“Then if my daughter accepts, I cannot stand in the way. Though she must be married in the Church.” He turned to Mohammed and Katharine.
Katharine knew that this would be coming, though Mohammed remained silent throughout the entire scene.
Mohammed spoke to his son in Arabic. “I would speak with you alone.”
The two men left the room, leaving Katharine to speak with her soon to be daughter-in-law.
“Madame.” Sophie smiled.
“Sophie,” she returned and smiled. “I am so pleased that you and my son are to marry.”
Jean Pierre left the room to give the women privacy.
“Your son is very special,” Sophie told her.
“Yes. He had many admirers back in Arabia but none of them tempted him. I think he was waiting to come to Europe to find his bride. And so he has,” she said graciously.
“I will do my best to make him happy,” Sophie assured Katharine. Though the marriage was false, she wanted his family to like her. She would never want to be the cause of a rift between them.
“I never thought to see him marry for some time. That you have managed it so soon is an accomplishment in itself.” Katharine smiled.
“Thank you, madame.”
“And you are young and beautiful. I expect to have beautiful grandchildren.”
Sophie smiled and looked away.
***
“What is going on?” Mohammed said bluntly.
“Father?” Sebastian questioned him.
“First we send Leila to you, and she has fallen in love with a Frenchman and is to be married. Fine. Leila may marry as she wishes.”
“But?” Sebastian waited.
“But you are the next sheik. You don’t have the luxury of marrying where and whom you choose,” Mohammed told him angrily. “You will take over when I am gone and rule over the people of Arabia, settle disputes and see to their safety and well being. It was what you were raised to do.”
“Really? You chose your bride,” he countered.
“That was different.”
“Why? Because it was Mother?”
“The people have accepted your mother over time and with great patience. Your mother is intelligent and adept at winning people to love her. I sacrificed her safety to marry outside of Islam and it caused a great dissension at the time. You recall she was threatened and almost killed.”
“Then Mother has paved the way for another foreign woman to sit beside and counsel a sheik. Sophie will be the same. She is intelligent and gracious,” Sebastian said, defending her.
Mohammed shook his head. “I did not expect this of you.”
“Am I to choose where I love?”
Mohammed knew there was something else going on between the two young people but he would not press it. He knew that if his son had set his mind to something, he would not be swayed.
“Your sister will marry in the church, and I assume it will be the same for you.”
“I have never been very religious, Father,” Sebastian replied.
“That is not the point. A sheik cannot be an infidel. You know that.”
“We can marry quietly. I will find a priest who will marry us without my converting.”
Mohammed seemed satisfied. “Good.”
“Father. She is a good woman, much like Mother. She is educated and of a good family.”
“I am not against Mademoiselle Sophie. I am afraid of losing my only son to France.”
At this Sebastian finally smiled. “That would never be possible. I know my duty. I know my duty to you, and to Arabia.”
Mohammed nodded. He smiled as well and clasped his son on the shoulders. “Let us join the ladies.”
Sebastian was not concerned about the marriage ceremony or converting to Catholicism. In any case, he would only be married long enough to safeguard Sophie and then the marriage would be annulled.
There were no announcements made that evening at the ball, though two women were about to be married.
***
Etienne’s parents met with Katharine and Mohammed the following day and there were no objections to the marriage. The church wedding was discussed and the dowry was accepted. Leila and Etienne were to be married in the Catholic church nearest Etienne’s family home, as was the custom.
It was a happy time for the young couple, and Etienne was relaxed and enjoyed the attention as a soon-to-be groom and husband. Leila needed help planning the wedding and banquet after, and Sophie was glad to be included.
Sophie was another matter entirely. She knew she would not have a large wedding, but that didn’t bother her. Her ceremony would be quiet, with only close family and friends.
She didn’t worry about taking her marriage vows for life because they would be spoken to save her own life. She worried about her life after the ceremony, when she would share a home with Sebastian. She worried that she had forced him into a corner and she wondered why he had agreed to help with nothing in return. She was wracked with guilt and wanted to smooth things over between them but didn’t know how to do it.