When news of Meriam's death reached Coulson she handed over the management of her restaurant in London and sailed for Singapore without the Tunku's knowledge.
Tunku secretly married Coulson in Geylang Serai, Singapore, witnessed by Syed Ahmad al-Sagoff, according to Islamic rites.
This enabled Coulson to move to Kuala Nerang to be with her husband, but the Secretary to the Government showed his disapproval by transferring the Tunku to the isolated post of District Officer of Langkawi.
Langkawi has been a Shangri-La for Coulson, but Sungai Petani was a busy town and the centre of a large district, in which Tunku's every moment was occupied.
In 1938, due to a disagreement with the British-led Kedah state government, Tunku applied for a long leave and left for England to study Law for the third time.