The Sheik and the Slave (40 page)

She moved quickly away from the two men and then gasped. It
was Mohammed! Her heart soared.

Both men fought viciously and threw words and punches at
each other.

The words were in Arabic and lightning-quick, some of which
she didn
’
t
understand, as the two men fought violently.

Mohammed slammed Abdullah
’
s
back into the tree and the man collapsed into the grass. The sheik held the
glittering knife in his hand, but had no intention of slaying his advisor.

“
You
have been a false friend! You who even served with my father!
”
Mohammed shouted.

Abdullah coughed.

“
Don
’
t you see? Are you so in
lust with the witch that you don
’
t
see her? She is unholy.
”

“
She
is a woman. A beautiful, intelligent woman who loves me. She is the mother of
my son!
”

“
An
Infidel! She
’
s an
Infidel!
”
Abdullah
said the word with malice.

Mohammed shook his head, pitying the man.

"Accursed wherever they are found, being seized and
massacred completely," Abdullah quoted the Qur
’
an to Mohammed.

“
Kafir!
”
He called her.

“
No,
”
Mohammed returned back.
“
So if they do not
withdraw from you or offer you peace or restrain their hands, then seize them
and kill them wherever you overtake them.
Or offer you peace
, Abdullah!
She has never made war with you. She never sought our demise. In fact, her only
failing was to fall in love.
”

Abdullah snorted.

“
Love?
Any harem girl can spread her legs.
”

“
Enough.
This is futile. I will take you to London to stand for the crimes you have
committed. I will have justice.
”

Abdullah shook his head.

“
Justice?
In the land of the Infidels, where their stench is everywhere.
”

Mohammed had enough.

“
All
of this, everything you have done. You have betrayed me. You hired Jean
Baptiste to kidnap her. You helped search for him, all the while knowing that
you had orchestrated it. You wrote that letter of lies to tear us apart. You
hide the fact that Safiya isn
’
t
pregnant with my child but her uncle
’
s!
We were never married. All of this for nothing! You are a traitor,
”
Mohammed said. He then
spit on the ground in front of his chief advisor. His face showed that he felt
pain and rage toward Abdullah.

Abdullah looked at his friend. He denied nothing. But in his
heart he knew he was saving Mohammed from himself.

“
If
she will have me, I will marry her as soon as possible,
”
he told Abdullah.
“
I love her. Don
’
t you understand that? I love her.
”

Katharine appeared from her safe place on the other side of
the chestnut tree and smiled lovingly at him.

“
I
will marry you, Mohammed. Whatever time and place you choose. I love you so
much.
”

Mohammed smiled as he felt his heart expand. He released his
grip on the knife. It would be all right. She would be his wife. She would be
his. As he moved toward Katharine, he didn
’
t
realize that Abdullah
’
s
fanaticism was still there, savagely beating and eating away in his heart.

Abdullah took that moment to lunge at his sheik, to wretch
the knife from him, but Mohammed was swift. They struggled in the grass, both
men strong and angry, while Katharine ducked away. Mohammed went to defend
himself and the knife pressed deep into Abdullah
’
s
chest.

Katharine turned away in distress as Abdullah sank onto the
grass, with his hands grasping at his chest. The blood seeped out, staining the
green grass red. He closed his eyes in pain and then opened them halfway to
glare at the woman he hated beyond reason.

Katharine shook her head. She had never wanted this. This
was a kind of sickness, a madness inside Abdullah.

Abdullah
’
s
face sneered with hate as he hissed at her.

“
Kafir,
”
he said to Katharine.
Then, he was gone.

Mohammed caught her in his arms and kissed her temple as
they moved away from the violent scene.

“
Katharine.
Come away. Don
’
t
look,
”
he said to
her.

He moved her to Abdullah
’
s
stolen coach and placed her inside, taking up the reins. The coach moved
swiftly to No. 4 Bow Street to relay the death of the man and his crimes.

After he dispatched the Bow Street Runners, he caught
Katharine up in his arms. His large hands touched the sides of her face as he
looked into her eyes.

The tears fell on her cheeks as she closed her eyes.

“
Everything
has been such a nightmare,
”
she said.
“
I thought
you had another child and were married. That
’
s
why I couldn
’
t bear
to see you. I thought you wanted me as a second wife. I was so deeply unhappy
when I received that letter. It was a horror. And then you were here, kissing
me, and I didn
’
t
understand why. I wanted nothing to do with you.
”

“
I
know,
”
he said. He
kissed her mouth and his arms held her tightly.
“
I
didn
’
t understand
anything until today, when I was speaking with your father. Then everything
fell into place. Abdullah has been behind everything. But nothing matters now.
You are in my arms as you should be. I don
’
t
intend to let you go. Ever.
”
The last word he said was spoken against her ear and she smiled. She was safe
at last.

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.