The Sheik's Son Read online

  “He doesn’t. And he is very generous,” Sophie assured her. More so than anyone will ever know, she thought.

  “Good.” Leila linked arms with her new sister as they strolled through the street.

  ***

  That evening, Sophie and Sebastian enjoyed a pleasant evening alone by the fire. She was reading and he was playing a game of solitaire.

  “Sebastian?” Sophie asked quietly.

  “Hmm?” he responded as he set a card down.

  “I spent the day with Leila. She asked me about last night.”

  “Yes?” he said, half listening.

  “She asked if you had been demanding at night. What does that mean?”

  “What?” He turned to stare at his wife, who looked especially lovely in the firelight.

  “Demanding at night?”

  Sebastian cursed. Since when had his baby sister become so worldly?

  “She’s talking about men’s appetite. In the bedroom.” He placed another card down and wondered since when marriage had become so difficult. Since the groom was unable to touch the bride, he answered to himself.

  “I see.”

  “I’ll try not to be too demanding at first. Shall I show you?” Sebastian teased, his dark eyes meeting hers.

  Sophie smiled. “No. That’s all right.” She returned to her book.

  But suddenly Sebastian realized he wasn’t teasing. He wanted to show her everything there was between a man and a woman. He wanted to take her right there in the salon and then take her upstairs in every bedroom.

  Damn. He would have to visit Juliette sooner than he had anticipated.

  ***

  He didn’t have to invent a reason to leave the house the next evening. Sophie was dining with her father and grandmother, so he took the night to visit Juliette.

  It had been some time since he had last seen her and she welcomed him. He wasn’t interested in foreplay or conversation at first. He pressed her up against the wall and she was wet already. He pressed her back into the wall, and as he filled her with his thick shaft, she moaned in his ear. Later, on the bed, she straddled his waist and moved up and down on his shaft as he filled his hands with her breasts.

  Afterwards as they lay together in the darkness, he made his confession.

  “I’m married.”

  She was startled but remained quiet.

  “It’s a marriage of convenience.”

  Still she said nothing.

  “I married her to keep her safe. It was at her request,” he explained.

  “She’s in danger?” Juliette was intrigued.

  “Yes. We’ll annul the marriage when the danger has passed,” he said softly.

  “But you want her,” she guessed.

  “Yes.”

  “And what does she want?”

  “There’s a chemistry between us. But I think more than anything she wants her independence.”

  “Very novel in a woman,” Juliette said, though she was just such a woman.

  “It must be this way. The man after her is dangerous.”

  Again Juliette remained silent. Then she said, “It’s admirable. To help her and seek nothing in return.”

  Sebastian thought on the words. Was he admirable? Had he married her expecting nothing in return? Certainly her safety was the most important thing. But he knew the more time he spent with her, the more he was in danger of losing himself.

  ***

  Eugenie and Sophie sat beside the fire enjoying each other’s company as they had always done when she had lived there. Eugenie had watched her granddaughter throughout dinner and when Jean Pierre excused himself to attend to work-related matters, she took the moment to speak to Sophie about married life.

  “How was last evening?” Eugenie asked matter-of-factly.

  “Fine,” Sophie said.

  “I meant the evening,” Eugenie said carefully. “With Sebastian.”

  “Fine,” Sophie repeated.

  “He was not rough?” Eugenie wanted to make certain Sophie was being treated correctly.

  Sophie frowned. “No.”

  “He didn’t hurt you?”

  “Why would he?” Sophie asked.

  “Some men can be very amorous in their attentions. Some even enjoy roughness,” Eugenie explained to her, though the conversation involved some delicacy.

  Sophie realized she was referring to what Leila had been asking about. Since when did the sexual act become a rough and demanding act? It sounded most unpleasant. She must speak to Sebastian. She must be able to answer these questions correctly.

  “No, Grand-mère. He was a gentleman.” She remembered the passion that she had always felt with Sebastian and she blushed lightly.

  Eugenie scoffed at that. “A gentleman? Perhaps at the theater, but a woman wants a little bit of a scoundrel in the bedroom.”

  “Grand-mère!” Sophie squeaked.

  Eugenie grinned. She had finally shocked her oh-so intelligent granddaughter.

  ***

  When Sophie arrived home, Sebastian was in the front library reading. She was pulling off her cape as she entered.

  “You look lovely,” he commented. “That color suits you.”

  She wore a lavender-colored silk gown with a square neckline. “Thank you.”

  She bit her lip and rounded the room several times admiring the books, the small bar he kept, the painting on the wall and the windows that looked out onto the street.

  “Did you need something, Sophie? You seem distracted,” Sebastian remarked as he placed the book on his lap.

  She turned to him, biting her lower lip as she did. Sebastian watched the plump lip pulled under and felt himself harden.

  “My grandmother made some strange comments this evening at dinner.”

  “Strange comments?” He set aside the book and she joined him on the sofa.

  “She asked how the evening was last night and I said fine.”

  Sebastian nodded. “Yes?”

  “Then she went on to clarify that she was asking about the evening with you. She asked if you were rough. If you had hurt me. She said some men can be very amorous in their attentions. That some enjoy roughness.” Sophie spoke haltingly and felt her cheeks grow warm.

  Sebastian waited. Of course her grandmother was asking these things. To everyone in their circle, Sophie was a married woman. Only they both knew she was an innocent.

  “Do men like those things?” she asked quietly. “Do you?”

  “Some men do.” Sebastian’s brown eyes met her hazel ones.

  “Do you?” she pressed.

  “No. I don’t require pain with pleasure. But a certain roughness can be enjoyable.”

  Sophie looked away. “I told my grandmother you were a gentleman.”

  Sebastian almost laughed. “I see. What did she say to that?”

  “She said, ‘A gentleman at the theater but a woman wants a little bit of a scoundrel in the bedroom.’”

  Sebastian smile broadened. “Maybe they do. Don’t let your grandmother scare you. I would never hurt you.”

  “I know that.”

  “And now that the announcement of the wedding is in the Gazette, word will get to the inspector. You should be safe.”

  “Sebastian, you have been kind to me.” She went to kiss his cheek and his hand went into her hair.

  She breathed in his scent, but instead of a masculine smell, he smelled of a cloying perfume.

  “What is that?” she asked and breathed in again as she sat back from him.

  “What is what?” he asked, confused.

  “That smell. It smells like perfume,” she said.

  Damn, he thought. Juliette.

  “I—” He didn’t even know where to begin.

  Sophie was not ignorant. She knew brothels existed and that Sebastian went to one did not surprise her.

  “You keep a mistress?” she asked him innocently.

  “She’s—” he struggled to find the words.

  “I don�
�t have any right to pry,” Sophie said, but was shocked and almost stunned at the raw jealousy that pierced her heart.

  “Your life shouldn’t change because of this marriage of convenience. If anything you should have more leeway. And I never expected you to be chaste. That would be ridiculous. I bid you good night.” She moved away from the sofa.

  “Sophie.” He called her name once but she was gone.

  When she was safely inside her room, she threw her small beaded purse into the corner and stepped out of her shoes. She realized that she wanted Sebastian. She didn’t want him to kiss and touch another woman. She wanted him all to herself. She shook her head. What a mess!

  ***

  Sebastian met Etienne at a tavern the next evening. Etienne looked dopey with a huge grin on his face and Sebastian was the exact opposite.

  “Jesus, mon ami! Is that what I have to look forward to as a married man?” Etienne complained.

  Etienne had spent every free moment in the company of Leila, either with her parents or her chaperone, a young maid Katharine had hired. He was deeply in love with Leila and knew that she felt the same.

  When he came upon his friend and soon to be brother-in-law, he was certain something was wrong. Sebastian seemed withdrawn.

  “No. Not at all. I am not sleeping well,” Sebastian said absently, eyeing the ale in front of him.

  Etienne slammed his hand onto the table and laughed heartily. “Of course you aren’t!”

  Several people turned to look at the two men while Etienne grinned like a lunatic.

  “No,” Sebastian said. “It’s not that.”

  “Come, come, my friend. There is no shame in bedding your wife. Surely that is the greatest joy we men receive from marriage.”

  Sebastian shook his head. “No. I have things on my mind.”

  “Things you wish to share?” Etienne took a swig from his own ale.

  Sebastian wanted to confide in Etienne but he worried he might let the truth slip to Leila and then his parents would find out. No. He must say nothing.

  Etienne nodded. “You’ll share when you want. I am not one to pry into another man’s affairs.”

  ***

  Alain settled into the back of the coffeehouse with a fresh copy of the Gazette de France. Except for an older man engrossed in his book, the establishment was quite empty.

  He pressed the Gazette onto the wooden table, with one hand scanning its contents while in his other hand, he held a cup of coffee. The midafternoon sun cast its rays into the room as he read the first column of the newspaper. Halfway down the second column, his eyes caught a familiar name. The announcement read:

  MARRIED

  In this city, Monsieur Sebastian Fairfax of Paris, to Mademoiselle Sophie Gauvreau, daughter of Monsieur Jean Pierre Gauvreau, gentleman.

  So the marriage of Sophie Gauvreau to Sebastian Fairfax had taken place. Alain nodded slowly to himself. He recalled the name of Sebastian Fairfax. He was secretary to the Duke of Dorset, the British ambassador to France—a man protected and moving in the highest of circles. Well played, he thought. So he thought to protect the revolutionary by marrying her. We shall see about that.

  ***

  The bouquet of flowers arrived the next day. They were dark red flowers with sprigs of rosemary interspersed between the buds. There was no card, but the more she looked at the roses and rosemary, the more they seemed to have a sinister quality to them. The flowers were almost black and rosemary was often used in funerals as it signified remembrance. They were from the inspector. He knew, Sophie thought.

  When Sebastian arrived home that evening, she showed him the flowers.

  “Good. He knows. Now if he has a brain at all, he will cease this investigation and this will be at an end.”

  Sophie hoped that Sebastian was correct. She knew that she had set herself on this path but she was grateful for Sebastian’s help. He had warned her of the danger, but rather than let her sink alone, he had supported her when she had asked him to.

  “We should go to the theater, Sophie. I would like to show off my new bride. It would be the thing to do.” He wanted to take her out and show her off. Even if she wasn’t his, the world thought she was.

  “I would like that,” she said with a grin.

  “We haven’t been seen out together alone since we married. It will be our debut,” Sebastian replied.

  Chapter 21

  Sebastian decided to take Sophie to see The Barber of Seville by the French playwright Pierre Beaumarchais, which was playing at the Théâtre des Tuileries.

  The Barber had originally premiered in 1775 but had been banned by the king for its satire against the aristocracy. Queen Marie Antoinette had been against the ban, which had been lifted in 1784. When it premiered again it was extremely popular with the aristocratic audiences. Sophie was delighted to see it as she had not seen it when it was first staged.

  Sophie looked radiant in a silver and lavender gown decorated with delicate embroidery along the square bodice. Sebastian wore a deep chocolate coat and breeches and a pearl-colored waist coat. Now that Sophie knew about his parents and background, she understood why he dressed more somber and less like the dandies that surrounded them.

  She didn’t mind that men dressed in silks and satins and even powdered their hair and wore wigs. It was all expected and it was the time they were living in. But she came to appreciate Sebastian’s more masculine attire and even enjoyed that he stood out in a crowd more for his dark clothes than for his pink satin breeches. He was a man who would wield great power in his homeland one day and she was extremely proud of him.

  Sebastian was pleased to have Sophie on his arm as his new bride, though they both knew the marriage was a sham. They must keep up pretenses and he was happy to do so. They stepped out of the carriage and many people they both knew came up to congratulate them.

  Many remarked about the hushed wedding and several women eyed Sophie’s belly with the implication that an impending pregnancy was the cause for the quick and quiet wedding.

  During intermission, Sebastian was especially pleased to see the duke, who had only recently returned to France from England.

  “You devil you!” Dorset lightly slapped Sebastian’s back when he saw the two together. “I couldn’t believe my ears! My secretary married? No, I said.”

  “Yes, Your Grace. It’s true. I am married,” Sebastian acknowledged.

  “By God, she’s a beauty! Quite the beauty. Kept her for yourself, huh, my boy?” Dorset remarked.

  Sebastian smiled as he followed the duke’s gaze to rest on Sophie, who was standing nearby. “Well, it sort of just happened, but yes, she is lovely.”

  “And the marriage was a little sudden,” Dorset mused.

  “Yes, I’m afraid it was. I would have liked for you to attend,” he admitted.

  “No need to apologize, my boy. I’m just thinking we might have a little one to contend with soon. Is that the reason?” Dorset laughed loudly, insinuating that the couple was soon to welcome a child into the fold.

  “No, Your Grace. I don’t think so.”

  “Ah. Well, I’m sure you’ll remedy that shortly. Lovely thing like that needs a babe in the belly,” Dorset commented.

  Sebastian watched Sophie speaking to her friends nearby and thought of all the delicious ways he could try and get her with child. He could spend days or weeks thinking of new ways and places to plant his seed within her.

  “You’re a lucky man, Fairfax. Lucky indeed.”

  Sebastian groaned inwardly but thanked the duke as he moved to join another group.

  He turned to see Juliette with an older man that he knew moved in similar circles. Juliette came towards Sebastian as the man stepped away.

  “Sebastian.” She eyed the width of his shoulders and his thighs and marveled at his masculine beauty.

  “Juliette.” Sebastian smiled.

  “Are you here alone?” she asked.

  Sebastian watched her face. “No. My wife and I
came to enjoy the play.”

  “Your wife. That’s right, you are newly married. May I offer my congratulations to you both,” she said graciously.

  It was at this moment that Sophie joined them and Sebastian formally introduced them to each other, as their previous meeting—at a concert —had only been in passing. “Sophie. Let me introduce you to a family friend. This is Juliette Cloutier. Juliette, my wife Sophie Fairfax.”

  Both women smiled at each other and Sophie knew that she was staring at Sebastian’s mistress. She was lovely and a little older than him, with a pretty face and lush figure.

  Juliette had known that Sebastian’s wife would be a beauty, and she was. But she also sensed an intelligence underneath the pretty package.

  “Are you enjoying the play, Madame Fairfax?” Juliette asked politely.

  “Yes, I am. I enjoy theater and music immensely. And you?”

  “Yes. I too enjoy music and theater.” Juliette was beckoned by her male companion and she bid the couple a pleasant evening before leaving them.

  “Your mistress is very lovely,” Sophie replied before biting her tongue. She sounded like a jealous schoolgirl.

  “Sophie—” he began.

  “No, Sebastian, I apologize. That was impolite. I have no hold on you. I must keep reminding myself that we are for convenience, nothing more,” she said quietly.

  Sebastian wanted to say more but said nothing. They must both keep reminding themselves of the true reason for the marriage. But he wanted Sophie to feel something when she spoke to Juliette, even if it was jealousy. He wanted Sophie to fulfill her duties as a wife should. He wanted Sophie as his true wife.

  ***

  Though they both enjoyed the play, Sebastian spent much of the time watching Sophie as she watched the performance. Her face was as expressive as a child’s and he watched the emotions flit across it. She turned several times to him to exclaim and laugh at something and he smiled back at her.

  He held her hand often throughout the play and touched the back of her neck for the benefit of those in the audience. He leaned and whispered something silly in her ear to make her laugh and considerately replaced a curl behind her ear.