He was an amiable man who liked nothing more than a game of billiards and some lively conversation. He was in his late twenties and had still not married, much to the chagrin of his family. His elder brother was married and had a son, while Thomas preferred the life of ease and enjoyment over the restraints of marriage.
Thomas was well acquainted with Charles’ family, including his sisters, though he had not seen Katharine for several years. He remained mostly in London and rarely ventured to the country. When Charles decided to return to the country at his father’s request, he invited his friend Thomas for a long weekend. Thomas was delighted to accept the kind invitation.
***
Charles took in the information slowly and eyed his father with awe. His sister had returned to the family well and unharmed, and for that he was very grateful. Sarah had been distraught when she had returned from the market without her sister-in-law. She had been inconsolable and would be so relieved to know Kat was well.
But as his father continued to speak, he gaped at him in horror. His sister had returned, but not alone. She had given birth to a bastard child whose father was an Arab. Charles felt anger fill his senses at the shame and disgrace of it all. He knew women of lower classes would spread their legs and breed without the sanctity of marriage but that his sister was one of them disgusted him.
Apparently, his father knew the man who had impregnated his sister and found him to be an honorable man. He had asked Edward’s permission to marry and Katharine was equally in love, so his father said.
Honorable? What man would take advantage of a young woman of her social standing? As Charles listened to his father, he knew that Edward had taken the high road and accepted his sister and her child into his home. It was almost too much to bear.
“Charles,” his father said as he laid a hand on his son, “your sister has been through much. The Mother Superior who saved her life is staying with us. I ask you to be the true gentleman you are and give them your respect.”
Charles nodded.
“Of course, Father. She is still my sister.”
“Thank you, son. And you are an uncle!”
“Yes, Father,” Charles spoke dryly.
***
Abigail and Katharine walked along the garden filled with lush roses in bloom. Katharine pushed the baby carriage as her son lay sleeping peacefully.
“You look very well, Kat. Being home agrees with you,” Abigail said as she walked beside her, fingering the cross hanging around her neck as she spoke.
“I feel well. My father has been so gracious and understanding. And now that I know Mohammed loves me and asked for my hand, I am sure everything will be all right,” she said, beaming. Her simple white muslin dress made her seem young and innocent.
Abigail smiled and said a quick prayer, thanking God for his mercies.
“You were right all along,” Katharine said as she turned to the older woman. “You have been my guardian angel.”
Abigail turned pink at the compliment.
***
Anne and Charles were in the upstairs sitting room together. Charles stood facing the fireplace while Anne stared into her teacup.
“How could you have allowed this, Mother?” he spoke abruptly. His voice was harsh and cold.
“Me? I am not the one who coddled her as a baby, spoiled her, and educated her as if she were to be a monk,” Anne spat out.
“Yes. Father was wrong to have educated a woman beyond her station and place,” Charles agreed. He remembered bitterly that Katharine had always excelled in all she had been taught while he had struggled in his studies.
“And now she has come home, which is just as well, but unmarried with that bastard. Have you seen him? He’s practically negro,” Anne said. His mother’s tongue could be cutting, and the Spanish word for black was certainly an exaggeration.
“Surely not, Mother,” he said, almost smiling.
“Yes, Charles. You have never truly understood what I endure here with her, and your father only encourages her.” She placed the teacup down with a decided clank. “After all, as a prominent family we are looked upon to set the example. You, Sarah, your sisters, all of us. What will everyone think once it becomes general knowledge that my daughter is no better than a common trollop!” she hissed.
Though Charles agreed and thought Katharine had behaved badly, he tried to calm his mother.
“Well perhaps it’s just as well that I invited Thomas down for the weekend, unless you think I should postpone his visit for another time,” he asked solemnly.
“No! Indeed no. Thomas is such a gentleman. He has fine manners and his breeding impeccable. I think it would do well to have such a man in the house at this time,” she said as she smiled. “Quite an attractive man too.”
“Yes Mother,” he managed.
“I am so upset over this matter, Charles. Katharine has always been haughty and arrogant, but this is too much to bear.”
Charles came to his mother and placed a hand on her slim shoulder.
“Calm yourself, Mother. From what I have heard from Father, Katharine’s lover is apparently in love with her and plans to marry her.”
Anne physically paled.
“Oh no! Charles! My God, this is monstrous!”
Charles turned to his mother.
“Would you have her remain unmarried and no father for her child?”
“Of course not! But I will not allow my daughter to marry a dirty foreigner. She needs to remember her station and marry accordingly.”
“Yes, Mother,” Charles agreed. He kissed her cheek.
“Someone proper and respectable,” she spoke as she moved away from the table set with afternoon tea. She looked at the gardens and saw her daughter walking with that bastard baby and the nun. “Someone like your Thomas!” she exclaimed, turning happily to her son.
Charles laughed at his mother and joined her near the window.
“No, Mother, not Thomas,” he said, shaking his head. “Thomas is a younger son and more inclined to enjoy life. He will not tie himself down for many years to come. He told me himself.”
Anne dismissed this with a wave of her hand.
“Things change. Feelings change.”
“And according to Father, Katharine is in love with her barbarian and he with her. So for all your machinations Mother, it seems we will have the negro child and the dirty foreigner in our family.” Charles almost curled his lip at the thought of his sister spreading her legs for the Arab.
“We shall see, Charles,” she replied.
Chapter 23
Thomas readied himself for dinner, wearing his mustard and blue frock coat with matching waistcoat and breeches. His silk shirt and stockings were white and his shoes black. His brown hair was clubbed back and unpowdered.
He had spent many evenings in the Fairfax manor house and enjoyed his time spent with Lord Edward. Lady Anne, he felt, was aloof but polite, and the daughters, when younger, were sweet and lovely.
He had not seen Katharine for several years while away at Eton, and Charles informed him of her recent ordeals. He felt his heart go out to a young innocent lady who had been so viciously attacked.
Katharine dressed simply that night in a lavender silk dress with a deep oval neckline and elbow-length sleeves. She wore simple drop earrings and no necklace.
She stopped in to see Abigail, who did not take dinner with the family but chose to stay in the small nursery with Kat’s son. Abigail was reading her Bible and the child was asleep.
Katharine smiled as she closed the door.
She knew her mother and father would be at dinner as well as Charles and his good friend Thomas, whom she had not seen in several years. She touched a hand to her hair in a self-conscious pat and stepped into the dining room.
Her father greeted her and kissed her lovingly on the cheek, and together they moved to the table laden with cold meats, sweets, fruit and wine. There was also a hot dish of mutton.
Charles and her mot
her were seated and she bid them a good evening. When Thomas entered the room, he smiled at everyone, greeted them, and then seemed stunned by Katharine’s appearance.
“Dear Lady Katharine,” he smiled at approached her.
“Thomas. It has been a long time,” she smiled as he kissed her hand elegantly.
“I believe too long, Lady,” he spoke and their eyes met.
An attractive man, Thomas was well used to feminine attention. But he was not prepared for the beauty and delicate face of Katharine. It stopped his heart.
She smiled and laid her hand on his sleeve as he led them both to the table.
Meanwhile, Anne cast a sly glance at her son and nodded.
The rest of the dinner was spent with Thomas eagerly entertaining Katharine with stories of his youth, while Charles and Anne spent their time discussing his children, Sarah, and London.
Edward watched the scene in silence and was a little amused at Thomas’ attention to his daughter; he seemed smitten. After the meal, dessert was served with wine. The gentleman excused themselves and Thomas joined Charles in a game of billiards, while Edward retired to his study.
Anne remained alone with her daughter.
“My dear, you made quite the conquest with young Thomas Merritt,” she said.
“I don’t think so. I was merely being polite, as was he.”
Anne nodded.
“Of course. Polite? As you were with your Arab lover,” she continued.
Katharine blushed.
“Mother, you do not know of which you speak.”
“Perhaps. But I think I know enough of men and women to know when a man is taken with a woman. I saw it in his eyes. Thomas is smitten with you.”
“Well, that’s as maybe. But my heart lies elsewhere,” Katharine said.
“Yes. With the Arab you love and who wishes to marry you.”
“Yes, Mother. Father has told me he came to see him and asked for me.”
“Yes, my dear. But now that you have spread your legs and given him your virtue, where is he now?”
Katharine swallowed, the vulgar words painful to her.
“He-he will come for me.”
“Yes, dear. I’m sure he will,” Anne said. She smiled condescendingly and left Kat alone with her thoughts.
***
Charles and Thomas were alone in the billiards room.
“Charles, I hardly remember your sister as being half so beautiful. Now she seems a goddess among men,” Thomas said.
Charles laughed as he made a shot.
“Come, we’re playing. Your turn.”
Thomas took his turn and remarked again, “She has returned home, I understand, from an ordeal. I hope she was not injured in any way.”
“No indeed, she has been returned to us safe,” Charles said as he took his shot.
“That is good, I am happy for the Lady and your family,” Thomas replied.
In his mind, he saw the Katharine’s blonde hair framing a delicate face and fine bone structure. What a beautiful woman!
Charles had excused himself to speak to his father and Thomas left the billiards room and moved to the conservatory. The room was full of light and air during the day, and Lord Edward had used it to cultivate lemons, oranges, and other exotic flowers that needed the warmth of the room.
A large cream sofa sat next to the orange trees and their blossoms perfumed the air. Katharine sat on the sofa alone and crying.
Her mother had been horrid to her, and the words she’d used were degrading. Kat had given herself to Mohammed, this was true. But she had loved him and knew he loved her. Her mother made their love seem dirty. She knew from Abigail that Anne never visited her grandson. She felt the pain acutely. Her tears fell down her cheeks.
Thomas had stepped inside the conservatory, remembering years ago that they grabbed and pulled the precious lemons and oranges from the trees and got a strict reprimand from Lord Edward when this was discovered. He had still been kind, but told them never to take the fruit again unless they asked permission.
He saw the outline of a figure on the sofa and was about to move away when he heard the sob.
“Lady Katharine,” he said softly and came toward her.
She looked startled as Thomas came upon her and she tried to dry her eyes.
“Thomas,” she spoke.
“Lady, why do you weep? Are you in pain?”
He joined her on the sofa amid the trees and flowers.
“No, I’ve quarreled with my mother. We see things quite differently,” she said. She brushed at her skirts, trying to not look at him. She was embarrassed that he had found her crying. “I’m too sensitive.”
“You should not weep. It will spoil your beauty.”
She laughed and he touched her face in his palm, almost caressing it.
“Thomas,” she started to say.
He immediately dropped his hand.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to overstep my boundaries.”
Her blues eyes met his hazel ones.
“Thomas. There was a man that I met in Arabia. I am in love with him and he with me. I hope to be married soon. I-I have a child with him.”
“He is indeed a lucky man.”
Thomas wasn’t shocked that she was in love with an Arab man or that there was a child. She was a beautiful woman and he was certain that many men had coveted her. That she had born a child out of wedlock only meant that the man had been quick to claim her. He could not have blamed him for that. Had he been the lucky man, she would not have remained untouched very long.
“Thank you, Thomas. You have been kind.”
Thomas smiled and extended his arm to her.
“Come. We can play a game of billiards.”
“Yes. Let’s,” she said. Her lavender skirts swished around her as she moved ahead of him. “I’ll set up the table,” she added.
Thomas watched her move down the hallway in lavender silk and feminine sway and he felt a throb begin. He must never let her know how he felt. She was to marry another, and he could only be her friend.
***
Thomas and Katharine walked slowly through the gardens that surrounded the immediate manor house. She had taken to walking with Abigail and her son, and Thomas had asked to join them.
Abigail settled under a tree with the child while Thomas and Katharine continued on.
“Your lady Abigail is quite protective of you and the child,” he said.
Katharine turned to look at the older woman, who had been more of a mother to her than her own.
“Yes, she is all grace and kindness. I owe her much. She saved my life,” Kat said.
“Then she is a woman to be commended for her bravery and loyalty,” Thomas replied.
“She is.”
They continued toward the birch trees and Thomas admired her feminine curves that the simple mint-colored dress accentuated. It made her blonde beauty seem fragile, and she was all the more lovely.
“I will be gone on the morrow. I must return to London,” he explained.
“Oh, I am sorry to hear that. I have enjoyed your company,” she said. Her smile dazzled him, and he felt a tug inside himself. She was a woman not to be left alone. The more time they spent together, the more she drew him nearer to her.
“And I yours,” she said as she touched his arm.
His hazel eyes were lightened in the sun and she thought once again that he was an attractive man. He was slimmer and slightly shorter than Mohammed, but he was kind and considerate, whereas Mohammed was masculine and took what he wanted.
They walked back to Abigail and her child on a blanket in a grass and joined them.
When Katharine was alone in her room, she was elated. She knew that the time was growing close and soon Mohammed would join them. She would be reunited with him and he would know their son. Her father had given her peace of mind and she was so grateful.
She would be married shortly and perhaps another child would soon follow. She wanted a girl to
shower with love and affection and hoped it would be so. Soon she would be in his arms as his wife, and they would be a family.
Chapter 24
Abdullah spread his fingers on his knees with his head level. He silently said the prayer three times.
He murmured “Allahu Akbar” and went onto his knees, his hands, and forehead, touching the mat, with his elbows extended out.
He murmured in Arabic, “Glory to my Lord the most high,” three times, remaining on his knees.
In this position, he was nearest to the Lord.
He was overwhelmed and needed guidance. He discovered too late that everything he had worked so hard for was falling apart. The foolish and silly Safiya, who was supposed to have been their savior and brought Mohammed back to Allah, had disappeared. No one knew her whereabouts, and even her uncle and father had been shocked to find her gone. Worse yet, the harem women had been gossiping about her. His spy informed him that everyone all but suspected that the babe in her belly was not the sheik’s but her uncle’s child, who visited her nightly. It was too much to bear.
That in itself was an irritant, and Abdullah was burdened with that knowledge. But even worse was the discovery that Mohammed had secretly left Arabia to return to England to find the witch. Everything he had fought to save was over.
He prayed deeply and tried to find his path. He loved Mohammed and knew the white woman would bring about the demise of the sheik. He also knew that she had given birth to a son, a son that must be raised in the Islamic faith.
He prayed long into the night, and as the sun came over the horizon, he knew exactly what he must do. He had left fate to too many inferior people who could not or were unable to complete the task at hand.
He was not such a man. He was not afraid to get his hands dirty and would do what was required. He stood resolved and with a new sense of purpose. He would kill the white witch with his bare hands. He would choke the very life from her throat and watch the life drain from her eyes. It was the only way to save Mohammed, his son, and their people’s future. He would make his way to England to complete the task. Inshallah.
The Sheik and the Slave Page 24
