“But the fact remains that you are not her husband,” Edward said sharply.
“I am the father.”
“Honestly, sir, I don’t know with what gall you have to come here and present yourself before me. When I received your note, I was intrigued, but what exactly is it that we have to discuss? I can think of nothing.” Edward was short and to the point.
Mohammed shook his head. He was stunned by the man’s sudden turn of emotion.
“Apparently, we have much to discuss. I am the father of your daughter’s son and your grandson.”
“And?”
“And my wishes remain exactly the same as they were the last time we met here in this very room.”
“Which is what, exactly?”
Mohammed shook his head. Was this educated man playing the fool?
“Lord Edward. You know very well that I wished to marry Katharine then and I wish to marry her now.”
“Then your wishes will never be granted. I refuse to give my daughter to such a man,” Lord Edward spoke coldly.
“Such a man? I have scoured the earth looking for Katharine. I was told she had been taken to Arabia, so I pursued her there. I checked all the ports and talked to all the captains and she was a ghost, a figment! No one knew of her existence. I put pressure every place I could and still nothing. So I came back her to find her. And find her I did - in the arms of another man and you, her father, accuse me of what, exactly?”
Edward sighed.
“Must I spell it out for you?” he asked.
“I think you had better,” Mohammed replied.
“You are a foreigner. That is not a crime and I don’t hold that against you,” Edward began. He put his hands out to assure him it was so.
Mohammed waited for him to continue.
“But you have foreign ways and I will not allow my daughter to be corrupted by them.”
“And just how, by my offering her the state of marriage, would I corrupt her?”
Edward rolled his eyes.
“Come, come, sir. You do not precisely offer her marriage. In fact, if I may be so bold as to inform you, you offer the position of concubine!”
Mohammed was shocked. First he was told that Katharine was well and that they had a son, and now he was being insulted.
“I don’t understand you. Our marriage in Arabia is just as valid as any in England. I offer her a legally recognized marriage. I will marry her in London if that is your wish.”
Edward watched as Mohammed spoke and it slowly dawned on him. He wanted to marry Katharine and he would do so legally. Unless he wanted to add bigamy to his list of crimes, he was doing it correctly.
“Son, tell me truthfully. Have you divorced the other?”
“Yasmeen is the mother of my daughters, but she has made many mistakes. We are divorced by the laws of my land. She has returned to her people.”
“Let’s speak plainly,” Edward said.
“Please,” Mohammed agreed as he watched as Edward poured them two brandies.
“I love my daughter, and she was happy with you,” he said. He handed Mohammed one glass and he kept the other and took a sip. “I saw that you were the man to match her intelligence and strength, so I welcomed you. But n
ow everything is changed. I’m sorry, but it is.”