Hannah has been employed by the sultan in Constantinople as a midwife
for a few years now, but why was she being called to the palace this
night when there were no pregnancies in the harem?
Arriving at the harem, Mustafa, the Black Eunuch, informs Hannah that
she is to determine whether the young slave girl recently purchased for
the sultan is still a virgin. Hannah is surprised to find a young girl
who is a virtual hellcat, someone who doesn't want to have anything to
do with anyone. She is also Jewish as is Hannah. Leah admits to Hannah
that she is not a virgin, and begs Hannah to help her.
Can Hannah save Leah's life without jeopardizing her own? Meantime,
unbeknownst to Hannah, two people are plotting to take her son, and what
little wealth she and her husband possess. Isaac and Hannah are
surprised when a woman shows up at their door claiming to be Isaac's
brother's widow. She demands the 100 ducats from them that Isaac's
brother had lent him. A rabbi suggests that according to Deuteronomy,
Isaac and the woman are married. Isaac refuses to accept this and
promises to find the money.
Author Roberta Rich, in this sequel to "The Midwife of Venice" provides
the reader with some exciting twists and turns culminating in a
surprising finish. A thoroughly good read.
No comments:
Post a Comment