The Sheik and the Slave

"How can you stop me?" she flung back at him.

"I’ve obtained a special license to marry. I have it from England," he said. Mohammed buttoned himself up as he spoke to her.

Katharine was shocked. Marriage? To Mohammed?

"We can do this two ways. So you decide which one you want, princess. We marry and raise our child together, as it is supposed to be. And you come to me willingly," he said simply.

"Or?" she asked, and swallowed nervously.

"You defy me and try to marry your Englishman. And then I swear before Allah that I will kidnap you and this time – this time – there will be no escape for you. We will be man and wife and before Allah and Arabia. You will be mine, body and soul."

With that, Mohammed stalked to the door.

"So you decide, Katharine," he said, as he unlocked the door and walked away.

Chapter 13

Katharine trembled as she sank into a heap at the side of the small sofa. Her hand clutched at the embroidered stomacher and then flew to her mouth.

He would give her no quarter and would allow her little maneuvering. There would be no discussions or long talks of what was to come. She would marry the sheik and return to Arabia.

Katharine looked around the room in desperation. What would happen now? Suddenly her hands flew down to her stomach and she could feel the roundness of it. She had not realized it until he had accused her. She felt the roundness of her belly and sighed. She had conceived that night in her bedroom, after her betrothal to James had been announced.

She let her head fall back against the sofa as her hands remained clasped around her belly. She was pregnant with his child. A smile played upon her face as she took in the news. She knew she should be devastated; she should be ashamed and degraded. She had not waited for marriage but had given her body away to a man who was not her husband.

But for the first time, she felt at peace. Thoughts kept running through her head. She would have a son, a son, a son...

His son.

Katharine made herself presentable and checked to make sure her hair was in place before she rejoined her aunt and uncle for the opera performance. She had much to think about.

The next morning, her Aunt Louisa received word that Jamie would be stopping by their home in a week on his way to Germany to visit relatives.

"That would be lovely, Katharine, no?" she asked her niece.

Katharine pushed her eggs across her plate and looked up.

"I'm sorry. What did you say, Aunt Louisa?" she asked.

"Darling, you seem to be in another land. We have just received word from your fiancé James Clifton. He will be stopping here on his way to visit relatives in Germany. Is that not good news?"

Katharine nodded. "Yes, Aunt Louisa," she replied.

But Katharine knew it was not good news. Once she had a moment alone with Jamie, she would have to break off the engagement, which would cause more questions and comments from those around her. What would happen then?

"My dear, weren't you and Katharine going to visit the perfumery today?" Jean-Pierre asked from behind his morning paper.

Louisa exclaimed excitedly, "Yes, that's correct. When would you like to set out, Katharine? We could find you some lovely scents, perhaps in rose or lavender? What do you think?"

"Yes, that would be nice. Do you mind if I lay down for a half hour and then we could set out? I'm a little tired."

"Of course, cheri," her aunt replied.

***

Katharine made her way up to the lavish room they had given her and threw herself on her bed.

She felt exhausted, and her mind was in turmoil. She was glad to be in Paris, away from her family. It gave her a chance to decide what to do with her future. She moved onto her back and her hands moved down her simple linen dress to rest on her belly. The curved contour of her belly and her breasts, which were slightly swollen, all confirmed her pregnancy. Her breasts were very tender and sensitive. She sighed.