The Charmingly Clever Cousin Read Online Free PDF Page A

frowned, but decided not to mention seeing him last night. Not yet, anyway. Angry that he’d lied, she decided not to tell him about the egg on his mustache, either.
    After Yusuf left, the princesses sat down to eat. “Yusuf is up to something for sure,” said Lysandra. “If he sneaks out again tonight, I say we follow him.”
    Before Fatima could reply, the Royal Chef burst into the room. Dropping a tray of muffins on the table, he rushed back to the kitchen before Fatima could even thank him. She reached for a poppy seed muffin. “We’ll take my flying carpet. The dark should help to hide us.”
    Tansy took a blueberry muffin. “Sounds good.”
    With a thoughtful expression on her face, Elena remarked, “I’ve been wondering about that letter.”
    â€œWhat letter?” asked Lysandra.
    â€œThe one Yusuf gave Selime. He said Ahmed wrote it. Do you suppose she still has it?”
    Fatima stared at her. “Are you thinking Ahmed didn’t write that letter?”
    â€œI don’t know,” Elena said honestly. “But if you think Selime wouldn’t mind, maybe we could take a look at it.”
    â€œLet’s go!” Fatima said, jumping up from the table.
    The princesses found Selime in her room, playing with Hassim. When they told her what they wanted, Selime searched in her desk for Ahmed’s letter while Elena held the baby. He squealed and gurgled happily in her arms.
    â€œHere it is,” said Selime, handing Fatimathe letter. “I don’t like the changes Yusuf has been making either. But I’m afraid this was definitely written by Ahmed. I know his handwriting.”
    Fatima read the letter as Lysandra and Tansy looked over her shoulder:
    My dear Selime,
    I am detained. Against my will, I’m afraid. My father is ill, as Yusuf has determined. To rule in my stead, please help me by putting Yusuf in charge of the palace’s affairs. He will take over until I see you again. You must be strong. I may not come home for some time. Yusuf has wanted me here, with my father dying. I don’t want to be king, yet Yusuf does believe I must. Be brave!
    Love,
Ahmed
    Fatima sighed. “Seems clear to me.”
    Tansy and Lysandra nodded.
    Elena jiggled a cooing Hassim up and down on her knees. “May I have a look?”
    â€œSure,” said Fatima. She handed the letter to Elena, then reached for Hassim, who wailed when she plucked him from Elena’s lap.
    Elena’s eyes scanned the letter once, then widened as she scanned it a second time. “I think that Ahmed was writing this letter in a kind of code!” she exclaimed. “By switching around a few commas and periods, the meaning changes completely. Listen:
    â€œMy dear Selime,
    I am detained against my will. I’m afraid. My father is ill. As Yusuf has determined to rule in my stead, please help me. By putting Yusuf in charge of the palace’s affairs, he will take over. Until I see you again, you must be strong. I may not come home. For some time Yusuf has wanted me here. With my father dying, I don’t want to be king yet. Yusuf does. Believe I must be brave!
    Love,
Ahmed”
    When Elena finished reading the letter, the princesses stared at one another in alarm.

8
On the Trail
    S ELIME COLLAPSED ONTO A CHAIR. “I F E LENA IS right about the letter, Ahmed is in danger!” she cried. “The only way Yusuf can become king is if King Murad and Ahmed both die before Hassim is old enough to rule.”
    Lysandra shook her head. “I don’t understand. Isn’t Prince Ahmed at King Murad’s palace? How could he be in danger there?”
    Fatima frowned. “I don’t know, but I’mgoing to find out. Follow me, everyone. To the Crystal Ball Room!”
    The Crystal Ball Room housed the palace’s crystal ball, which could be used to look in on the Crystal Ball Room in any other palace or castle. If no one happened to be