Dedicated to the fans β of the sheik. Your patience and kind words keep me writing. I thank you from my heart β most sincerely.
Nic
*
Kat trembled as she sank into a heap at the side of the small couch. Her hands clutched at her heart 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.
Kat looked around the room in desperation. What was to become of her now? How would everything turn out?
Suddenly her hands flew down to her stomach and she could feel the roundness of it.
She had never realized until he had accused her. She felt the roundness of her belly and sighed.
She let her head fall back against the wall 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 should be devastated; she should be ashamed and degraded. She had not waited for marriage but had given her body away to a practical stranger, but she felt none of those things.
For the first time, she felt at peace. The thoughts kept running through her head, his son, his son, his son...
Kat made herself presentable. She combed her hair back into place with her fingers and smoothed her dress down.
Her fingers were trembling but she re-joined her aunt and uncle for the remainder of the concert.
The next morning, her Aunt Louisa received word that Jamie would be stopping by their home for a week on his way to Germany to visit relatives.
"That would be lovely, Katharine, no?" She asked her niece.
Kat pushed her eggs across her plate and looked up.
"I'm sorry what did you say, Aunt Louisa?" Kat asked.
"Really darling. You seem to be in another land. We have just received word from your fiancΓ© James Clifton. He will be stopping here on his way to visit relatives in Germany. Is that not good news?"
Kat nodded her head. "Yes, it is, Aunt Louisa."
But Kat 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."
****
Kat 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 think and decide and plan for the 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.
She moved along her body to touch her breasts which were sensitive and sighed aloud.
What would become of her? She was a young woman from an affluent home and family, but she was not married.