Chapter44
Married—For All Intents and Purposes
Afew minutes later
FindingThe Denderastill docked where they had left it two nights ago, Tom and Randy were practically breathless by the time they spotted the captain directing a crewman who carried a wooden crate of provisions.
Mahmood listened intently to Tom’s request, his soft chuckle at odds with the young man’s earnest plea.“Today?”he asked when Tom finished explaining he wished to marry as soon as possible.
“Or...tomorrow?”Tom countered.
“Do you have a contract?A dowry for her?”
Tom blinked.“Her father is drawing one up.He has arranged a dowry for her.Five-thousand pounds, I think.”
Mahmood arched a brow.“I had to give my bride three water buffalo and ten pieces of gold,” he said.
Randy hid his amusement behind a hand.“Is there someone who can perform a...a civil ceremony?”
“Our weddings are religious traditions here,” Mahmood replied.“Islamic.Or Coptic.”
“There’s no… Ministry of Justice?No civil means of marrying?”
Mahmood shook head.“The office in Cairo is governmental.No weddings.But I believe I remember hearing of a traveler whose marriage was performed by a priest here in Luxor,” he mused.“An English-speaking man.Not fancy.No Crowning Ceremony,” he added.
Tom and Randy exchanged uncertain glances, neither of them familiar with Coptic wedding ceremonies.
Glancing back to Nasir, Mahmood said something in Arabic.The man nodded and left the boat.When Mahmood turned back to them, he sighed.“When he returns with some hantours, I will take you to this man.But I cannot promise he can do what you require.”He glanced up to discover Diana and Helen waiting on the dock.“If he can do it, you will need to ask your wife to change her clothes if she is to be there,” he warned.
Randy winced.“I will,” he said, turning around to discover Diana already heading toward the hotel.
“Will you be our witnesses?”Tom asked.
“I wouldn’t miss it, little brother,” Randy replied.“Do you have a ring?”
“I already gave it to her.That gold one I bought in Cairo,” he replied.
Randy chuckled.
Mahmood rolled his eyes.“Have you a room at the hotel for the next two nights?We leave for Edfu in three days,” he said.
Tom blinked.“I’ll see to one right now, Captain.Thank you.”He left the ship, Randy watching him go as he continued to chuckle.
Mahmood regarded him with suspicion.“Did you know they have been courting on my ship?”he asked.
Randy shook his head.“They weren’t, I promise you,” he replied.“But they have been in love with one another for well over a year,” he added.When he saw the captain’s look of surprise, he said, “It’s a long story that started with a kiss in the gardens.”
Mahmood’s face split into a grin.“Now this I understand.”
An hour later
The two hantours arrived in front of a modest mud brick home, the rectangular box featuring only a wood-framed front door and one window along with a set of stairs on the side that led up to the roof.A low mud brick wall surrounded the small abode, and three chickens roosted beneath a palm tree.
Randy and Diana exchanged quick glances, both reminded of how they had spent some nights in Athens on the roof of her family’s mansion watching shooting stars.“You look especially lovely today,” he commented.
She dipped her head.“It’s not every day I’m going to witness a wedding,” she replied.“And gain a sister in the process.”
“Let’s hope,” he replied, helping her down from the hantour.Meanwhile, his brother was doing the same for Helen, their attention on the front door of the house.
