Charles nodded.
“Of course, Father. She is still my sister.”
“Thank you, son. And you are an uncle!”
“Yes, Father,” Charles spoke dryly.
***
Abigail and Katharine walked along the garden filled with lush roses in bloom. Katharine pushed the baby carriage as her son lay sleeping peacefully.
“You look very well, Kat. Being home agrees with you,” Abigail said as she walked beside her, fingering the cross hanging around her neck as she spoke.
“I feel well. My father has been so gracious and understanding. And now that I know Mohammed loves me and asked for my hand, I am sure everything will be all right,” she said, beaming. Her simple white muslin dress made her seem young and innocent.
Abigail smiled and said a quick prayer, thanking God for his mercies.
“You were right all along,” Katharine said as she turned to the older woman. “You have been my guardian angel.”
Abigail turned pink at the compliment.
***
Anne and Charles were in the upstairs sitting room together. Charles stood facing the fireplace while Anne stared into her teacup.
“How could you have allowed this, Mother?” he spoke abruptly. His voice was harsh and cold.
“Me? I am not the one who coddled her as a baby, spoiled her, and educated her as if she were to be a monk,” Anne spat out.
“Yes. Father was wrong to have educated a woman beyond her station and place,” Charles agreed. He remembered bitterly that Katharine had always excelled in all she had been taught while he had struggled in his studies.
“And now she has come home, which is just as well, but unmarried with that bastard. Have you seen him? He’s practically negro,” Anne said. His mother’s tongue could be cutting, and the Spanish word for black was certainly an exaggeration.
“Surely not, Mother,” he said, almost smiling.
“Yes, Charles. You have never truly understood what I endure here with her, and your father only encourages her.” She placed the teacup down with a decided clank. “After all, as a prominent family we are looked upon to set the example. You, Sarah, your sisters, all of us. What will everyone think once it becomes general knowledge that my daughter is no better than a common trollop!” she hissed.
Though Charles agreed and thought Katharine had behaved badly, he tried to calm his mother.
“Well perhaps it’s just as well that I invited Thomas down for the weekend, unless you think I should postpone his visit for another time,” he asked solemnly.
“No! Indeed no. Thomas is such a gentleman. He has fine manners and his breeding impeccable. I think it would do well to have such a man in the house at this time,” she said as she smiled. “Quite an attractive man too.”
“Yes Mother,” he managed.
“I am so upset over this matter, Charles. Katharine has always been haughty and arrogant, but this is too much to bear.”
Charles came to his mother and placed a hand on her slim shoulder.
“Calm yourself, Mother. From what I have heard from Father, Katharine’s lover is apparently in love with her and plans to marry her.”
Anne physically paled.
“Oh no! Charles! My God, this is monstrous!”
Charles turned to his mother.
“Would you have her remain unmarried and no father for her child?”