“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.