9-4 An eventful day

Despite my late return to the harem last night, I bathe and dress early, ready for what will be a busy day ahead. My conversation with Ahmed proved useful to both of us. It has given me an insight into his interests and what attracts him to Aysun. Today I must use that information to help prepare Aysun for tonight. I talk with Birgül and Didem and we agree on a plan to help Aysun.

Anna didn't return to the harem last night, so I presume she has spent the night with Irem. Gülriz, Emete and Melek probably spent the night with Ramazan or Kadir, but since they don't normally sleep in this dormitory, I can't be sure. Anyway, I don't have time to think about them at the moment, as Aysun and the other girls are ready for their lessons.

The heady excitement of last night has finally been exhausted and the girls have returned to reality. Aysun is understandably nervous about tonight, but she tries hard not to show it. We begin today's lessons with a review of last night's events. Since Birgül and Didem weren't there, appraisal of the girls' dancing performance is left to me. I highlight a few areas for improvement, but I don't linger on criticising the numerous faults in what was a commendable performance given the circumstances. I move onto a language session before handing over to Birgül and Didem. As agreed, I take Aysun into a different room for a special lesson.

My experience in preparing Hürrem or myself for our nights alone with Sultan Suleiman is invaluable. I recall Hürrem's wild excitement when it was her turn, and my own nervousness when it was mine. Aysun seems too bewildered by the recent changes to her life to be able to settle on any one emotion. My first task is to settle her nerves so that she can pay attention to the instruction I'm trying to give her. After a while we start to make real progress.

I teach her numerous words and phrases that might be useful tonight, particularly words that will help her to describe England. Ahmed seems fascinated that she's English, but I caution Aysun about talking too much about her family or past life. She's expected to forget about the life she had before entering the harem, and it won't do her any good to dwell on memories. It's something which is easier said than done. My own past life as Maria is a gradually fading memory, but I don't think I'll ever forget it entirely. Deep in my heart there will always be a little bit of Maria and my family.

There's no point in trying to teach Aysun more Ottoman history or the empire's geography today. I doubt Ahmed will want to discuss those in Aysun's company. I spend some time, however, on traditional customs and deportment for tonight's assignation. Fortunately Ahmed is also inexperienced, so he isn't likely to notice if Aysun departs from the prescribed script. Nevertheless, she is safer following the standard rituals. Sultan Suleiman didn't mind when I broke with tradition, but he is an extraordinary man. I suspect Ahmed is less independently minded.

We break for the usual snack at midday. Aysun says she's too nervous to be hungry, and she's keen to continue without stopping. I insist that she eats something. This will be the last food she will be allowed to eat before meeting with Ahmed tonight. It's customary for the couple to enjoy a meal together before moving on to carnal pleasure. A kalfa should arrive soon to supervise and assist with Aysun's ablutions and beautification. In the Constantinople harem, two girls would be assigned to be Aysun's temporary maids for that purpose, but that doesn't seem to be the custom here in Edirne. Likewise, I'm not sure if Şah Sultan will provide Aysun with a silk dress and jewels. I think it would reflect poorly on her management of the harem if Aysun were to present herself to Ahmed tonight wearing the harem uniform. But maybe Şah Sultan isn't bothered by what her son thinks.

Aysun and I resume her lessons while we wait for a kalfa to arrive and escort Aysun to the baths. A couple of hours pass quickly. Useful hours from my point of view as it enables me to teach Aysun a few more skills. Unfortunately the delay in the kalfa's arrival means there will be less time for Aysun to get washed and changed. I continue with Aysun's lessons for a while, trying not to reveal my growing unease at the failure of a kalfa to appear. Eventually I decide I had better get a message to Afife Kalfa to remind her that Aysun is waiting for a kalfa to arrive. Apart from Birgül and Didem, there are no agas or kalfas in this part of the harem. That's not unusual at this time of day, but it only confirms that Aysun has been forgotten. Even Araj Aga is conspicuous by his absence. I discuss the situation with Birgül and Didem.

"I'll attend to Aysun," says Didem to me. "If you can give the other girls a language lesson, Birgül will go and find Afife Kalfa and find out what is happening."

I would prefer to go and find Afife Kalfa myself, but I concede that Birgül has a better chance of finding her in this huge complex. Afife could be anywhere in the maze of buildings and underground passageways. Without alerting Aysun or the other girls to the fact that there is a problem, the two kalfas and I put our improvised plan into action.

About forty minutes later I call a halt to lessons for the day. The five girls are finding it difficult to concentrate. It's been a long day for them after yesterday's exertions, and they are understandably excited about Aysun's big night. By now, many of those living in our dormitory have finished their work and have returned to the harem. The five girls join the others while I go to one of the side rooms where Didem and two other women are busy with Aysun's preparations. The women came to help not long after Birgül left. Fortunately between them they'll be able to prevent Aysun's special occasion from turning into a disaster before it has begun.

Since I'm not needed to help Aysun any further, I take a short break. My pregnancy doesn't normally interfere with my daily activities, but once in a while ... like now ... I need a few moments to myself. I walk through the harem trying to ease the slight nausea which had suddenly struck me. To my surprise I find Gülriz is here. She's busy talking to Nuray and Esmeray. I forget about my nausea and go to join them.

"Gülnihal!" cries Gülriz, "I thought I was dreaming when I saw you last night."

We greet each other like old friends, although we hadn't been particularly close during our time together in Constantinople. We share a common bond forged by being transported together from the Crimea to Constantinople. We entered the Imperial Harem together, but our harem training eventually took different paths, and we drifted apart. Nine months ago, Gülriz was transferred to Edirne as part of the general reduction in the number of women living in the Constantinople harem. Now both of us are eager to renew our acquaintance and learn the other's story.

"You have obviously come a long way in the world," continues Gülriz. "Your jacket last night outshone the hanimsultans' fine dresses."

I quickly recall that although Şah Sultan's offspring are entitled to add the appellation 'Sultan' to their names, her daughters are hanimsultans rather than sultanas, and her sons are sultanzades rather than sultans. However I doubt anyone in Edirne would correct you if you refer to them by the higher rank.

"Sultan Suleiman gave me the jacket," I say, not needing to tell Gülriz how it was earned. There's only one way a girl can acquire a gift like that from the sultan.

"And you are pregnant!" says Gülriz. "You are on your way to becoming a sultana!"

"Not a sultana, no," I reply quickly. "I was discharged from the harem and married to a Çelebi. My husband Hasan is away on government business. I've been sent here until he returns."

"Don't tell me Hürrem engineered your demise as well," says Gülriz. "She had me moved here quick enough."

"Your transfer was Mahidevran's doing," I reply. "But it's true that my discharge from the Imperial Harem is because of Sultan Suleiman's affection for Hürrem."

"Mahidevran told me that Hürrem was behind my transfer," replies Gülriz. "I thought it strange that Hürrem could persuade the Valide to authorise my move. There was hardly any love lost between Hürrem and the Valide. But I thought Mahidevran was above such games. Clearly I was mistaken."

"Have you been transferred to this dormitory, or are you just visiting?" I ask.

"Just visiting," replies Gülriz. "There was some trouble in one of the passageways. It seems Kadir and Ramazan have come to blows. One of the Hungarian girls was injured trying to keep them apart. There's some sort of investigation in progress and I've been told to wait here for now."

"Aysun is due to walk the golden path to Ahmed's room tonight," I say. "But the kalfas are very late in arriving. Perhaps that's why they've been delayed."

This is proving to be an eventful day. As much as I would like to know more about the incident, my immediate concern is for Aysun. Will she suffer the same fate as Hürrem on that first night when Hürrem was to go to Sultan Suleiman's bed. On that occasion the hours of preparation and anticipation were wasted by Mahidevran's scheming, although Hürrem didn't need to wait long for another opportunity.

My dilemma is solved for me when Afife Kalfa arrives with another kalfa. They walk over towards me as though nothing is wrong.

"Gülnihal Çelebi," says Afife Kalfa by way of a greeting. "Would you mind helping Fadime Kalfa prepare Aysun for tonight. We have left her preparations rather late, so I fear you must work quickly."

"Aysun is nearly ready," I reply. "Didem Kalfa and a couple of women are seeing to her preparations, but she only has a harem uniform to wear."

"Fadime, go and see if there are any suitable clothes in the store room. I presume none of the other girls have offered to lend Aysun one of their dresses?"

"Nobody has offered," I reply. "I did get one of my dresses out for Aysun to try, but it wasn't the right size and we don't have time to modify it."

It's considered bad manners to ask to borrow another girl's clothing. A harem slave possesses next to nothing, but anything she does own is hers to do with as she wishes. Nobody is allowed to make use of her possessions without her voluntary consent. Besides, none of the new girls possess any fine clothes, and most of the other women are the wrong size. We must see what Fadime can find.

Afife Kalfa doesn't linger and soon heads off towards one of the other dormitories. She promises that two agas will arrive at the appropriate time to escort Aysun to Ahmed's room. It seems that she must forego the pair of maids who should accompany her, but maybe that's the usual practise here. Certainly Anna, Gülriz, Emete and Melek left Ahmed's birthday celebration last night without any harem escort. That's something which would never happen at the palace in Constantinople.

Fadime succeeds in finding a few outfits in the store room which might fit Aysun. We return to where Aysun and Didem are waiting nervously. It's a shame that the new girls weren't allowed to select some of these clothes last night. Most of the outfits are more suited to a dancing entertainment than an intimate evening with a sultanzade, although I doubt Ahmed will be too bothered. Aysun tries on some of the clothes and settles on a loose fitting dancer's outfit. It's probably the best option of the limited choice available, but I caution her about it being very provocative for tonight's liaison. There is little danger of Ahmed having changed his mind and dismissing Aysun shortly after her arrival in his room. Therefore there's no need for her to try and cement Ahmed's interest in her by wearing an alluring outfit. The danger for Aysun is that Ahmed becomes so overwhelmed with lust at the sight of her that he skips the usual conversation and meal, and moves onto the main event prematurely. It would be disastrous for Aysun if Ahmed exhausts himself in a matter of minutes and sends her back to the harem too early. Anything less than a two hour stay would label Aysun as a failure regardless of the circumstances. A three to four hours stay is the norm for a successful first meeting. A skilful concubine would try to retain a sultan's interest in her until morning, but it is too early in Aysun's training to expect her to achieve that tonight.