancient form of relaxation and suggestion called hypnosis. I will place you in a trance, and suggest certain things to you. When you awaken you will be more at ease with your situation. Do not fear this, however, for if you do not wish to obey my suggestions, the hypnosis will not work. Your own strong will is your best protection."

"I trust you, Hammid," she said. "Proceed.”

The eunuch took a gold chain with a small diamond tear from about his neck. "Watch the tear, Incili." He swung it slowly before her eyes. "Is it not beautiful with its rainbow colors?" The voice was soothing and kindly. Cat felt a delicious warmth wash over her. "You must concentrate on the tear, my child, and soon you will begin to relax." The pendant swung slowly, and Cat felt her body growing languorous, her eyes heavier and heavier as they slowly closed.

"Are you asleep, Incili?"

"Yes, Hammid."

The eunuch took a pin from Ms robe and, lifting her foot, jabbed it quickly into her tender sole. She neither pulled away nor cried out, and he was satisfied that she was really in a hypnotic state. "Are you ready to submit to Cicalazade Pasha as your lord and master?”

"Yes, Hammid. I will try hard to please him."

"I am happy with you, Incili, and I want you to be happy. You have only to follow the dictates of your body, my beauty. Let your lovely body overrule your quick intellect. Lord Cicalazade loves you deeply. You have affected Mm as no woman ever has. Will you not give Mm the satisfaction of knowing that he has pleasured you?"

For a moment she was silent, as if struggling with her emotions, then her soft voice said, "Yes, Hammid, I will yield myself to my lord Cica."

The eunuch smiled, satisfied. "Thank you, my dear. I am content that you will both be very happy. One other thing, however. You must not mention to the vizier that we have had this conversation."

"I will not."

"Very well, Incili. On the count of three you will awaken refreshed, and ready to spend a night pleasing your lord, One… two. „. three."

Cat's eyes opened. "Fascinating," she said. "I slept, yet I heard you clearly, and I feel ever so much more at ease. Hammid. Thank you."

The eunuch smiled again. "Are you ready to join the vizier now?"

"Yes."

"And again tonight I compliment you on your cos-tone."

Cat smiled. She enjoyed wearing the luxurious clothing of a priveleged woman, and she took great pains with her appearance. Tonight she wore pale-pink silk shot with silver threads. Her gauze blouse was rose, her jacket edged In silver and bits of blue lapis. Her hip sash and slippers bore alternating stripes of silver and turquoise. She wore silver baubles on her arms and large drop earrings of carved turquoise.

Susan had done Cat's hair in a new fashion. Drawn back and up, the honey-colored mass was woven into one large braid with turquoise ribbons and a string of tiny seed pearls. Across the beautiful face, Hammid fastened a veil of rose gauze.

She settled herself comfortably in the litter, almost bouncing with excitement in anticipation of her outing. The bearers moved quickly through the harem corridors, out across the gardens, and down to the private marble quay where the vizier's caique awaited.

It was a graceful vessel, completely gilded, with a red lacquer design along the sides. The oars were alternately pale-blue enamel and silver, and the slaves who pulled those oars were all coal-black. Those who pulled on the silver oars wore blue satin pantaloons sashed in silver. Those Who pulled on the pale-blue oars were garbed in blue-sashed silver cloth pantaloons. The awning of the vessel was stripped in red, gold, blue, and silver, and held up by four gilded posts carved around with flowers and leaves. The silk curtains were scarlet and gold gauze, and the deck was.polished rosewood. Beneath the awning was an enormous assortment of multicolored pillows, where Cicalazade Pasha awaited.

Hammid carefully handed her from the litter into the caique. Reclining comfortably on her side, she raised her eyes to him and said in a low sultry voice, "Good evening, my lord.''

A smile lit his face. "Good evening, Incili." Turning to the oarmaster, he nodded. The caique began to pull slowly away from the quay, moving directly into the Bosporus in the direction of the Black Sea. The sun had not yet set, and she could see the sammer-green hills tumbling into the water. Behind them the sky was a riot of pinks, golds, mauves, corals, and deep purple against blue.

Cat breathed deeply and the vizier laughed. "Do not tell me that the air outside my garden smells better, beloved."

"‘Tis the smell of freedom, my lord."

His eyes were troubled, and then he said quietly, "Do not chafe so, my beautiful captive dove. Today I have changed your humble status. My wife, Lateefa Sultan, is an Ottoman princess, and I may not have other wives except with her permission."

"I thought Muslim men were allowed four wives."

"All except those wed to imperial princesses. This afternoon, however, with Lateefa's permission, I took you as my second wife." Her eyes widened. Pleased, he continued, "You are, I know, wondering how this can be. Under Muslim law neither your knowledge nor your permission was necessary. You are no longer a slave, my precious one. Are you not happy?" His face radiated pleasure as he looked expectantly at her.

The blood was pounding angrily in her ears. It took tremendous effort but she quickly caught hold of her emotions. Speaking so softly that he was forced to bend to hear her, she said, "You do me an incredible honor, my lord." She was unable to say any more for fear of betraying herself.

It was enough. He drew her into his arms, kissing the mouth that opened easily beneath his. He covered the upturned face with kisses, moving to the slim pillar of her throat and down to her breasts. Eagerly he pulled the rose gauze blouse open, tearing it in his haste. Hungrily he sucked at her nipples, each in turn, and then, laying his head against her heart, he sighed contentedly, sure that he had won her over completely.

"Tonight we begin anew, my precious Incili." His deep voice vibrated with emotion. "The past is dead, my beautiful bride. Only the present and the future will concern us. Look! The full moon is rising, and above it, Venus, the planet of the Goddess of Love! Soon we will be at the Island of a Thousand Flowers, and there in the Starlight Kiosk we will spend a night of rapture." Raising his head from her breasts, he gazed at her, little gold lights dancing in his gray-blue eyes.

She was speechless. Drawing his head back down to her breasts so he could not see her face, she suppressed the urge to scream. Furious, she wondered how her great-grandmother had managed to live so many years in a Muslim world. So neither her permission nor even her knowledge had been necessary for marriage to take place! Now she knew why Hammid had insisted on her quick conversion to Islam.

He had pretended to be her friend, lulling her into a false sense of security in order to aid his master. She would never trust him again. But she would play the game-her way, this time-and Hammid would not know it. For the time being she would be the adoring second wife of the vizier. She would not allow outrage to betray her. She would make them all think she had been pacified and tamed.

The caique was approaching the island quay, and Cat could smell flowers. "My lord Cica," she said softly, "we near our destination. I would rearrange my blouse lest the slaves see what they should not."