Dedicated - as always - to the fans of The Sheik and the Slave
For all the comments and emails I received to finish and continue the sheik - I thank you. I have a new job which leaves little time to write but I know the fans of the sheik would be disappointed so I continue the story.
As usual, this is not the end - so bear with me in the next chapter.
Hope you enjoy – Nic
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Kat idly watched the young maid in the mirror as she pinned her hair up. Unlike in Arabia where her hair had been long and flowing, in England – a proper young woman kept her hair pinned and tucked away. She sighed. She thought she had hated Arabia. The sun, the heat, the food, the women! But more and more she found herself thinking of her life there. And more and more she dreamed of him. She dreamed of him and the dreams were always the same. He summoned her and she obeyed him, she couldn't stop herself. She ached for his touch and only in her dreams was she satisfied.
In the mornings, she awoke to the cool, crisp English air, the rolling green hills, the light rain – and loneliness.
She had been in England for a month. Her father and mother had been very patient with her. They had not pressed her for details and she was sure they assumed the worse – which was true. She had become the plaything of an Arab. But she had done the unthinkable- she had fallen in love.
They didn't know his name or anything about him – they never asked and Kat never said anything. In the beginning when she had returned home – they had given her space. They thought she had returned to them wilder than ever but they were wrong.
She tried to look away from her reflection in the mirror. She had lost weight since coming home and her manners were barely recognizable to her family. The wild girl who would not be tamed – spoke very little and interacted even less.
She had no desire to resume her life in England as wild Lady Kat. Her father had not mentioned a suitable husband but when he did – she would agree ... provided he was not ancient or terribly ugly.
"Are you pleased, my lady?" Asked the timid Irish maid after her hair had been pinned up.
"Thank you. You are very gifted." Kat said as the young maid blushed.
She bobbed a curtsy. "Will you be wanting to dress for dinner?" Her Irish accent dipped low and it caught Kat's attention.
"The pink frock is fine." Kat said and gestured to the pastel dress lying across her bed.
"Begging your pardon ma'am, but the color washes you out. Perhaps the purple or salmon colored gown – "
"No. The pink is fine." Kat had no desire to look charming or alluring. Everything in England seemed cold and serious and her heart yearned for the warmth and burn of Arabia. And for him, a small voice said.
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Lady Anne sipped her soup delicately as Edward watched his daughter from cross the mahogany table. She barely touched her food and said little.
"Daughter, I won't have you wasting away before my very eyes." Edward spoke to her as she looked away.
"I'm not hungry Father that's all." She shrugged her slim shoulders.
"Come, come." He pushed his empty soup bowl away as he eyed his beautiful girl.
"Perhaps we should tell her about our plans, Edward. That should put a bloom in her cheeks." Lady Anne smiled encouragingly at her husband and then looked fondly at her daughter.
"Indeed. Your mother and I are planning a large ball in two months time. A grand affair to welcome you back and perhaps a betrothal." Edward looked across to his wife Anne –who both looked over at Kat.
Kat's head jerked up. "You have a husband in mind for me?"
Edward took his time in replying. He had chosen poorly with the Earl of Benton. His heart had been in the right place, to see her married with a family, but the Earl had been ancient and not worthy of his Kat.
"Well several, my dear. But you will have the final say." Edward assured her.
"Who are they?" Kat asked absently.
Edward rattled off several names. Most of them were silly dandies and older men but one name caught her attention.
"Did I hear you say James Clifton?" Kat caught his eyes.
"Yes, you knew Jamie well enough when his family lived nearby. Grew up together I dare say." Edward nodded as his glass of wine was refilled.
"Well, he's older than me by ten years but I remember him to be a good, kind man."
Lady Anne smiled in relief at her interest.
"Could you arrange a meeting with him here?" Kat asked her father.
"Of course, of course. Capital idea, splendid." Edward smiled broadly.
Kat stared absently at her soup. If perhaps she could marry and have children her heart wouldn't ache so much. Maybe she could live half alive in England knowing that she had lived too much in Arabia.
"Thank you, Father. May I be excused?" Kat asked quietly.
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Kat settled herself on the window seat overlooking the vast gardens.
Why was she cursed to dream about him at night? Why did he have to be so masculine, intelligent, strong willed and sensual? Could he have at least one flaw that she could focus on forever? Her dreams were too vivid in detail and he was always relentless. He never allowed her to say no and his will demanded she bend to him.
The latest dream held a beautiful little boy with honey colored skin, dark curly hair and blue eyes. Kat had woken up in tears.
She rested her head against the cool window. She hated sleeping. He was always in her dreams. And she hated being awake – without him. But in her heart she knew she had done the right thing. They were too different. Their lives together would never have worked. It was best that she marry in England to a gentleman and he stay far away in Arabia.
She dressed in a sky blue gown that accented her slim curves and eyes but was too pale and washed her out. She chose the gown on purpose. She waited for James Clifton to arrive. Her father had arranged the meeting. They would go riding, enjoy a light supper in the house and Kat was to decide.
Would she even like him? Would they have anything in common? She would have to wait and see.
Her father was beside himself with joy. He hoped to see her settled and happy at last. She was the last and only child not to be married with a family of her own.
Her mother and father introduced James to Kat in the large sitting room decorated in gold and cream colors.
"Lady Katharine. I'm glad to see you well." He bowed over her hand kissing it lightly.
"I remember you and your family when I was a little girl. We played together as monkeys in the trees," Kat remember a childhood game.
The adults laughed at the image and James and Kat began to reminisce as Edward withdrew to his study and Anne settled herself in the far corner of the room to give the two young people some privacy yet still remained as chaperon.
"I remember you too. A delightful, lovely little girl, turned into a beautiful woman." He complimented her easily.
