The Sheik and the Slave

“Of course not! But I will not allow my daughter to marry a dirty foreigner. She needs to remember her station and marry accordingly.”

“Yes, Mother,” Charles agreed. He kissed her cheek.

“Someone proper and respectable,” she spoke as she moved away from the table set with afternoon tea. She looked at the gardens and saw her daughter walking with that bastard baby and the nun. “Someone like your Thomas!” she exclaimed, turning happily to her son.

Charles laughed at his mother and joined her near the window.

“No, Mother, not Thomas,” he said, shaking his head. “Thomas is a younger son and more inclined to enjoy life. He will not tie himself down for many years to come. He told me himself.”

Anne dismissed this with a wave of her hand.

“Things change. Feelings change.”

“And according to Father, Katharine is in love with her barbarian and he with her. So for all your machinations Mother, it seems we will have the negro child and the dirty foreigner in our family.” Charles almost curled his lip at the thought of his sister spreading her legs for the Arab.

“We shall see, Charles,” she replied.

Chapter 23

Thomas readied himself for dinner, wearing his mustard and blue frock coat with matching waistcoat and breeches. His silk shirt and stockings were white and his shoes black. His brown hair was clubbed back and unpowdered.

He had spent many evenings in the Fairfax manor house and enjoyed his time spent with Lord Edward. Lady Anne, he felt, was aloof but polite, and the daughters, when younger, were sweet and lovely.

He had not seen Katharine for several years while away at Eton, and Charles informed him of her recent ordeals. He felt his heart go out to a young innocent lady who had been so viciously attacked.

Katharine dressed simply that night in a lavender silk dress with a deep oval neckline and elbow-length sleeves. She wore simple drop earrings and no necklace.

She stopped in to see Abigail, who did not take dinner with the family but chose to stay in the small nursery with Kat’s son. Abigail was reading her Bible and the child was asleep.

Katharine smiled as she closed the door.

She knew her mother and father would be at dinner as well as Charles and his good friend Thomas, whom she had not seen in several years. She touched a hand to her hair in a self-conscious pat and stepped into the dining room.

Her father greeted her and kissed her lovingly on the cheek, and together they moved to the table laden with cold meats, sweets, fruit and wine. There was also a hot dish of mutton.

Charles and her mot

her were seated and she bid them a good evening. When Thomas entered the room, he smiled at everyone, greeted them, and then seemed stunned by Katharine’s appearance.

“Dear Lady Katharine,” he smiled at approached her.

“Thomas. It has been a long time,” she smiled as he kissed her hand elegantly.

“I believe too long, Lady,” he spoke and their eyes met.

An attractive man, Thomas was well used to feminine attention. But he was not prepared for the beauty and delicate face of Katharine. It stopped his heart.

She smiled and laid her hand on his sleeve as he led them both to the table.

Meanwhile, Anne cast a sly glance at her son and nodded.

The rest of the dinner was spent with Thomas eagerly entertaining Katharine with stories of his youth, while Charles and Anne spent their time discussing his children, Sarah, and London.

Edward watched the scene in silence and was a little amused at Thomas’ attention to his daughter; he seemed smitten. After the meal, dessert was served with wine. The gentleman excused themselves and Thomas joined Charles in a game of billiards, while Edward retired to his study.

Anne remained alone with her daughter.

“My dear, you made quite the conquest with young Thomas Merritt,” she said.