- Chapter 30 -

Betsey's guest arrived at Norcastle the next day on schedule and was expected for dinner that evening. Katherine did recognize the young man who she had seen dancing with Betsey nearly a year ago at the New Year ball. He was, after all, shockingly attractive. For most of the evening he was quiet and reserved, a great contrast to Betsey who joked and chattered as cheerfully as ever; but eventually he grew more at ease with the group and when his quick wit and dry humor made the rare appearance, cracking through his generally reserved exterior, he was jolly good fun and charmed them all.

At some point unknown to Katherine (who had subtly been watching for it) he must have asked Mr Wheaton for his daughter's hand with agreeable results for a week and a half after their arrival their engagement was announced. John then stood by Betsey and, holding out a hand to Eliza who joined him, observed this was as good a time as any to announce their own engagement as well.

In the months before their spring weddings Mr Rook secured a large townhouse in London for his and his fiancé's permanent residence after they were married, and the Ritewoods collaborated with Lady Compton sectioning off a portion of land between their expansive estates as a wedding gift for John and Eliza. The two couples held a double wedding on a fresh, sunny spring day, and Simon even journeyed home to join the ceremony and following festivities, his blond hair seeming brighter against his browned skin.

He told grand stories of ancient cities, exotic dancers, and riding elephants in Jordan. Once his visit home was over he was planning to visit Africa with a friend he met in the markets of Jerash.

Cecilia was well round and her child was due any day; the joke was made more than once that what a thing it would be should she have the child the day of her siblings' wedding. She did not find it humorous. It was a particularly wonderful and happy day, Katherine's face hurt from smiling.

Her newly-wed siblings spirited off on their honeymoons before settling down in London – John and Eliza would be staying at a temporary residence in London while a house was being built on their comfortable little estate.

Katherine was excruciatingly anxious for Cecilia for giving birth was an unpredictable and dangerous thing and there was always the possibility of fatality for both mother and child. The day Cecilia Harding went into labour Katherine Gray was frantic with nerves, pacing the parlor room at Landyn House until her mother and father sat her down and she clutched her black skirts tensely while Thomas Harding sat by with his head in his hands.

After fourteen hours of labour a healthy baby boy was presented to his new parents and he was named Benedict Thomas Harding, which brought Katherine and the Gray family tears of joy when they heard it. The child was well loved, and Katherine spent most of the spring and summer at Landyn House with Cecilia and little Benny.

Life seemed to have settle, until Katherine received a letter in mid-August from her father requesting her and her sister's presence at home as soon as possible. Alarmed by the vague and secretive nature of the letter the two girls took up young Benny and bid a brief farewell to Mr Harding who was not sorry for some peace and quiet alone.

They arrived to find John and Eliza home as well, and Betsey had come alone. They soon discovered the reason; Simon was home again and had asked they come that he may introduce them to the friend he had mentioned in the spring. No one had seen the friend as they had arrived unannounced late into the night two nights past and they were tired, staying mostly in their rooms, the friend had not come out even once; Simon claimed it was travel fatigue. When the family was all arrived and they had relaxed and chatted for some time he said his friend was finally feeling well and ready to meet them all.

Simon's manner was strange as he went to fetch the mysterious 'friend', nervous and tentative. Silence descended on the room when he returned, entering the room holding the hand of a woman. She was a stunningly beautiful, petite little thing, draped in shimmering colourful cloths and her long shiny-black hair falling loose down her back and over her shoulders.

"She is and Indian." Cecilia said quietly to no one in particular. Lady Compton leaned over to say whisper "More likely she is Arabic."

"This is Rashida, I met her – as you may know – in a market street in Jerash. I bought fruit and it was stolen by a monkey, she saw and immediately chased it down so I joined her in the chase, it was a great one." He smiled at the memory. His family stared in confused and wonderous silence. "With my limited Arabic and her limited English she somehow discovered I had recently arrived and was in need of lodgings; she offered that I stay with her and her family. They own an olive orchard and.."

Mr Wheaton spoke, glancing at the hands the two youths had clasped together. "Son, I'm sorry to interrupt...it's just, do you and this girl have an understanding?"

Simon's forehead shone and his mouth opened and closed. The girl quietly said something to him in rapid Arabic mixed with what sounded like English. He responded in less rapid Arabic but with enough fluidity his amazed family's mouths fell open. The girl then made an exasperated sound and turned to them with her big black eyes to say with a peculiar heavy accent "It is lovely to meet you. I am sorry for the way you are told. Simon is my...wife?" she looked at him.

"Husband." he offered weakly.

"Husband." She looked back at them, clutching Simon's arm.

The shock and amazement in the room was palpable.

"But she is an Indian." Eliza Wheaton whispered to herself with a furrowed brow entwining her fingers with her husbands. John's brow was equally furrowed.

"But you are both so young, was it really wise.." Mrs Wheaton began, but was interrupted by her husband.

"I am inclined to believe Simon is of age to make his own choices; after all, I was but one-and-twenty when you and I wed."

Mrs Wheaton gestured to a chair and spoke kindly. "No need for you to be standing in the middle of the room so. Sit. Please."

"Can she understand us?" Cecilia asked.

"Of course." Simon responded irritably "She understands English better than she speaks it."

"Are you moving back to England with her then?" John asked his brother next.

"No. We will continue to travel. We are going to see the pyramids in the fall and go back to Jordan to stay with her family for most of the winter, then perhaps India in the spring."

"We will never see you again from the sound of it." Katherine commented, disappointed.

"We plan to visit in the later summer months. We will see you every year."

"That is still only once a year. And what if she ends up with child? You cannot trek about the world with a child in tow."

"I cannot." Rashida spoke up, startling everyone.

Katherine felt ashamed, noticing then that everyone had been speaking to Simon without barely a glance at his wife. "I'm sorry." she spoke gently. "What do you mean, you cannot?."

"I cannot..." she motioned at her stomach and looked to Simon for help.

"She can't have children, we believe." He said for her, his expression was terribly uncomfortable.

"How could she possibly know that?" His mother looked as alarmed and confused as the rest of the group.

Simon stammered. Rashida spoke to him in Arabic and he answered in the same.

"I could not with my wi...husband." she started, alarming and confusing her new family all the more. Simon cut in.

"Rashi was married before, when she was fifteen, to a family friend. She was beaten and returned because after four years she didn't bear a child." the family stared in horror. Rashida looked unfazed. "She has been somewhat of a shame to the family but her father is kind to her, he wanted her to be with someone who will not hurt her again so he allowed me to marry her even though I am English...but also because of my family's wealth...mostly because of my family's wealth."

"Are you sure that's not the reason she married you?" Betsey asked suspiciously. Rashida's gaze landed on Betsey Rook with a sizzling glare.

The Baroness frowned. "People still surmise that is the reason your family was eager to be considered a relation of mine. Will you truly think the worst of someone whose situation is so near your own?" Betsey settled abashedly back in her chair, rebuked. "I believed not." Lady Compton smiled.

"How long will you remain in England?" Mr Wheaton asked his son.

"One week."

"One week only??" Katherine cried.

"Well..I..we do not have time to stay longer, we must board our vessel to Africa next week but had some time to travel before then...we chose to travel here, it was quite on a whim. I am sorry."

"I do wish you could stay longer." Cecilia lamented. "But as it is, we shall have ample enough time to enjoy your company. You arrived with good timing as there are no events this week, it would have been a shame to have to leave her here alone."

"I'm sorry what?" Simon snapped. "Surely you don't mean you would not wish to be seen in public with my wife?"

"Yes, do explain." Lady Compton also demanded in indignation. "Why should she be left alone?"

"Well..I.." Cecilia grew flustered and Eliza spoke up.

"I'm sure she didn't mean it personally. We merely would not wish to subject her to the discrimination and judgment of the social circles we occupy."

"She does not look poor or graceless. What is it exactly that does not recommend her to the public eye?"

"It is obvious, there is no need to say it, for her sake." John put in.

"She has a name!" Simon snapped again in frustration.

"I think you do not wish to say it because saying it would admit you have a level of prejudice which would mar your pride!" Lady Compton's voice began to raise.

"It is not we who are prejudiced. We merely understand the prejudice of the Ton that makes us reluctant to have them face her."

"Rashi is exotic! Their fascination would overwhelm their prejudice, surely!" Katherine reasoned.

Betsey, who throughout the argument sat as silent and uncomfortable as her father, finally stood with an irritated sigh and walked over to Rashida who looked entirely overwhelmed and increasingly upset. She took the girl's hand. "Come, we have an indoor garden that may remind you a little of home, I would love to show it to you." Rashida gave her I tiny smile and rose follow. Simon gave Betsey a smile of thanks. Eliza was already responding to Katherine.

"You overestimate the characters of the wealthy and privileged Kat. She requires more than brown skin and colourful clothes to be considered 'exotic'."

"Then we will make her more exotic. I will drape her in jewels and we can say she is an Indian Princess."

"She is not Indian, she is from Jordan!" Simon exclaimed as his mother also spoke. "Mariah you cannot expect to make stories and play with people's lives, even if it is done with the best intentions. I would be inclined to show her just as she is. She is stunningly beautiful and has a lovely character, from what I can tell, that would overwhelm any stipulations against her colour or beliefs."

"Beliefs?? Why would there be stipulations against her beliefs?" Simon questioned angrily.

"Well her people are far from Christian."

"Rashi is Christian."

Katherine threw up her hands in exasperation. "I do not understand why we continue to discuss this as there are no events or parties this week to take her to in any case! I find this lovely tête-à-tête most fatiguing and want no more of it." she removed herself from the room to join her youngest brother's exotic little wife in the conservatory.

Rashida looked more comfortable now she was out of the interrogative atmosphere of the dinner parlor. She grew more talkative as she relaxed with the two girls, showing a lively spirit and quick wit.

Over the course of the week the whole family grew quite fond of Rashi, and at weeks end bid a very teary farewell and safe travels to her and Simon.

During the course of the following twenty-four hours Katherine bid farewell to the other members of her family as they returned home. First Cecilia and Benny, then Betsey, and Eliza and John were the last to leave.

She stood alone on the steps of Rosforte long after the last carriage had gone.