“What?” Excitement, disbelief, and caution warred in her eyes. “But a Jewess—”
“They do not know.” He pitched his voice still lower, leaned close. “They did not ask who her guardian was, did not seem to care—she has grown so beautiful, Kasia. I
told her to keep her heritage a secret. It is the only way she will have a chance at the crown.”
“She is here? There?” She motioned at a roof, which he presumed belonged to the house of women.
“Wait.” His stomach churned, twisted. “You have probably spoken of her. I obviously had not considered that her secret could be undone so easily.”
“No. No, I never have. I thought it was because I wanted to hold that friendship close, but I think Jehovah must have stopped my mouth all these years. To preserve her
chances. Mordecai.” She took his hand, squeezed it, and met his gaze. “She will be queen. You have my word.”
Hope quickened inside him, but reason still nudged it aside. “She will at least have her chance.”
“She will have more than that. I will see to it.” She straightened her shoulders, drew in a breath. And looked regal herself. “Never in my years here have I played at
intrigue, but in this I will. I have been charged with instructing the new brides. My word will have much sway over the king.”
“You would do that for her?”
“I would do anything for her. She is as much a sister to me as my blood, the dearest friend I ever knew. And I can then ‘introduce’ you to her, Mordecai, so you might
still see each other once in a while.”
He let his eyes shut, let the gratitude swell. “Praise the Lord. He has orchestrated all of this down to the last detail. And you will have each other here.”
She patted his hand, then stood. He looked up at her and saw that her gaze was on that roof again. “I must move with care, make it appear that we have only just met but
have taken to one another.” She glanced over her shoulder at her servants.
One of the maids offered a smile. “You know we will do anything to assist you, mistress.”
She nodded, lifted the hair from her brow. “I cannot quite grasp it. I had hoped she and Zechariah . . .”
“Nearly. You will have ample time to speak to her of that, I suspect. And for that matter, your brother will be by the palace next week with deliveries.” He sent her a
pointed look. “You ought to speak with him of it too. And perhaps give him a good wallop for the behavior that led to their break.”
“Oh dear.” Her hands moved to her cheeks, then fell. “I have missed so much of their lives.”
“And we of yours. Do your parents know you are home? That you have a daughter?”
“A message was sent, but I have heard nothing back.”
He nodded. He would speak to Kish as soon as he got home, do his best to convince his friend to relent. He pushed to his feet. “I ought to go. Seeing you are well . . . it
is the best gift I have received in many years.”
“Now that it will not mean breaking my father’s trust, I will seek you out. Update you.”
He nodded, turned. And grinned. “I think someone will have to lead me out of here.”
“I will.” One of the eunuchs stepped forward, though it earned a strange look from Kasia. She waved them on, though, and headed the opposite way.
The eunuch waited until they were out of her hearing range before saying, “I usually refuse to leave her side—whenever I must, I regret it. But I wanted to speak to you.”
“Of course. You serve her out of love.”
He drew in a deep breath and motioned Mordecai down a path to his right, near the fountains. “Many love her—more hate her, and the influence she has over the king. Threats
hide everywhere.”
“And you want to be sure I am not another.”
His companion smiled. “I can see you are not. More than once I heard her beseeching Jehovah to rally other Jews to prayer. You seem to be the one those requests started
with.”
He was useful, then. “It warms me to realize that.”
“She has never spoken of this Esther to us—your daughter?”
“My cousin. I raised her as a daughter. She and Kasia were the closest of friends, though your mistress is four years the elder.”
“Desma spoke for us all. We will serve her, and hence you and your daughter, in this. You have my word on top of theirs.”
“I thank you for it.” And he could not help but smile. Perhaps this was not the way he had imagined their lives, but Jehovah obviously had it planned out.
Jehovah would see them through.
*
This was not the way life should be. His best friend dead, his queen and conspirator banished. Haman stood on the wall with arms crossed and looked out over Susa. Swarming
everywhere were those worthless Jews, constant reminders of all he had lost. All his world had been whittled down to.