Chapter 37: Untrained girls

I take a moment to think about what Şah Sultan has told me. In the fullness of time, Sultan Suleiman will almost certainly do the same for his sons. But I doubt he will choose untrained girls fresh from the slave markets.

“What about my duties regarding Anna von Erdödy?” I ask.

“You will teach her Turkish as well,” replies Şah Sultan. “Afife will place you in the same dormitory until Anna von Erdödy understands the rules of the harem. Our rebellious countess hasn’t earned the services of a personal maid. Any privileges she is granted in future will depend on her cooperation and behaviour. You will tell her that when you see her.”

I’m dismissed, and another female servant escorts me to the harem where Afife is waiting with Anna. Afife is clearly waiting for my arrival so that I can translate whatever instructions she wishes to give to Anna. She begins with a guided tour of the area of the harem where we will be living. The harem is nearly deserted at the moment, since most of the women who live here are carrying out their daily work duties.

This level of the harem consists of four large rectangular rooms, each at right angles to its immediate neighbours. One wall of each room forms one side of a square enclosing a private garden. There are large windows facing the garden, but those on the opposite walls are too high to see outside the harem. The architectural style of the rooms indicate that this building is much older than the harem in Constantinople. While the building has been kept in good repair, it is clear that no money has been spent in recent times on any added decorations. The colourful curtains and ornaments which adorn the harem in Constantinople are noticeably absent here.

At the end of each room there are stairs leading down to a basement level, which contains the baths, infirmary and store rooms. The basement level also provides access to the work areas such as the laundry and kitchens, which are in separate buildings connected to the harem by underground passageways. Afife gives us a quick tour of the network of passageways before returning to the harem.

One of the large rooms in the harem has an upper level. Afife informs us that it contains suites for the Imperial family when they visit, but is unused at other times. Apparently Şah Sultan and her husband have living accommodation in one of the small mansions built within the extensive grounds of the palace. Our tour finishes with an introduction to three of the agas currently on duty. One of them shows Anna and me to our sleeping area, and assigns both of us a strong chest each where we can store our personal belongings. Anna complains that there is no lock on the chest, but she is mollified when I tell her that anybody caught stealing can expect to be executed. The harem rules are strict and the punishment for disobedience is invariably severe.

“I shall return in an hour and introduce you to the six new girls,” says Afife. “In the meantime I suggest you store your belongings and visit the baths. One of the agas will provide you with a set of harem clothes. I suggest you wear those to save wear and tear on your own clothing.”

Both Anna and I have our own spare clothing in our baggage, but all the women we encountered on our tour were wearing the harem uniform. The uniform is similar to the clothing issued by the Valide in Constantinople, but rather than the white and grey of the harem uniforms in Constantinople, these uniforms are predominantly pale yellow.

Like any similar community, there will be factions and internal politics at play. I don’t know how many women live here, nor how many are slaves or captives, like Anna, or are free women such as me. In Constantinople, nearly all of women living in the harem are slaves, but I know that I can’t assume it will be the same here.

As soon as we have stored our belongings, Anna and I go downstairs to the baths. Like the rooms above us, the baths are stark but functional. The stone floor is worn from years of use. Some of the tiles lining the baths and basins are chipped and cracked, again indicating that Şah Sultan and her husband are frugal with money spent on palace maintenance. I quickly undress and enter the largest pool. At least the water is heated and I begin to enjoy the luxury of once again bathing in warm water.

After a minute or so I realise Anna hasn’t joined me. She is standing fully clothed by the pool’s edge looking uncertain about what to do next.

“Get undressed and put your clothes over there,” I say in Hungarian. “We don’t have much time before Afife Kalfa returns.”

“I’ll just wash myself in the basin over here,” replies Anna, turning towards the line of basins.

“No,” I say more firmly. “You must bathe properly. Proper hygiene is essential in a harem or disease will quickly spread. Now get undressed.”

Anna baulks for a moment but then complies with my order. I sense her reluctance is because she isn’t used to undressing in communal surroundings, even though she and I are the only ones using the baths at present. There’s no room for modesty or shyness in a harem, and the sooner Anna von Erdödy overcomes her nervousness the better. When we next bathe we are likely to be in the presence of many other women. There will undoubtedly be some who will take advantage of a timid or shy slave girl, regardless of her former status.

Once we are dry again we return to our storage chests upstairs where one of the agas should have left our harem uniforms. Although we could use the towels to cover us while we walk upstairs, I make a deliberate point of leaving our towels in the baskets provided downstairs. My intention is to help Anna overcome her shyness and I’m relieved when Anna only hesitates for a moment. There are only a few other women in the harem, and, as I expected, none of them pay any attention to our nakedness. Our new clothes are waiting for us; a long sleeved cotton top, loose fitting trousers, waistcoat and a pair of light slippers. We are also provided with a white nightshirt each, which we place in our chests. It only takes us a few moments to get dressed and I have time to give Anna some more instruction in harem life before Afife returns. It’s likely I’ll have to leave Anna alone when I meet the new girls, and I feel responsible for ensuring that Anna can cope on her own in my absence.