Nura counted out enough money to give to Abbas, and handed it to him.
"That ought to be enough, I'm sure."
She turned to Ruwa.
"Well, another tiring evening in the life of Nura Pasha, I guess."she said dramatically.
"Why?"asked Ruwa.
"Why else. We're supposed to go and dine with the Sultan. But I must say, they have excellent food at the Palace."she smiled.
"I wish I could dine at the Palace."said Ruwa.
"I guess so. Now, you should come and help me pick out what to wear. Hanif says my tastes are too…inappropriate, so hopefully, with your input, I can wear something more appropriate for tomorrow evening."
"Anything that you've worn before?"asked Ruwa.
"No, it has to be something brand new. Like always. That's just why Abbas is going to the tailor's. Again. Hey, at least, I have to have my eunuch dressed in something fitting, as Hanif might say."
Cassim noticed the tall eunuch he had seen the other day enter the shop. Just as he was about to leave, he dared to question him about his mistress's companion.
"You're mistress is the lady who was wearing the green veil, looking at the jewelry three days ago, isn't she?"
"Nura Pasha, yes."
"Who was the other girl? Is she one of her servants?"
"No, she is a friend. I know, she is much lower than her in social standing. The girl's mother used to sew for my mistress's late mother, from what I heard."
He shrugged.
"My mistress has very strange tastes in friends. The master is not fond of this Ruwa, of course. However, up to this day, there is nothing in which he would not let my mistress have her own way. In my eyes, she is nothing more than a servant, really, thank goodness, we do not usually visit her house. We did once, unfortunately, however, there is no just no way to convince my mistress that it is not right for her, to be seen with such a poor…"he shrugged. "Well, the master says the lady should have her own way, and it is, of course, my place to obey, not to question her orders."
"Right."
Nura stood almost perfectly still, as the maid finished putting the finishing touches on the hem of her skirt.
"I think this is just too depressing."she said. "You should see one of the dresses the Sultana wears. The last time I saw her, I just had to ask her about it, you know. She and the Sultan are about the only people there whom you can converse with. Everyone else is nothing more than a snob."
There was a knock on the door.
"Yes?"
"Madam, the blue satins that you asked for are here."
"I never ordered any satin! And since when have you ever seen me in blue?"demanded Nura
"Yesterday."volunteered Ruwa.
"Well, it's a mistake."
Saba, the maid shook her head.
"They wish to see you in person."she said.
"Me?"asked Nura. "Have Abbas deal with it."
"Abbas is not back yet."
"You can't depend on anyone these days."complained Nura. "Let me see."
She pushed Saba out of her way.
"You've got the wrong place."she said to the delivery boy.
"No, I think I've got the right place. Nura Pasha?"
"Well, in that you're right, but I didn't ask for any satins. Not right now."
"I know you didn't. I'm not here to deliver the satins, but something else, and not for you, but for someone you know. Your head eunuch, Abbas, is still at the shop, because they can't seem to find his new vest, so he can't attend me right now, but he told me the young lady, Ruwa, was a friend of yours, not a slave."
"Oh, no. For that, that's what you go to the marketplace for, slaves and all that."
"I'd like for you to give her this."he said, handing her a note. "I could have asked the eunuch, however, I don't really trust him. He seemed too…"Cassim didn't want to say 'uppity'.
"Don't worry, but take these with you."
Nura went back upstairs.
"It was just a mistake, a dreadful mistake."she said to Saba, and dismissed.
"Mistake, my foot."she said to Ruwa. "For you."she said, handing her the note. "Apparently, you've got a secret admirer."