The Sultan's Bride
Page 15
‘I find that hard to believe,’ she said with a laugh. Catherine could not believe the glow in her mother’s face, she was radiant.
‘Omar,’ she said, ‘what are your plans now you’re here? Will you return to Ajara or stay?’
He smiled. ‘I had thought to stay. I have enough to settle down and live my life here. The Sultan was most generous for my years of service.’
Catherine smiled. ‘You are most welcome to stay with us until you find a place of your own.’
‘There is no need for that,’ Sarah said, ‘my home is quite empty, Omar can stay with me.’
Omar’s brow furrowed. ‘What would Peter think of that my Sarah?’
‘I lost my husband over a year ago,’ she said.
‘Oh my dear, I’m so sorry,’ he said, ‘I would be only too pleased to keep you company.’ Catherine had noted his words and raised an eyebrow again at her mother with a look that meant Sarah knew she would have to explain later.
Contained in the shipment were fabrics and spices, all the things Peter had originally traded for. ‘The Sultan heard from Richard how much your family had suffered after his father took you from your parents,’ Omar told Catherine, ‘he wanted to make up for it somehow. He was bitterly disappointed that you were not returning to Ajara but wants to provide for his son.’
‘So he tries to stay in my life through these gifts,’ she said, ‘my place is here with my husband and our children now.’ Omar smirked.
Richard walked over with James in his arms and Omar was taken aback. ‘This is the little prince?’ he asked, a smile spreading across his face.
‘Don’t call him that,’ Richard said with a laugh, ‘he runs the house as if he is a prince already.’
Omar laughed. ‘I can imagine. It is good to see you Richard, I was sorry we did not meet under better circumstances but I was so concerned for Catherine’s wellbeing after falling in love with her mother so many years ago.’
Sarah froze and Catherine laughed. ‘Now the cat is well and truly out of the bag dear Mama, I think we need to have a little talk you and I.’
At Catherine’s tone Sarah relaxed. ‘Perhaps we should.’
‘Let’s go home and talk properly, it’s crowded down here and it’s time for Irina’s nap.’
Omar looked at her surprised. ‘You named your baby Irina?’
Catherine smiled. ‘She took very good care of me. I wanted to do something in her honour. This Irina will live a very different life though, I do not intend for her to be forced into marriage.’
Omar took the baby from her arms, she chortled at the new face and he kissed her nose. ‘Well then little Irina, let’s get you home for your sleep.’ They took the carriage home where Omar could rest after being on the ocean for so long and slowly Sarah came out of her shell and spoke fondly of their time in Ajara.
‘I had no idea,’ Catherine said, ‘I never thought to ask you what you thought of the palace.’
‘Everyone was so kind,’ said Sarah, ‘Omar was very special and he made it clear he cared about me.’
‘So did you two…?’ Catherine asked looking at the pair.
‘No!’ they both exclaimed and looked at each other smiling, intent on keeping one little secret. Despite Catherine’s curiosity they both realised that the truth would hurt her and neither wanted that.
Sarah felt the familiar ache looking at Omar and sighed. ‘We shall go now my love, and get Omar settled in at home.’ Catherine nodded.
Omar took Sarah’s hand once they got out the gate. ‘Now I have found you my Sarah,’ he said, ‘I don’t intend to let you go again.’
‘Don’t you dare,’ she said with a grin.
Arriving home she fussed around, terrified at the thought of intimacy with him after all this time. ‘My love, why don’t you sit with me?’ he asked, patting the sofa beside him.
‘After all these years I am more nervous than I was the day we first made love,’ she said quietly.
‘But why? We are still the same people, there is nothing stopping us now.’
She nodded. ‘I know, I just never hoped to see you again. It hurt so much to part last time. Peter was such a good husband but you…’ she looked up into his eyes, the eyes with so much feeling showing in them. ‘You woke something up in me Omar that I haven’t felt again since and it scared me.’
He smiled. ‘As you woke something up in me my love, perhaps we can rediscover it together?’ Then he kissed her, and it was as if the years between their meetings no longer existed.
After making love that night he asked her to marry him. ‘I had hoped to lay eyes on you again, make sure that you were happy in your life but to find you this way my Sarah, I would hope that I can make you happy.’
She nodded. ‘I would like that.’
‘So is that a yes?’ he asked hopefully.
Sarah laughed. ‘It is a yes my love, to be with you and not feel guilty about it would be wonderful.’
Catherine was thrilled for them. Omar had been so good to her in the palace and she resolved to not ask too many questions about their previous encounter, after all too much information had nearly destroyed her marriage.
Chapter 34
Catherine arrived at her mother’s house to prepare for Sarah’s marriage to Omar. She laughed on finding the pair together in the living room. ‘Omar, you are not supposed to see the bride today.’
He stood and put his palm to her face to stroke her cheek. ‘My dear Catherine, now we are to be family there is something that I need to tell you, to tell you both.’
She sat beside her mother, wondering what it was that he could possibly need to tell her. All she knew was that he made her mother happy. Sarah had such a glow about her these days she was unmistakeably in love.
‘There was a time when Irina and the Sultan were newly married that she came to realise that he could not father any children. At first she thought it just needed time but it did not take her long to decide to take matters into her own hands. One night she approached me and I was flattered by her attentions and when she told me what she wanted I saw it as a service to him and a way to help her.’
He took a deep breath and continued. ‘Irina knew if she remained childless she was in danger as the Sultana, if the next wife he took carried a child then she could be supplanted so we lay together in the hope that a new life would grow that she could pass as his own child.’
Catherine gasped. ‘You are Arif’s father?’
He nodded. ‘That is true, as it also turned out the Sultan could not create life with any of his other wives no matter how hard he tried or how many wives he took.’
‘That makes you James’ grandfather,’ said Sarah slowly.
‘Yes my Sarah, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier, it never seemed like the right time. I could not talk about in Ajara, if the Sultan had any hint of what Irina and I had done then at the very least I would have been punished if not killed and I do not know what he would have done to her.’
Catherine nodded. ‘He was so angry when Arif and I tried to run away, I can’t even imagine what he would have done to you.’
‘It was also best Arif not know, he would then no longer be heir and it was vital Ajara had someone to inherit.’
‘Why today?’ Sarah asked, ‘why tell us now when it’s been a secret for so long?’
Omar moved to her side and knelt, taking her hands in his. ‘Because my love, it is my biggest, my only secret left to share with my family and on this day of all days we should be honest with one another.’
She smiled, squeezing his hands. ‘I love you my Sarah,’ he said, ‘I have no other secrets from you and never will.’
Catherine wiped a tear from her eye. ‘I’m so glad you two found one another, today will be such a joyous occasion.’ Then she laughed. ‘Now Omar, you must go. Richard is expecting you. I’m sure by now he’ll appreciate your arrival as he’s got both James and Irina to look after.’
Omar laughed and moved to embrace her. �
�I’m so happy you came here and so happy to know the truth. You are my son’s grandfather and more a part of this family than we ever hoped you could be,’ she said, holding him tight.
He smiled and then left, with one last look at his bride over his shoulder. It did not take them long to dress and ready themselves for the small service. It was to be held in a small church nearby and Catherine was going to give her mother away.
As they neared the church hand in hand, Catherine turned to her mother. ‘Here we go Mama, a new start for you and Omar. I love you so much.’
Sarah smiled. ‘I love you too Catherine, your father would be so proud of you. I hope you know that.’
‘I hope so Mama,’ she said.
Sarah reached up and wiped Catherine’s cheek with her hand. ‘Don’t you cry my baby girl; everything is good in our lives now. I have Omar and you have Richard, James and little Irina. That’s all that matters.’
In the night when all the celebrations were over and the children were asleep in their beds, Catherine climbed into bed with her husband who was buried in a book. ‘Richard,’ she said.
‘Hmmm?’ came the response.
‘I’m worried about James’
He put down his book. ‘What’s wrong love? He had so much fun and too much food today but other than that he seems to be doing fine.’
‘If anything happens to Arif before he has an heir with his Sultana then James is the heir. I had tried to push it to the back of my mind thinking that Arif would have had an heir by now but Omar says he has not.’
‘We know he’s capable sweetheart, don’t worry too much about it. If anything ever comes of it someone will come and talk to us about it but I sincerely think we don’t have anything to worry about.’
‘What if they grab him like they did me?’ she said.
‘Oh my love,’ he said, realising just how distressed she really was. ‘He’s never far from either of us now, when he’s older then we teach him how to defend himself. It’s not like when you were kidnapped, your parents had no idea where you could be, if anything ever happened we’d handle things a lot better, stop anything before it went too far.’
‘I still worry,’ she said, putting her arms around him and nestling under the bedclothes.
‘You’re a mother, you always will,’ he said, affectionately rubbing her back.
‘I love you Mr Black,’ she said, ‘you’re so sensible.’
Richard laughed and kissed her. ‘Show me how much you love me then Mrs Black.’
So she did.
Epilogue
When the messenger arrived from England the message he carried was taken straight to the Sultan. Arif had been waiting many months for his answer from Catherine and finally it had arrived. He was saddened she was not there herself but hopeful that her response was that she was on her way.
In the time since his father had died Arif had tried hard to be a good ruler but being young and headstrong he had isolated his father’s advisors and no longer looked to them to help him. The only person he had retained the services of was Amir, the man who had helped Omar get Catherine out of Ajara. It had taken a while but he had eventually been convinced that had been the best course of action, if any harm had befallen her he would have only had himself to blame.
He missed Omar terribly. When he’d asked to be released from service Arif knew he had a duty to the man. Omar had often been his male role model growing up when his father was distant or unavailable to spend time with him and he had been saddened when the man had wanted to leave Ajara. Arif hoped Omar had found happiness.
Tearing open the letter, his hands shook as he read the words, words that were not what he wanted to see.
‘My Darling Arif,
I hope this letter finds you well. This will be the only time I will write to you. It has been some time since I was in Ajara and my life has changed so much you would not believe it. I am truly happy.
Returning to Ajara is not something I am planning to do. I am settled here and happily married to Richard whom you met when he negotiated my settlement. Our son James and I are so very happy with him and we have a child of our own on the way.
You would be so proud of our son Arif, he is handsome and so very clever, and he will grow into a fine man.
I’m so sorry this news will not be what you are wanting but I love Richard very much and he is mine alone, there is no harem to share him with. No one to compete with for his affections. What we had was wonderful but it was the love and dreams that children share. I cannot say I hate your father for what he did as I did love him too.
I hope now you can find your happiness. Richard tells me you have a first wife, your Sultana. Be good to her and love her, it is a difficult thing to be married to a Sultan and she needs you and all your love.
If you were interested in what happened to Omar he is here and safe. My mother who was widowed some time ago married him, it appears they found each other when we first met and have now rediscovered their love. It is a joyous sight to see.
I often think of your mother and father. Irina was like a mother to me and I miss her advice all the time. If I have a girl I will name her Irina for her.
Have a good life Arif, I wish you all the good fortune in the world and I hope you soon have an heir to follow you.
Goodbye,
Catherine’
Arif sat and stared at the paper for a moment. She was passing up the chance to become his Sultana, of course he would have to have a harem there was no doubting that but she could have been his first, it was just a matter of setting aside the woman he had taken. It seemed odd a man restricting himself to only one wife but Richard Black would do it. Arif wondered if he could.
Folding the letter he put it into a drawer in his desk and summoned his Sultana, the last sentence of Catherine’s letter rang in his ears. He knew he needed and heir and quickly, dying without issue wouldn’t be the end of the world as there was James to inherit if there was no one else but the boy was settled in England with his mother and Arif knew he should stay there.
Summoning his Sultana was the next step, she needed to give him an heir. She was young, as young as he was so he knew it was only a matter of time. Arif resolved to try not to make the same mistakes his father had, to love her for as long as he could.
‘My love,’ he said as she entered the room.
She blushed and bowed. ‘My Sultan,’ she said.
‘Come,’ he said, taking her hand and leading her to the bed, ‘it is time we made our heir.’ She smiled and followed him willingly, her heart full of love for the young Sultan.
‘May I always please you,’ she said.
‘I’m sure you will,’ he said smiling. He screwed up the letter and threw it on the table. ‘I’m sure you will.’
Table of Contents
Copyright
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Epilogue
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