The Sheik's Son

“Do you think he’s handsome, Sophie?”

Sophie was pulled from her thoughts to focus on the young woman beside her. “I’m sorry. Who is handsome?”

“Do you not think Sebastian is handsome?” Germaine pulled a curl through her fingers and looked dreamy.

Sophie would have thought Germaine’s infatuation was quite cute if it weren’t for the fact that the particular man she was asking about had almost taken her virginity that morning.

“I suppose he’s handsome,” Sophie allowed.

“Suppose?” Germaine smiled. “He’s almost beautiful! Those cheeks and lovely brown eyes.” She sighed.

“I think you have a liking for him, Germaine.”

“I do like him,” Germaine admitted quietly.

Sophie was weary of the conversation. She knew that this infatuation of Germaine’s was not real and that Sebastian had not made any advances to her. But she was also surprised by the intense feeling of possessiveness that she felt towards Sebastian and how jealous she felt towards Germaine.

It was a feeling she had never felt before and she didn’t know what to make of it. She felt irritated and didn’t want to take it out on her friend. Germaine was young and besotted. Sebastian was another story indeed.

They walked along the river, much farther than Sophie had walked alone. Germaine knew her way and they passed several elderly men who nodded to them, tipping their caps. It was a beautiful day with a blue sky and no clouds.

“The Duke of Dorset and Comte de Buffon should arrive tonight,” Germaine said as they passed a field of wildflowers.

“Yes. I look forward to meeting the Comte. He’s such a learned man,” Sophie murmured.

“He is much respected.”

“We should bring a picnic basket next time we walk,” Sophie said.

“We should all have a picnic here!” Germaine remarked. “That would be a lovely idea! I’ll ask Mother.”

***

Later that evening as Sophie readied for dinner she dreaded it, even though she knew Sebastian would not sweep aside all the plates and table contents and force her onto the table. Ridiculous.

With all the ladies and gentlemen in attendance everything would be perfectly respectable. But she didn’t like the way she felt when she was with him. She felt she was losing herself and knew she must keep her distance.

Her dress was of a deep garnet-colored silk with a scooped neckline and elbow-length sleeves. She had her hair pinned up and wore ruby drop earrings and a delicate ruby necklace.

She walked over to her desk and looked over the writings she had composed before Sebastian had arrived. Her thoughts had been clear and concise but now she felt muddled. Damn him! She had so enjoyed the country’s peace until he had arrived.

***

Sebastian looked over his desk filled with sheets of paper. He had translated several letters from French to English for His Grace the Duke of Dorset as he preferred certain documents to be translated into English and Sebastian complied.

He knew the Duke was due to arrive this evening and he wanted to have all of the documents ready. The duke might even have additional items for him to translate, which Sebastian would welcome. He wanted to work and have his thoughts set upon a task. Anything rather than sit in this room and brood over the delectable creature two doors down from him.

He had thought about her several times and had admittedly used Juliette while thinking only of the auburn-haired woman. That had been distasteful. He was sure that Juliette was used to men using her, but he didn’t want to be that sort of man. They had an arrangement and it should be straightforward.

Now he found himself thinking of Sophie all the time. She was always in his thoughts and it irked him. He knew that he wanted her. Not possible. He knew she was an innocent so playing games was dangerous. If he was caught, the price would be high and it wasn’t a price he wanted to pay. Not yet.

Marriage. Sebastian had never thought much about it. His parents were happy but his mother was unlike any other woman he had ever seen. His father was a very masculine Arab but he seemed to bend when it came to his English wife.

But Sebastian had never wanted to marry, nor cared about it until now. Now he worked the word over in his mind.

***

Another carriage pulled up to the great chateau after dinner carrying the duke, Etienne Pousson and Sebastian’s sister Leila.