“I think we can all now agree that the author is indeed a woman,” La Harpe said, smiling, a cigarette dangling from his hand.
Germaine was quick to respond. “How so?”
“My dear. ‘Marry, Carry and Bear’? No man would write that.” He shook his head while Marmontel nodded in agreement.
“Mère? What do you say?” Germaine asked.
Madame Necker pondered the question. “I am in agreement with Monsieur La Harpe. I think the passion and intensity of the writer and the subjects chosen seem to stem from someone who is trying to clarify and educate people. The subject matters are of an entirely feminine nature.”
“Sophie?” Germaine asked, turning to her friend.
Sophie felt the delicious sensation of being talked about whilst in the room and she savored it. When Germaine asked her opinion, she was silent for a moment, pondering it.
“I would agree with Madame Necker. The subjects seem to be of a feminine nature. I don’t think a man would care or take the time to write about carrying a child, much less bearing one.”
The two men nodded and Eugenie seemed completely oblivious, though she watched her granddaughter with interest when she spoke.
“Do you not think it a tad vulgar?” La Harpe asked in an almost sneer. “To write a pamphlet about bearing a child?”
“Not at all, monsieur. It is a fact of life, is it not?” Sophie was quick to jump in.
“Maybe. But this pamphlet likens women to animals, coupling with men and then dropping the offspring as if it was no more than passing water,” he argued.
Eugenie reddened at his words but Sophie was unaware.
“No, I don’t agree. Bearing children is indeed a natural occurrence and we are animals with instincts and needs. And childbirth can have a devastating effect on the mothers. Many women die in childbirth,” Sophie stated.
“Yes, yes, but to write a pamphlet on it?” La Harpe asked again. “Why?”
“As Madame Necker said to clarify, to educate. But more than that. To have the people understand that women should have equal rights. We are not chattel. We are thinking beings. We deserve that respect.”
“Where indeed is our friend the Comte de Buffon? As a writer of the histoire naturelle, he would enjoy this discussion,” Marmontel said.
“Indeed he would. He arrives tomorrow,” Madame Necker said quietly.
All eyes seemed to be on the auburn-haired beauty and Eugenie looked at her as if seeing her for the first time. A hint of admiration was in her eyes. The men looked a little perturbed by her and Germaine was smiling.
But Madame Necker was not. She was eyeing Sophie with interest but also a certain suspicion. She wondered if Sophie’s passion for the pamphlet and supporting the writer did not stem from something far closer to home.
Chapter 10
Sophie thought over the conversation that evening as she lay in bed. She had been too forceful, too argumentative. She must learn to temper herself and not be so bold. Maybe her grandmother had been right all along. She must not become so overbearing and masculine in her beliefs and outward appearance.
The fire burned low in the room and the windows offered little light from the moon outside. She turned onto her back and not for the first time thought of him. He was arrogant and off-putting but she was drawn to Sebastian. She hated even thinking the words and hated more thinking of him, but it was so.
She was glad this week gave her time to reflect. She knew full well about his reputation with women from the scandal sheets and knew that she was just another conquest. She also knew that it was not going to happen. She would not be his mistress.
As a well-brought-up lady he would not go any further lest he risk her father’s wrath and suffer the ultimate price: marriage. No. She would never marry a man like Sebastian. He was too sure of himself and far too mysterious. Though she had met his beautiful sister Leila, she knew next to nothing about him except his employment with the Duke of Dorset.
The duke. There was yet another man who had designs on her and none of them honorable. She knew the duke was expected tomorrow and she would enjoy his company. Unlike the seductive Sebastian, the duke had never behaved inappropriately even if he had wanted to. She felt nothing for the duke except a mild friendship.
***
The next morning Sophie and Germaine, dressed in the simple gaulle gowns, walked along the river and into the small village that Sophie had seen the previous day. Germaine was known to the villagers so Sophie felt perfectly at ease.
They talked little of the pamphlet but more of men and the expectation of marriage.
“Don’t you want to marry, Sophie?” Germaine asked as they walked back to the chateau.
“I’m not sure. I have passions of learning and to be educated, and that is not something most men value.”