The Sheik's Son

the inspector’s side. Though he claimed he would not hurt her once he achieved his goal, she remained concerned.

Alain seemed to be a man who did not choose sides but kept to himself. She must be very careful. She was completely out of her depth with a dangerous man.

She did not care about the mysterious papers he sought in her father’s office. If the man was embezzling money or committing a crime, he deserved to be brought down. Her father’s office was in an older building surrounded by many different offices. Indeed, the entire Ferme générale was scattered throughout the city, but plans were being made to centralize their premises. She assumed the inspector would be using her as a decoy while he entered the office and looked for the papers he needed. The building was guarded, but not overly so, and though she wondered at her usefulness, she knew she was at his mercy.

***

A week passed but she saw little of Sebastian. He and the duke kept long hours together and she waited anxiously for the sound of a knock upon the door carrying a message from the inspector. She was sleeping poorly but knew that once the inspector gained access to her father’s office, the agreement would be at an end.

She told no one about the conversation and cursed the day she had decided to pick up a quill pen and write her first pamphlet.

When she finally received word from the inspector, it was cryptic and mentioned a small park on the edge of Paris for their meeting.

She dressed as she had before, in the dove-grey gown, and took a carriage to the appointed spot. They greeted each other coolly.

“Inspector.”

“Madame.”

He tucked her hand into the crook of his arm as he would a lady friend and they strolled together. Sophie didn’t appreciate his familiarity and closeness but she understood it was for appearance’s sake.

“At the end of the week, we will meet on the corner of the street where your father works, behind the coffeehouse. Do you know it?”

“Yes. I have passed it many times.” Sophie nodded, but she had never entered the establishment as a coffeehouse was not deemed respectable for a lady.

“Good. I want you to be there at 10 p.m. Will that be a problem?”

“No. I will tell my husband I am dining with my family.”

“Do you have a mourning gown?”

She frowned. “Yes, my uncle died a year ago. But—”

“Wear that gown. We must not draw attention to ourselves.”

“I understand.” She pulled away from him then. “Is there anything else?”

“Once I find the papers I require, our agreement will come to an end. I will no longer follow you and you will be released.”

“In return for betraying my father,” Sophie said tartly.

“It is what I demand. And I have already told you I am not after your father.”

Sophie had nothing left to say as she retreated back to the waiting carriage. She cursed herself for putting herself in the position she now suffered in.

***

Sophie felt anxious as the week crept by. She could confide in no one and the thought of breaking into her father’s office made her ill. She didn’t trust Inspector Vennard to uphold his end of the bargain but she had no choice. She must do as he asked.

She was not sleeping well and as she kept separate bedrooms with Sebastian he did not notice the disturbance. Many nights she pulled her shawl tightly around her body and walked to the window that overlooked the street.

She knew the inspector had been watching her and she looked with anxious eyes for his black clad figure lingering on the thoroughfare. He was not there. Some nights she read late into the night until the last bit of candle wax had been snuffed out.

When the appointed evening came, Sophie donned the black gown. Marie helped her with the dress, she seemed surprised at the choice but held her tongue. The black color was very stark against Sophie’s pale skin and auburn hair and made her seem small and young.

As she departed, pulling on her black cape, she told Marie she would be dining with her family, and as Sebastian was not at home, she had no need to lie to him about her whereabouts.

***