“What is it, husband?” she asked.
He caught her from behind and nuzzled her neck.
“I am the luckiest man, Katharine,” he said.
“You are,” she agreed, and they laughed.
“I was only half alive until you came to me,” he whispered into her ear as they watched the group eat and be merry.
He saw Thomas laughing with Francie, a couple in the beginning stages of courting, and Abigail speaking with Lord Edward.
“You bought me!” she whispered back.
He laughed and turned her to face him.
“I did! Do you forgive me?” he asked.
“I do forgive you, husband.”
“Husband? I like that.”
“I like it too,” she said as she beamed back at him.
“Katharine, my wife,” he said.
“Mmmm,” she responded. She laughed as he kissed her again. Then, they joined the others for cake.
***
Later that night, Katharine laid in Mohammed’s arms feeling content and safe.
“I thought I would never be here like this with you again. I thought that had all ended once the letter arrived,” she said to him in the dark as they lay together.
“I’m sorry for that, Katharine. The pain you have endured will lessen. I will make certain of that.”
His hand touched her naked thigh. “And we can spend our nights practicing to make more brothers for our son,” he added.
“Brothers?” Katharine sat up, her hair streaming down her naked back. “I want a daughter.”
He pulled her naked body against his.
“It’s no matter, princess. Let us keep trying for one or the other.”
Katharine giggled as his mouth touched her neck and he moved lower between her legs, his mouth touching her there.
Ah,” she gasped in pleasure. “Mohammed,” she sighed.
Epilogue
Lord Edward and Abigail had spent several months in Arabia. Both left that morning to return to England by sea.
Edward had brought Katharine a letter from her dearest friend, Francie. Francie was to marry Thomas in a month’s time and she was thrilled for her darling friend. She had written back to Francie and sent the couple all her good wishes and love.
Katharine was in the garden in the shade of a date tree, watching her son toddling with his nurse attentive to his every need. Mohammed was in court with Daleel, his chief advisor, attending to his subjects.
Katharine fanned herself and squinted to watch her son amble to his nurse. She struggled to find a comfortable position on the sofa as her lower back ached dreadfully.
“Katharine,” Mohammed said. He kissed her in the forehead as he came upon her. “Be careful. Don’t exert yourself.”