The Sheik's Son

by Nicola Italia

  The elderly butler was known for being slightly deaf but he had definitely heard the word “Gauvreau.”

  “The gold room,” he told the man.

  Dorset smiled. Sophie would be in for quite a treat.

  ***

  Dorset crept down the hallway. It was deathly quiet and it wasn’t that far from his own room. He could slip in and surprise the young girl. He wasn’t sure what he would do after, but he thought his plan marvelous.

  He had enjoyed several brandies and they had never affected him before. He had also enjoyed several glasses of wine with dinner but had lost count. He wore a white shirt and breeches so his clothing was minimal. As he tried the door, it creaked slightly but opened.

  He smiled to himself as he closed the door behind him. He knew the gold room well. It was his favorite room at the chateau and he had been irritated at its loss when he had arrived. However, if the auburn-haired beauty enjoyed it, so much the better.

  He made his way gingerly to the bed and saw the figure underneath the bedcovers. She was delectable. Before he could stop himself he was undressing, leaving his clothes in a small heap on the floor.

  He slipped naked into the bed and moved his hand toward the figure. In his inebriated mind he knew that she would welcome the role of mistress. She would want him. He would make her an excellent settlement.

  “Cheri,” he whispered, reaching out to touch her body and pull her into him.

  The first scream was shrill and high-pitched. He felt a hand smack the side of his face and then another cry.

  “Rapist! Rapist!” The shrill word rang in his ears even as he clutched at his face and fell out of bed.

  “Jesus Christ!” he muttered.

  She screamed again and he heard the running of feet in the corridor. He was so confused. Who was the rapist? The light was so low in the room but he could see the gold all around him and knew he was in the right room.

  Several people were knocking on the door.

  “Madame, open up!” Madame Necker cried.

  Etienne heard the scream and moved away from Leila, grabbing her linen shift and pressing it to her. It was a sign. He would not do this. He moved to the door and she followed. He grabbed a shirt and pulled it on.

  “Etienne?” She looked hurt.

  “No, Leila.”

  They moved down the corridor together and Etienne was only so relieved that nothing much had happened. Her virginity remained intact.

  Sophie and Sebastian both heard the scream and turned their faces to the door.

  “Is that Grand-mère?” she asked, frightened. Sophie moved to the door with Sebastian following her.

  ***

  “He tried to put his hands on me. He tried to ravish me!” Eugenie cried as more people surged forward inside her room.

  Dorset had his breeches on by now but was still without his shirt, hose or shoes. “I assure you, madame, that was not my intention.” He swayed a little as he tried to place one hose on his leg.

  “Indeed, Monsieur Le Duc?! You were naked as the day you were born when I discovered you here. In. My. Bed.” Eugenie clutched at her wrapper with her small cap covering her grey hair. “It is not to be borne.”

  Madame Necker tried to calm the older woman when Sophie and Sebastian walked in. Sophie looked lovely in the dark light with moist lips and auburn hair falling down her back.

  La Harpe and Marmontel were trying to stifle their laughter while Buffon took one look at the semi-naked Duke and went back to his room.

  “Grand-mère, what has happened?” Sophie went to her.

  “That man tried to rape me!” She pointed a finger at the drunk Duke. “He put his hands on me!”

  “I beg your pardon, madame. I obviously made an error and thought this was my room,” he supplied, easily hiccupping as he went. “An easy mistake.”

  He eyed the older woman and still didn’t understand what had happened. Where had Sophie gone to?

  Sebastian wondered what in truth had occurred. Had Dorset thought this to be Sophie’s room? Would he have dared to try something?

  Etienne and Leila had joined the group and Madame Necker saw the couple enter as well. The thought passed through her mind that she was all but running a brothel now. She would have to post guards in the hallway at her next country party.

  “Indeed you did. You touched me and came into my room as only a husband should to a wife!” Eugenie cried, pulling her wrapper close.

  The duke rolled his eyes and stumbled over the chair as he tried to place his hose on the other leg.

  “Grand-mère, it is over. There is no harm.” Sophie tried to calm her grandmother as she looked over at the duke.

  “There most certainly was harm. I saw that man as nature intended. Naked as the day he was born!” Eugenie sniffed.

  “I assure you, madame, this was a grave mistake not to be repeated.” He touched his hand to his heart.

  “There is no lasting damage, surely madame,” Madame Necker soothed.

  “There might be to me,” murmured the duke as Marmontel stifled his laughter again.

  “This is no laughing matter, monsieur,” Eugenie turned to Marmontel. “That man could have gone much further.”

  “I highly doubt it,” the duke muttered, placing his one foot in a buckled shoe.

  La Harpe and Marmontel left the room, laughing all the way down the hallway as Eugenie tried to preserve her dignity.

  “I am fine, Madame Necker. You should be very careful the sort of people you allow into your home,” she bristled.

  The duke snorted and picked up his other shoe. “Good evening, madame,” he said and made a slight bow, holding his shoe in one hand.

  Eugenie turned red and pushed him out of her room. “Knave!”

  Leila and Etienne left the room, as did Sebastian and Sophie. When Madame Necker had made certain her guest was calm, she left as well.

  “Sophie?” Sebastian stopped her before she could go too far.

  “Good night, monsieur,” she said briskly.

  Sebastian sighed and watched as she walked away. Etienne was quick to return to his room before Leila could say anything. She heard the lock turn as soon as he was inside.

  Etienne felt like a haunted schoolboy locking the door against the succubus. Yes, that is exactly what she is, he thought. A female demon who takes the form of a human woman in order to seduce men. An innocent woman hell bent on “gifting” her virginity to him whilst trying to get him killed. He must find a way to approach Sebastian.

  Chapter 13

  Sophie also locked her door once she was safely inside her room. She leaned against the door for support as she tried to recall the events of the day. Her grandmother’s embarrassing mishap had been the duke’s fault and assuredly the fault of too much drink on the duke’s behalf.

  The alcohol he’d consumed had made him groggy and he had mistaken the room for his. Regardless, there was no harm done and she was not overly concerned. Her grandmother had a tendency to the dramatic.

  She pushed away from the door and went over to the desk. The small candle was still on the writing desk next to her sheets of paper and the list she had compiled.

  This is a dangerous list, he had said.

  She looked over at the sheets that she had written. Now he knew who she was. He had discovered that she was the writer of the pamphlets. He would tell no one, she was certain of that. But it was still yet another person who knew and she didn’t like that. She also didn’t like him telling her what to do. She wanted to educate herself. Surely there was nothing wrong with that.

  If, in her findings, something caught her mind and attention, she would write about it. Was he correct? Could such writing get her killed? Was it possible in such a refined and elegant place such as France?

  She knew Sebastian would not exaggerate or make things up. He was concerned for her. She took the candle to her bed and set it upon the table. She hugged her knees to her chest.

  I can’t stop thinking about you. Th
ose words echoed in her ears. She must stop whatever this was before it was too late. She must distance herself. There was no other option. She would not be a mistress and he would not marry her. There was no other way.

  ***

  Sebastian had followed Sophie and when the lock turned in the door, he turned away. He had not been at all concerned when he had discovered that she was writing the pamphlets. She was writing for equality and about women, and it was something she felt she must do.

  The list that she had compiled was something different. He knew better than anyone that France was in turmoil and it was only a matter of time before things took a turn for the worse. The list was all the reasons why France would spin out of control. Sophie had a quick and intelligent mind and she would be excited to write about these new things which concerned him.

  He closed the door to his own room and saw the fire had been lit by the servants. He was more than just anxious for her safety should she write about those subjects. He knew then that he was in love with her.

  ***

  Leila was not upset that the evening had not gone as she had planned. She would wait for another opportunity to be alone with Etienne. Her time would come. He would be hers. She would be patient and wait.

  She had been irritated and annoyed at the men of Arabia. They seemed to be overbearing and she would not be a woman to kneel and bow before her husband. She wanted someone with whom she could laugh and enjoy life. When she had first spotted Etienne, she had been taken with his handsome face. But the more time they spent together, the more she realized she wanted him as her own. She would have no other.

  ***

  The next morning Madame Necker had planned a picnic not far from the chateau near the river shielded from the sun by large mature trees. She didn’t know if anyone would want to attend as the previous night had been filled with so many strange occurrences.

  But as the day progressed, everyone appeared at the appointed time in the foyer after midday to walk together. Two footmen had been instructed to carry the baskets to the spot and everyone walked in pairs: Germaine and Sophie, Madame Necker and Eugenie, Sebastian and Etienne, Marmontel and La Harpe, the duke and Leila. Buffon was suffering from a cold and was in bed recuperating.

  Madame Necker had several large rugs placed along the riverbanks for everyone to recline on and enjoy themselves. Food was in abundance, with cold chicken, cold beef, a variety of cheeses and fruit, bread and wine.

  She had considered bringing cards and setting up games but thought better of it. It would be a relaxed afternoon with no planned events.

  Eugenie overate and immediately settled into a corner with pillows for a nap. Marmontel and La Harpe were arguing over a new play they had seen while the duke was entertaining Leila with stories of his friends in England.

  Madame Necker and Germaine were talking together in low voices when Sebastian came to sit near Sophie.

  She was just biting into a strawberry as she turned to him.

  “You slept well?” He asked after her health, not realizing the question came across as seductive.

  She looked away from him for a moment. “Yes. Thank you.”

  She replaced the strawberry stem on her plate.

  “Sophie.”

  “Yes?”

  Sebastian wanted to apologize for the previous evening. He seemed to lose his head whenever he was near her. But if he was honest with himself, he wanted to seduce her even here with all these people. He would not apologize. He was only sorry they had been interrupted.

  “Would you like to take a stroll through the wood?” he asked quietly.

  Sophie smiled faintly. “No, thank you.”

  She looked perfectly situated along the river in a white gaulle gown with a mint green sash. Her hair was pinned back and she looked like a new rosebud, blossoming and lovely.

  “Afraid of being alone with me?” he whispered lowly.

  She met his eyes. “Yes.”

  “Would you care for a stroll?” Germaine asked Sophie as she joined the couple. Sophie agreed and Sebastian watched the two women walk away from the picnic.

  ***

  “You don’t need to avoid me,” Leila told Etienne in a low voice.

  “I’m not.” He sipped the wine, looking at the river.

  “You are and have been all morning.”

  “I’ve been preoccupied,” he said, dismissing her.

  “Come to my room tonight.” Her blue eyes met his. The invitation was undeniable. She would finish what they had started the night before.

  “No.” He moved away from the group walking along the river.

  “What’s wrong, sister?” Sebastian asked quietly in Arabic.

  “Nothing,” she replied.

  “Has something happened with Etienne?” He had seen their exchange.

  “No. Not at all. He’s the perfect gentleman,” she returned.

  Sebastian relaxed. “He is a good man.”

  Leila agreed entirely.

  ***

  “I know why you warned me off Sebastian, Sophie.” Germaine said as they walked slowly under the green trees.

  “Why is that?”

  “Because you want him for yourself,” she replied bluntly.

  “No, Germaine. Sebastian is very handsome and that may be fine for some women. But one day I will marry and he’s not the marrying kind. And I’m not the mistress kind.”

  “I’ve seen how he looks at you,” Germaine replied.

  “I can’t help that.”

  “He wants you.”

  “I don’t want to hurt you, Germaine,” Sophie said honestly.

  Germaine smiled. “I’m not hurt. I’m jealous,” she admitted.

  “Don’t be. Some wonderful man will come along for you. He will.”

  “Will he be handsome like Sebastian?”

  “More so.” Sophie smiled.

  But the smile faded when she realized that if Germaine had seen Sebastian look at her in a certain way, others had as well, perhaps even her grandmother. She must be careful and stay away from him. Only two more days in the country and then she would return to Paris.

  ***

  Little by little the group dispersed back to the house. Soon, the only people that remained were Sebastian, Sophie, Germaine and Leila. Etienne had never returned from his walk but had instead taken a different route back to the chateau.

  Leila and Germaine chatted about music and plays while Sebastian lay on his back near Sophie, who was sitting up beside him.

  “When do you return to Paris?” he asked.

  “Two days. I thought Grand-mère might ask to go back sooner after the fiasco with the duke, but no. She seems fine.”

  “It was a misunderstanding.”

  Sophie smiled. “Yes. I recall your own misunderstanding. You and the duke have such horrible manners for Englishmen.”

  “Well I’m only half English, so it can’t be that.”

  Sophie smiled, “Only half English? And the other half?”

  “Something mysterious and far away,” he said, teasing her.

  “Mysterious and far away. German?” she guessed.

  Sebastian laughed. “Farther.”

  She pondered. “Hungarian. You’re a Hungarian count!” She smiled down at him.

  “No, and farther.” He smiled back.

  “Russia! You are the firstborn son of the czar!” she proclaimed.

  “Brat!” He touched his finger to her chin and she giggled. But then his finger moved to caress her cheek and she turned her head from him.

  “Not a czar,” she said in a serious tone and he moved his hand away from her, sitting up.

  “Not a Czar,” he echoed. But I am the son of a great sheik, he wanted to tell her.

  Leila heard the exchange and wondered why it was so important that he not tell people of their background. As he was the eldest male, she would not go against him. He must have his reasons. She excused herself and walked back to the house with Germaine. He watched the two wom
en leave, as did Sophie. She closed her eyes tightly.

  “Sophie.”

  “Yes?”

  “I meant what I said before in your room. That list that you wrote—you must not pursue it.”

  “I may not educate myself?” she asked.

  “No. Of course I didn’t mean that. I will even help in any way I can. I’m sure Madame Necker would be at your disposal as well.”

  “I appreciate that.”

  “I meant you cannot write about these things. At least not in a pamphlet.”

  “I write things that I am passionate about. Things that I feel are important. At this time I only want to educate myself.”

  “And should you become impassioned about these new subjects? What then?”

  “I will write about them.”

  He shook his head. “Sophie.”

  “Would you like that I show you the pamphlet before I send it to print? Assuming I do write about it.”

  Sophie had no intention of stopping any pamphlet she would write based on his opinions. She didn’t think there would be anything wrong with writing about such things. But if it satisfied him that he should see it beforehand, she would do that.

  “I would. Thank you.”

  “It seems that you want to play the husband role in some respects, but not take on the true burden of it.”

  “I would most definitely play the husband role for you, Sophie.”

  “Yes.” She smiled. “The husband’s role in the bedchamber, I’ve no doubt.”

  He smiled. “I can give you such pleasure.”

  “Yes. And if I become pregnant?” She had no intention of becoming his mistress and the conversation was indecent but she was drawn into it.

  “I would provide for you both.” He almost shivered at her words.

  “And when you tire of me?”

  “I don’t think that’s possible.” His eyes held hers captive before she broke the stare.

  “You speak of a realm of fantasy like my beloved books. But all things do end.” She stood up, brushing herself off. “I, in the meantime, must begin to look for a husband as I am getting older. When a match is found that I agree with, I will accept.”

  Sebastian stood as well. The sudden thought of her in another man’s arms, in another man’s bed, was completely unacceptable.