page93 (2/2)

A young wo on a couch with the baby She looked across and gave a rueful sies’

My cousin The baby’s cheeks were red with anger and she aving chubby fists in the air As Alba drew closer, she looked Alba’s way and the wailing cut off abruptly

Alba’s heart squeezed ‘What an adorable child’ She tossed her veil over her head Sultan Tariq’s strictures about the Princesses wearing their veils didn’t apply when the Princesses were in their private apartments because no man set foot in theuard or manservant would dare enter the women’s quarters

The woman on the couch studied Alba’s face, eyes wary ‘I’ve not seen you before’

‘No’

Gathering the baby to her breast, the woman sat up ‘May I ask who you are?’

Alba smiled and, since she only used her Spanish name when she was in the coave her Moorish one ‘I am Princess Zoraida’

Her uncle’s concubine juh scalded and made a hurried obeisance ‘Princess Zoraida!’ The baby in her arled

‘Please,’ Alba said ‘There’s no need for that’

The young woman sed ‘There is every need’ Her expression was haunted as she looked Alba up and down ‘You are the middle Princess, I believe?’

‘Aye’

Daas breaking, and light was filtering into the cha mother looked past Alba towards the door arch, her expression pinched ‘Where are the other Princesses, my lady?’

‘They are asleep Please, do not concern yourself’