The Sheik and the Slave (38 page)

Edward honestly had no idea why the man wanted to meet with
him, unless it was to apologize. He knew men of his faith had several wives, but
he would never consent to Katharine being a second wife. He knew his daughter
would be against such a match as well. He watched the clock and waited.

***

Katharine had been invited to tea with Lady Dunvale. She had
invited her personally, and Katharine was pleased to join her.

Her dress was made from a light grey silk and covered in
orange roses and vines over the skirt, stomacher and sleeves. The bodice was
square cut, and she wore her favorite pearl colored square heels. Her hair was
piled up and she only wore her pearl earrings and no necklace.

“
Father,
I
’
m going to tea at
Lady Dunvale
’
s,
”
Katharine told him as
she entered his sitting room.

“
Enjoy
yourself,
”
he
replied.

“
I
shall,
”
she said.
She kissed him lightly on the cheek and left with her small bag.

***

An hour later, Edward heard the knock and knew his guest had
arrived. He was anxious for the meeting and did not want to offend the young
man, even though he had numerous questions to put to him.

Mohammed was admitted into the room wearing a light green
frock coat, a light brown waistcoat and breeches, with his hair clubbed. He
bowed slightly to Lord Edward.

“
Lord
Edward,
”
Mohammed
said.

Lord Edward greeted Mohammed with a firm nod. They had been
in this same room when they had discussed finding Katharine and when they had
met to toast her return to them as Mohammed had set out for Arabia.

Mohammed found it strange that they were now in this room
contemplating a marriage to his beloved that may never occur. He was completely
baffled, but he would have his questions answered.

Lord Edward sized up the man before him and decided to jump
to the heart of his concerns.

“
I
am rather surprised to see you here, sir,
”
Lord Edward said as he warmed his hands at the fire and eyed the younger man.

“
I
don
’
t know why that
is, Lord Edward. We stood in this very room and I vowed to bring Katharine home
to you, safe.
”

Edward nodded.

“
You
did. However, she was delivered to us safely by the Mother Superior of the
Abbey where she was dumped by the brute who kidnapped her.
”

Mohammed
’
s
eyes were wide.

“
I
knew nothing of the Abbey. Tell me.
”

“
After
the mercenary kidnapped her, he tried to force himself upon her and a fight
ensued. She began to bleed and he dumped her at the Abbey gates to rid himself
of her quickly.
”

Mohammed closed his eyes and thought,
my darling
Katharine.
You have endured much.
She should have been safe but for
him; her association with his people had continually sought to harm her.

Mohammed stiffened as he asked,
“
She was bleeding?
”

Edward nodded once.

He almost hesitated to ask the following question, fearful
of the answer.

“
Was
the babe saved?
”

“
Yes,
”
Edward replied.

“
The
babe was saved?
”
Mohammed heard his voice crack as he asked again.

“
Your
son is alive and well.
”

Mohammed almost felt the breath rush from his body as he
heard the words. He had a son. His darling girl had given him a son. He felt
his eyes water.

“
My
son,
”
he said.

“
She
has not named him, as she thought that right was yours as her husband and the
father.
”

Mohammed smiled.

“
Katharine,
”
he said softly.

“
Katharine
endured a very serious surgery that was performed in Ireland by a man of the
cloth but also a renowned medical man.
”

Mohammed closed his eyes and said a quick prayer.

“
But
the fact remains that you are not her husband,
”
Edward said sharply.

“
I
am the father.
”

“
Honestly,
sir, I don
’
t know
with what gall you have to come here and present yourself before me. When I
received your note, I was intrigued, but what exactly is it that we have to
discuss? I can think of nothing.
”
Edward was short and to the point.

Mohammed shook his head. He was stunned by the man
’
s sudden turn of emotion.

“
Apparently,
we have much to discuss. I am the father of your daughter
’
s son and your grandson.
”

“
And?
”

“
And
my wishes remain exactly the same as they were the last time we met here in
this very room.
”

“
Which
is what, exactly?
”

Mohammed shook his head. Was this educated man playing the
fool?

“
Lord
Edward. You know very well that I wished to marry Katharine then and I wish to
marry her now.
”

“
Then
your wishes will never be granted. I refuse to give my daughter to such a man,
”
Lord Edward spoke
coldly.

“
Such
a man? I have scoured the earth looking for Katharine. I was told she had been
taken to Arabia, so I pursued her there. I checked all the ports and talked to
all the captains and she was a ghost, a figment! No one knew of her existence.
I put pressure every place I could and still nothing. So I came back her to
find her. And find her I did - in the arms of another man and you, her father,
accuse me of what, exactly?
”

Edward sighed.

“
Must
I spell it out for you?
”
he asked.

“
I
think you had better,
”
Mohammed replied.

“
You
are a foreigner. That is not a crime and I don
’
t
hold that against you,
”
Edward began. He put his hands out to assure him it was so.

Mohammed waited for him to continue.

“
But
you have foreign ways and I will not allow my daughter to be corrupted by them.
”

“
And
just how, by my offering her the state of marriage, would I corrupt her?
”

Edward rolled his eyes.

“
Come,
come, sir. You do not precisely offer her marriage. In fact, if I may be so
bold as to inform you, you offer the position of concubine!
”

Mohammed was shocked. First he was told that Katharine was
well and that they had a son, and now he was being insulted.

“
I
don
’
t understand
you. Our marriage in Arabia is just as valid as any in England. I offer her a
legally recognized marriage. I will marry her in London if that is your wish.
”

Edward watched as Mohammed spoke and it slowly dawned on
him. He wanted to marry Katharine and he would do so legally. Unless he wanted
to add bigamy to his list of crimes, he was doing it correctly.

“
Son,
tell me truthfully. Have you divorced the other?
”

“
Yasmeen
is the mother of my daughters, but she has made many mistakes. We are divorced
by the laws of my land. She has returned to her people.
”

“
Let
’
s speak plainly,
”
Edward said.

“
Please,
”
Mohammed agreed as he
watched as Edward poured them two brandies.

“
I
love my daughter, and she was happy with you,
”
he said. He handed Mohammed one glass and he kept the other and took a sip.
“
I saw that you were the
man to match her intelligence and strength, so I welcomed you. But now
everything is changed. I
’
m
sorry, but it is.
”

Mohammed had understood everything Edward said until the
end.

“
What
has changed? What has happened? I love Katharine now more than ever. And
knowing that we have a son means everything to me. She will be my wife,
”
he told Edward forcefully.

Edward sighed.

“
And
what of your other wife and son? We must stop this. I will never allow
Katharine to become a second wife, which is little more than a prostitute, and
if you know anything at all about my daughter, you know that she will never
accept that!
”
He
slammed his glass down upon the mahogany table.

“
What
did you say?
”
Mohammed set his glass down softly.

“
Son.
Go back home. I promise you I will take the greatest of care with my grandson.
He will have everything I can give him. But my daughter you cannot have.
”

Mohammed placed a hand out to Edward to stop him.

“
No.
What did you say about a son and wife?
”

Edward tried to keep his patience.

“
You
must return to Arabia and take care of your son and wife. They are all that is
important right now. Katharine will be looked after.
”

“
What
wife? What son?
”
Mohammed asked. It seemed the older man was losing his mind.

Edward stalked over to his large mahogany desk.

“
This
game is very tiresome, Mohammed. Katharine knows. We all know. She has been
heartbroken. But if you persist in this charade, here.
”

Edward found the letter that had been mailed from Abdullah
to the Mother Superior and in turn had been given to Katharine.

Mohammed scanned the small letter quickly and felt a cold
seep into him. He read it several times over before it began to sink in.

Dear Madame
–

We received your letter regarding the Lady Katharine and
are pleased to hear that she is well. However, Princess Safiya has recently
announced her pregnancy and the Sheik is making arrangements for the birth of
his legitimate first born son to his wife. Inshallah.

The wedding is being planned and is a great event as it
joins two great families. The bloodlines will be ensured once the child is born
to the Sheik.

Peace and blessings be upon you.

Your servant,

 
“
This
is a lie,
”
Mohammed
told Edward quietly.

“
What?
”
Edward asked. He jerked
around to face Mohammed.

“
This
entire letter is a fabrication,
”
Mohammed said. He sat down on the sofa.
“
The
girl in question was invited to the palace. Not by me. I was very worried for
Katharine and this girl was invited over with her family. There was food and
dancing. I don
’
t
remember much of the evening.
”

“
Go
on,
”
Edward
encouraged him.

Mohammed shook his head.

“
I
didn
’
t feel well. I
felt sick. But the girl, Safiya, danced for me.
”

He briefly recalled that night when the dark-haired beauty
was dancing and suddenly her hair was blonde like the desert.

“
I
remember seeing Katharine dancing before me and I ached to hold her,
”
he said.

Mohammed closed his eyes and tried to recall that night.

“
I
remember lying on top the girl and blacking out.
”

“
Was
the act consummated?
”
Edward questioned.

“
I
honestly don
’
t know.
I don
’
t think so. I
couldn
’
t even stay
awake, much less perform.
”

“
So
the child may not be yours?
”

“
Possibly.
Or it could be someone else
’
s,
trying to make the child mine. The next sheik will be powerful and inherit much
lands and wealth.
”

“
That
is reason enough for someone to try and pass the child off as yours.
”

“
Yes.
And I have recently discovered that she has disappeared from the palace. My
advisor Daleel informed me.
”

“
And
the marriage?
”

“
There
was no marriage, Lord Edward. What kind of man do you think I am? I was
grieving and searching for Katharine. All I wanted was Katharine. My marriage
with Yasmeen was over. I had disbanded the harem. Katharine is the only woman I
want.
”

The room was silent was several seconds.

“
Then
whoever wrote this, wrote it with the intent of separating you and Katharine
forever,
”
Edward
spoke.

“
Yes.
”