The Sheik and the Slave
Page 29
Katharine looked up into his dark handsome face.
“Don’t.”
“I have traveled so long and so far to have this one moment with you,” he said as he held her tightly against his chest. “My love.”
“It isn’t over yet. There is someone you must meet,” she said, smiling widely.
They traveled back to the townhouse, and Edward greeted them both warmly. They quietly went upstairs to the nursery.
Asleep in his crib lay the little son that they had created. His rosebud mouth made a sucking noise in his sleep, and his dark hair was a sharp contrast against his white blanket.
“Katharine, he’s…he’s beautiful,” Mohammed said. His voice cracked as he looked at his son.
She met his eyes across the crib.
“He is. And wait until you see his eyes. They are blue!” she whispered back.
“Oh, Katharine,” he said when he came across the room to hold her. “My heart is so full.” His palm caressed her cheek. “You have given me so much. I intend to spend my life making sure yours is full of love and joy.”
“This moment, you, our son, this is all I need. This is my joy,” she whispered.
They stayed together, staring down at their sleeping child.
***
Katharine was lovely in a light mint green dress with elbow-length sleeves and silver threading decorating the stomacher and skirt. She wore her favorite pearl-colored heels on her feet. She wore diamonds at her ears and no other jewelry.
Mohammed wore a cream waistcoat, a light brown frock coat, and breeches with silk stockings and shoes. His hair was clubbed and unpowdered.
The candle lights flickered in the chapel as the early morning began. Behind them stood Lord Edward, Sarah and Charles, Francie and Thomas, and Abigail holding their son. Edward had wanted Katharine’s day to be filled with joy and surrounded by love. He had asked Anne to attend the wedding if she could hold her tongue. She had scoffed and made a snide comment before declining the invitation.
It was almost a month since Katharine and Mohammed had finally been reconciled. Katharine had taken Thomas aside to kindly explain everything that had happened. Though he had thought she might one day be his, he knew well enough that she loved Mohammed. He had been with her when she had received the note and it had been devastating. Now that it was resolved, he was happy to stand aside and watch them marry.
Francie had come to town specially to see her friend marry, and Abigail was happily restored to them from the Abbey. Francie and Thomas had grown close once Katharine was reunited with Mohammed. Thomas was attentive and kind, and Francie adored the young man. It was a joyous group that gathered together for the wedding.
The clergyman stood in front of the small assembly as Katharine and Mohammed stood apart, looking at each other.
The elderly man looked solemnly at Mohammed and asked, “Will you have this woman as your wife? To love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health? And forsaking all others, keep only to her as long as you both shall live?”
Mohammed locked eyes with Katharine.
“I will,” he vowed.
The elderly man looked at Katharine and asked, “Will you have this man as your husband? To obey him and serve him, to love, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health? And forsaking all other, keep only to him as long as you both shall live?”
“I will,” she vowed.
They exchanged rings. A simple prayer was said, and a Bible verse was spoken. Mohammed looked at Katharine as the clergyman spoke and could not take his eyes off his beautiful bride.
Afterwards, the wedding party returned to the townhouse for cake and refreshments.
Mohammed had enjoyed meeting Abigail, as he knew she was a nurturing woman who loved their son greatly. He knew that the older woman filled a gap that Katharine did not have with her own mother.
Katharine caught Mohammed staring at her and she smiled.
“What is it, husband?” she asked.
He caught her from behind and nuzzled her neck.
“I am the luckiest man, Katharine,” he said.
“You are,” she agreed, and they laughed.
“I was only half alive until you came to me,” he whispered into her ear as they watched the group eat and be merry.
He saw Thomas laughing with Francie, a couple in the beginning stages of courting, and Abigail speaking with Lord Edward.
“You bought me!” she whispered back.
He laughed and turned her to face him.
“I did! Do you forgive me?” he asked.
“I do forgive you, husband.”
“Husband? I like that.”
“I like it too,” she said as she beamed back at him.
“Katharine, my wife,” he said.
“Mmmm,” she responded. She laughed as he kissed her again. Then, they joined the others for cake.
***
Later that night, Katharine laid in Mohammed’s arms feeling content and safe.
“I thought I would never be here like this with you again. I thought that had all ended once the letter arrived,” she said to him in the dark as they lay together.
“I’m sorry for that, Katharine. The pain you have endured will lessen. I will make certain of that.”
His hand touched her naked thigh. “And we can spend our nights practicing to make more brothers for our son,” he added.
“Brothers?” Katharine sat up, her hair streaming down her naked back. “I want a daughter.”
He pulled her naked body against his.
“It’s no matter, princess. Let us keep trying for one or the other.”
Katharine giggled as his mouth touched her neck and he moved lower between her legs, his mouth touching her there.
Ah,” she gasped in pleasure. “Mohammed,” she sighed.
Epilogue
Lord Edward and Abigail had spent several months in Arabia. Both left that morning to return to England by sea.
Edward had brought Katharine a letter from her dearest friend, Francie. Francie was to marry Thomas in a month’s time and she was thrilled for her darling friend. She had written back to Francie and sent the couple all her good wishes and love.
Katharine was in the garden in the shade of a date tree, watching her son toddling with his nurse attentive to his every need. Mohammed was in court with Daleel, his chief advisor, attending to his subjects.
Katharine fanned herself and squinted to watch her son amble to his nurse. She struggled to find a comfortable position on the sofa as her lower back ached dreadfully.
“Katharine,” Mohammed said. He kissed her in the forehead as he came upon her. “Be careful. Don’t exert yourself.”
Katharine laughed.
“Exert myself? I’m as fat as an ox and I only exert myself when food is put before me.”
“Nonsense. You are ripe with our child. You are glowing. If I didn’t have more cases to hear I might take you inside to show you how beautiful I think you,” he said as he caressed her belly and nuzzled her ear.
“Don’t you dare! That’s how I got like this,” she said, laughing. She batted his hand away but was secretly pleased.
She had grown large with their second child and had worried that Mohammed would be disgusted by her, but she could not have been more wrong. His passion for her was the same and he showed it daily.
Mohammed walked over to his son, deftly picked him up, and threw him lightly in the air as he screamed with pleasure.
“My precious son,” he spoke to him as he handed him back to his nurse.
Katharine watched her husband and son and felt a peace and calm serenity she had never known. It was a deeply satisfying feeling. She closed her eyes and smiled. She had experienced much sorrow and pain, but she had come through it safely and felt loved and cherished.
The love of her life was her husband and he was a caring, attentive father to their son. There was nothing else she needed.
“I will see you tonight t
hen, my love,” she spoke as he made his way to leave the garden.
He came back suddenly in his white robes and bent to kiss her temple and touch her cheek.
“Tonight and the rest of our lives, princess.”
Coming Fall 2014
The Tea Plantation – Alex's Story
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