Chapter 4: The Golden Path

Since the favourite is talking to Alexandra in our native language, many of the others in the harem don’t understand her words. But her gestures and tone make her meaning clear. I doubt there is anything really wrong with the food. She has obviously taken a dislike to Alexandra, and is just trying to stamp her authority over her. I wonder how many other women might try to bait Alexandra. Her rebellious attitude has clearly earned her disfavour among those in power.

“Take it yourself if you aren’t satisfied,” replies Alexandra as she turns to walk back to us.

“Don’t you turn your back on me, slave,” snaps the favourite. “You need to learn your place in the harem. You are a nobody. You are here to do the bidding of your betters. Now take this tray back to the kitchens and have them prepare our food correctly.”

“I am not your slave,” replies Alexandra. “I belong to Sultan Suleiman. I will obey his bidding. Not yours.”

The favourite stands up and for a moment it looks as though she is about to strike Alexandra. Fortunately Nigar Kalfa has been watching the exchange from across the room. At a signal from Nigar Kalfa, the favourite’s friends stop her before a fight breaks out.

“Nigar Kalfa!” calls the favourite, realising the cause of her friends’ sudden intervention. Nigar Kalfa quietly walks towards the favourites’ table.

“Ayşe Hatun,” Nigar Kalfa says deferentially when she reaches the table. The rest of her words are spoken in Turkish, so I don’t understand them. After a short conversation, Nigar Kalfa turns to Alexandra.

“Ayşe Hatun has given you an order,” says Nigar Kalfa to Alexandra. “She is one of the sultan’s favourites. You are merely an odalisque, so you must obey her orders. Esme, go with Alexandra so that the kitchen staff understand what is required.”

Ayşe looks smug while Alexandra is fuming. Nigar Kalfa is clearly not going to stand for any nonsense and she waits while Alexandra reaches for the tray on the table. Ayşe moves to stand in Alexandra’s way, determined to make it has hard as possible for Alexandra to carry out her task. Nobody will ever know whether what follows was an accident, or a deliberate act on Alexandra’s part. As Alexandra struggles to pick up the tray, one of the bowls topples, and some of the contents spill over Ayşe’s fine dress before the bowl can be righted.

“You clumsy oaf!” she snaps. “My dress is ruined. You will pay for a new one!”

“It was an accident, Ayşe,” intervenes Nigar Kalfa. “And your dress is hardly ruined. There isn’t even a mark on it. Clean up the mess Alexandra, and learn to be more careful in future.”

If Nigar Kalfa hadn’t been standing there, I’m sure a fight would have broken out. I wouldn’t be surprised if Alexandra suddenly refuses, but Esme’s urging doesn’t give Alexandra time to think about rebelling. Alexandra and Esme take the tray to the kitchen while Nigar Kalfa calms Ayşe with the help of some of the other favourites. Nigar Kalfa’s quiet but firm demeanour means she is obeyed, even though the favourites out-rank her in the harem hierarchy. With the immediate drama over, the womne settle down to eat. The favourites, of course, must wait for their meal.

After a few minutes Esme and Alexandra return carrying what suspiciously looks like the same food they had just taken away. This time Esme stays close to Alexandra as she places the tray on the favourite’s table. Hunger, and Nigar Kalfa’s watchful eye, seem to have overtaken the favourites’ desire to antagonise Alexandra any further. With the briefest of curtsies, Alexandra and Esme leave the favourites’ table and joins us at the table at the other end of the room.

“Are you all right?” I ask Alexandra when she sits down beside me.

“I will get my revenge on that Ayşe,” mutters Alexandra, so only I can hear.

“No you won’t,” says Esme, who must have better hearing than Alexandra credited. “She is one of the sultan’s favourites. You are playing with fire if you displease her. Your future success in this harem depends on attracting Sultan Suleiman’s attention. You stand a better chance of that if you are friendly towards his current favourites ... all of them.”

We halt our conversation while we eat. The food is plain and not very appetising to look at, but it is the best meal I have eaten in nearly a month. Despite Alexandra’s anger at what has happened she still manages to eat well. The women around us stack their bowls onto the trays as soon as they have finished eating. We follow their example.

“Collect the tray you brought from the kitchen, and follow me,” says Esme to Alexandra, Rebecca, Sarah and me.

Alexandra baulks at going back to the favourites’ table to collect their tray. She’s not the only one who anticipates trouble.

“I’ll collect your tray, Alexandra,” I say. “You collect mine.”

“No!” replies Alexandra. “I will do it. I’ll not let them think that I’m afraid of them.”

She promptly walks over to the favourites’ table to collect the tray. They must see her coming and two of them change their positions so that Alexandra cannot reach the tray. They blatantly ignore Alexandra’s attempt to collect their tray. I look around to see if Nigar Kalfa is here so that she can intervene. Unfortunately she has left the room and none of the agas are nearby. Esme walks over to where Alexandra is standing. So far Alexandra is waiting patiently, but I can tell from her fidgeting that her patience is wearing thin.