Free Charis by Mary Francis Page A

“I love your
shyness and your modesty.”
    He gathered her into his arms and kissed her. “Charis,” he whispered
her name and it sounded almost like a prayer. “I love you more than I ever
could have believed possible. I want you to be my wife. Will you marry me?”
    It took several minutes before she could answer him. He continued to
hold her close, stroking her hair and kissing her gently on her forehead. When
she had sufficient control of her emotions she said, “Oh, Ben! I love you so
much that it feels as though my heart will burst! I can't think of anything in
this world that would be more wonderful than to be married to you!” She paused
before continuing, unable to carry on, to say what she knew she must.
    He spoke for her. “I think I can hear a ‘but’ coming here. Am I
right?”
    She nodded, barely, eyes lowered to the floor. Eventually Charis
managed to control her voice enough to say, “I belong to you Ben. I belong to
you - my heart, my body and soul, and I will live in sin with you or be your
mistress or your lover whenever we can be together and for as long as you want
me.” She took a deep breath and all but whispered, “But I can't marry you.”
    “Why not sweetheart?”
    “I don't belong in your world - here in the middle east with Kings
and palaces and things. I'm just an ordinary English girl. I couldn't live
here.”
    “You can't marry me because I live here? Or because I'm a prince?”
    “Both,” was her reply.
    “So if I was just Bill Blogs, ordinary bloke, London taxi driver,
would you marry me then?”
    “In a heartbeat.”
    “Maybe not a taxi driver.” Ben said, enjoying himself, the sparkle
back in his eye. “What if I was a policeman, or a school teacher or a lawyer or
doctor or an architect or shopkeeper? Would you marry me then?”
    Once more she nodded, “Of course.”
    “Then we'll have to see what we can do about that because we are
going to get married, you know.” He spoke with his voice of authority. “I love
you and appreciate your offer of being my mistress but I want you for my wife.
I want the world to know that we belong together.” He glanced at his watch. “It’s
nine o'clock. I have a phone call I need to make in about an hour or so. Do you
have any ideas for something we could possibly do to fill in the time?”
    *****
    Just after ten o’clock, Ben reached over to the bedside table and
picked up his phone. Charis was nestled in his arms, her head resting on his
chest. He dialled, the phone rang at the other end and she heard a woman's
voice answer, “Hello.”
    “Hi Allison. It's Ben.”
    “Ben? Oh Ben, where are you? Are you here in London?”
    “No, no, I'm in Cairo. How's my favourite patient? And young
Nicholas?”
    Charis lay still and listened to every word.
    “He's just fine,” she heard the voice on the other end of the phone.
“Trying to walk and getting into all sorts of mischief.” The voice was full of
maternal pride.
    “And you, Allison? How are you?”
    “Oh Ben, we've started another baby and I'm scared. I really need
you here.”
    His voice instantly registered concern as he asked a few questions
and spoke with her about her condition. “And what does Graham think?” he added.
    “You know Graham,” the voice replied. “He says everything’s fine, it’s
all as it should be and it'll all be okay, but he said that last time and if
you hadn't been here...” her voice trailed off.
    “Well, don't worry,” he reassured her. “We'll have to see what we
can do about that. Is Graham at home?”
    After a minute or two, a man's voice came on the other end. “Ben?
Good to hear from you. Allison said you're in Cairo?”
    “Yes.”
    “A bit late there isn't it? Shouldn't you be in bed?
    “It's not that late and I am in bed.”
    “And not alone I'll bet!”
    “None of your business,” answered Ben.
    “Randy bastard,” came the reply with a chuckle.
    “Get your mind out of the gutter, Graham. Listen to who's