CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT
Suleyman lazed with his Favorites and children in the shade of a garden pavilion. The smaller children slept quietly on the ottomans, or on the sun-dappled lawn, while the older ones ran wildly amongst the tulip beds and sloshed through the water of the ornamental ponds. The Sultan sipped on a goblet of sherbet, watching his family in delight. Khanum and Gulfam talked in whispers as they embroidered a pattern of swirling emerald leaves on a caftan for their lord. Haseki lay against an oversized cushion, balancing young Selim in the crook of her arm. She was sewing red Pokka dots on a new vest of her own.
Mahidavran dashed around the lawns chasing after her son, Mustafa. Suleyman winced each time she squawked out orders to the children. “My lovely Mahidavran does a bet
