The Sheik and the Slave (2 page)

Everyone in the small village knew of Agnes Maxwell and her
devotion to others in need. She was selfless woman who gave her time and raised
her children with love and affection. Many happy days and afternoons had been
spent at the Maxwell home enjoying the loving atmosphere while Agnes, Francie,
and Kat gossiped, embroidered, and passed the time.

“
I
wish things were easy between us, Francie. I wish I could be a soft, malleable
woman like Mary and Eleanor. Maybe that would make her happy. Or if I had been
born a boy like Charles and not a useless daughter,
”
Kat shook her head. Her unhappiness was
written across her face.

“
I
don
’
t think Lord
Edward views you as useless,
”
Francie said softly.

“
Oh
no.
”
Kat thought
fondly of her father.
“
Papa
is too good and kind
–
much like you- to ever think ill of anyone.
”

Francie smiled at the compliment.

“
I
guess we
’
re just too
different. She just wants to marry me off and then she
’
ll be free of me.
”

Francie
’
s
arm came around her friend
’
s
slim shoulders.
“
Who
is the latest suitor?
”
she asked. Francie was privy to Kat
’
s
life and knew of the constant merry-go-round of suitors her mother encouraged.

“
It
’
s awful. The Earl of
Benton.
”
Kat pulled
aside a large fern leaf as Francie followed.

“
Oh
no!
”
Francie cried.
Their movement frightened a small nest of birds nearby, who flew away.

“
Yes.
A man almost as old as my father, with no hair, shorter than I, and a large
belly. I am younger than his
children
.
”

Francie shuddered.

“
I
’
ve almost resigned myself,
Francie. I might have to become like those aristocratic women who join a
nunnery because no one will have them.
”

“
No,
darling,
”
Francie
said as she walked beside her.
“
You
are so lovely and intelligent. Many men want you. And you and I are only 17.
”

“
Yes,
they want me for all the wrong reasons, like a rich dowry. Once they realize
that I can speak several languages and have studied almost as much as they
have, they recoil.
”

“
Nonsense.
”

“
Yes,
and I don
’
t want to
marry a man for a title. I
…”

“
Yes?
”
Francie asked her to
continue.

“
I
want a man who wants me and loves me for me. Am I mad?
”

Francie shook her head.
“
No,
dearest,
”
she said.
“
You are not mad.
”

Hands clasped between the two close friends, they headed
back to the house.

***

Anne watched as the neighbor girl Frances Maxwell walked
into the small woods looking for Katharine. Her daughter was becoming a wild,
headstrong girl and Edward refused to see it. Anne had been setting forth
proper suitors for a year now, hoping Katharine would warm to one of them, but
she hadn
’
t. Worse
still was the fact that Edward had told her to leave Katharine alone and that
she would marry in good time.

Good time? Bah! If left alone to her own, Kat would soon be
25, an old maiden and good for only embroidery.

Why was I given this last child?
Anne wondered.
Charles was married, happy and settled in London, ready to be given the reins
of the family. Her lovely daughters Mary and Eleanor were both good girls,
married and living on their own estates. And Katharine? Katharine was the bane
of Anne
’
s existence,
set upon to irritate her as a rough hair shirt. Defying her at every turn,
Katharine was a willful brat.

Anne blamed Edward entirely for Katharine
’
s behavior. Edward had
coddled and pampered her until the chit thought herself above everyone. Well,
her time would come. The Earl of Benton seemed intent upon having Katharine as
his own. She must marry, and Anne thought he was as good as any man.

Edward Fairfax settled down into his comfortable red leather
chair, musing over the conversation with his wife over his daughter Katharine.
The animosity between his wife and his youngest daughter was palpable. He and
Anne were also at an impasse. He was of the belief that time was on their side.
Katharine was only 17 years old, young and impetuous, but certainly no old
maid. She could wait to marry. There was also the fact that she would come to
any marriage with a large dowry and that she was lovely. All of these things
were in her favor.

However, his wife thought that Katharine
’
s beauty and dowry were
her only saving grace, as her mind was too finely tuned and would frighten away
lesser men. She also felt that in this one instance that Katharine should bow
to her family
’
s
wishes and marry the husband chosen for her.

Edward did not agree. He wanted Kat to be happy and felt
that a rushed marriage would not be wise. He sipped his sherry and looked
longingly into the fire. He would not have her harmed. He wanted her to be
settled with a man who understood her mind and spirit and who would match both,
not break, his beloved daughter.

Then, a thought struck him. He would send her to London to
visit her brother Charles and his wife Sarah. She would be able to spend time
with them, enjoy the season, and come home refreshed and ready to face what the
future held- whatever that would be. Satisfied with his decision, he took up
his quill pen to write the necessary letter to his son.

***

Katharine was thrilled to be in London. Though she missed
her friends and father at Willow Manor, the city was alive with a pulse and
beat.

Charles and Sarah, a thriving young couple, delighted in
showing Katharine the sights and taking her to the Theatre Royal on Drury Lane.
Kat shopped and went to many balls and parties. She was admired wherever she
went; her lively nature, wit, and intelligence attracted men.

Sarah was happy to have married into the Fairfax family and
readily accepted her new role as wife to Charles, but she was secretly envious
of Katharine
’
s
beauty and charm. It irritated her that Katharine seemed to conquer men
’
s hearts wherever she
went, and the Earl of Benton seemed to follow her around in a most annoying
fashion.

It irked Sarah. She went so far as to mention the Earl
’
s obsession to Charles,
but Charles didn
’
t
seem to mind Katharine
’
s
presence or the following that she had among London
’
s most eligible bachelors. Rumor had it that
several married men had vowed to conquer Katharine
’
s headstrong spirit and one outwardly wanted
her as his mistress.

Katharine ignored the overtures and settled into London
society. She saw her father more, as he tended to be in London and live at
their townhouse, though she was with her brother and his wife.

Though Katharine saw no wrong in avoiding and even ignoring
several of the more aggressive men, they were men used to the power and
prestige of their positions and thought a mere woman could not deny them.

One older baron named Horace Adams was known amongst his
group as arrogant, greedy, and wealthy, though not extremely so. He had married
an older woman though it was her first marriage, but she brought with her a
hefty dowry for which he was very grateful. He used the money to increase his
holdings and spent many a night in the local brothels where he was well known.

On the outer circle of polite society, he enjoyed the
theatre and gaming rooms and spotted Katharine with her newfound friends at one
such event. Katharine paid him scant attention and was more interested in the
newest play.

Charles noticed the attention paid to his sister, but was
not concerned. She had attracted many admirers, so much so that he knew Sarah
was growing jealous.
A beautiful woman attracts the good and bad in everyone
,
he mused. He came to believe that his mother was correct, that Katharine needed
to marry. Of course, Baron Adams was out of the question since he was a married
man. But the sooner his sister married, the better.

The Earl of Benton was available and unwed, yet he too was
much older than Kat and he cut a poor figure. Charles mused on the subject. He
wanted Katharine settled and happy, not only for the family
’
s sake but for her own.
She tended to be very free compared with the average woman and was far too
educated; on that, he was in complete agreement with his mother. But then, his
father had spoiled the girl and there was nothing that could be done now.

Things could have continued along and Katharine might have
married a lord of the realm and lived happily ever after. But one event altered
her life
’
s path
forever.

***

One evening, a close friend of Charles
’
who lived in the
fashionable Mayfair district invited Katharine, Charles and Sarah to a ball.
Charles readily accepted. Katharine would enjoy dancing and mingling with her
friends and even Sarah was looking forward to the evening.

Katharine dressed in a deep red dress with a low neckline
and elbow-length sleeves. The gown split in the front to reveal the petticoat
worn beneath it. She wore a delicate diamond choker and diamond earrings.

Kat looked elegant in her red gown and diamonds. Sarah was
dressed similarly, but in a golden yellow color.

The ball was well underway when the trio arrived. An
orchestra at one end of the long gallery played a piece Kat recognized as
Johann Sebastian Bach
’
s.
It was a delight for her ears.

Upon entering the ballroom, she made eye contact with
several of her new female friends and excused herself to join them. Standing
apart from the group, slurping his third glass of champagne, was Baron Adams.
He had been eyeing Katharine when she made her entrance and he was excited.

His wife Hettie was completely oblivious to his plans, and
he preferred it that way. He would never divorce Hettie. Not only was the
bovine woman a good mother, but as a Catholic, divorce was unthinkable.
However, she was not pleasing to the eye and a man had needs.

Many a night he had laid awake thinking of the beautiful
blonde and devising a way for them to be together. He had placed money aside
for a townhouse in London and set up an account with a fashionable dressmaker
in town as well. He had everything ready. Tonight, he would let her know that
she need not worry about her future. He was prepared to offer her the position
of mistress.

Baron Adams had found himself stroking his member many
nights, imagining the blonde on her knees and taking him everywhere he wanted.
He could not wait for their first night together. He knew she would be a
pleasure-seeking woman. Her zest for life and intelligence told him everything
he needed to know. She would please him in all ways.

Truth be told, he did not value education in women and he
figured all of her fancy lessons had been for naught. He believed her father
should have known better. But that was in the past, and perhaps he could find a
use for her education.

He had wanted to choose his time perfectly and tonight
’
s ball would be the
night. He would make the offer and he was sure she would be thrilled and
honored. As a baron, he was a good catch, even to associate with as a mistress.
He watched her the entire evening and waited for the moment when she was alone.

Katharine was enjoying herself. The music was lively;
Bach
’
s Six Concerts
à
plusieurs
instruments
drifted through the rooms to delight the listeners. She had one
glass of champagne but didn
’
t
really care for the taste. She had lost eyesight of Charles and Sarah, and all
her new friends were dancing. She had only danced one Minuet to Handel
’
s
Watermusic
before deciding she wanted to explore the house.

She walked along the gallery in the huge house where the
portraits of past ancestors hung. At the end of the gallery, a large balcony
opened up and overlooked the vast gardens. She stepped out onto the balcony.
The chilly air felt refreshing after the warmth of the ballroom. She closed her
eyes and thought of Willow Manor. She missed the safety and loveliness of her
home.

“
My
dear,
”
she heard
behind her and spun around.

Katharine tried to steel herself against the revulsion she
felt at seeing the baron before her. She had met him at several parties and
balls and was polite, but she did not like him. She felt he was dishonest and arrogant
and he seemed to look at her in a distasteful manner.

“
Lord
Adams,
”
Katharine
replied.

Horace smiled, revealing tiny white teeth.
“
Come, my dear. I
’
ve told you that you may
address me as Horace.
”

Katharine smiled in return.
“
Yes,
but I cannot,
”
she
replied.
“
That would
not be proper.
”