The Sheik's Son

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.