He turned the issue over in his mind several times and had no solution. The ball in her honor was almost upon them and he would attend with Leila and Etienne. He still had no idea how to curb her, short of telling her father, and that would be a grave betrayal.
***
Alain had been pleased with his findings and had informed his superior. He knew the commissioner was not overly fond of him, but that he also knew Alain did what was necessary so he asked no questions. That in itself was uncommon. He also knew that his superior was a stupid man who had managed to obtain his position somehow, probably through a bribe or knowing the right family, but would not keep it much longer if Alain could help it. The commissioner was a simpleton who was overly fond of drink.
Alain knew that his methods were not the norm and he sometimes crossed the line, but it was necessary and acceptable. He was willing to get his hands dirty, as many inspectors were not. Alain was closing in and he smiled. He would relish bringing the stupid woman to heel.
***
Etienne was drinking more than he should and could not get Leila out of his head. He knew that he was in love with her, but that hardly mattered. He didn’t know what Leila felt for him but knew that she enjoyed their intimate moments and seemed intent on pursuing him no matter the cost.
When Leila had asked him to get them a room, he had been shocked. No well-brought-up, unmarried lady would ever seek to find time alone with a man, especially in a sexual nature. But he had already learned too late that Leila was a wild spirit and whatever she wanted, she achieved.
After getting to know her, he believed that, all along, Leila’s goal had been to come to Paris away from the stifling life with her parents. Vaguely he recalled she had one married sister in England and another sister here in France shortly to take her religious vows. Though her father had sent Leila to Paris, she seemed to have calculated the maneuver in order to come to enjoy its entertainment and diversions.
He was annoyed and irritated that she had chosen him. He had been quite happy with his friendship with Sebastian and his life in Paris before the succubus had come into his life. Now he was completely consumed. He wanted her, and when she was away, he was like a schoolboy, always thinking of her. It was unfair when he considered that he had asked for none of this.
The bigger issue at hand was the guilt that he felt every time he was with Leila. He should have done the honorable thing after the chateau. The thought of marriage didn’t frighten him. It was a natural occurrence between men and women. The thought of spending years taming the wild Leila was a pleasing thought.
The only thought which frightened him was if Sebastian demanded marriage between them and Leila refused him. To live without her was an unbearable thought. He took what she offered with all the guilt, nursing the truth only he knew. He was in love.
***
Alain questioned several of the shopkeepers surrounding the printer and none had seemed that interested in the small print shop. However, one shopkeeper had spotted a woman entering the printer’s. The elderly grocer had particularly noted it because for the most part he had only seen men enter and leave the printer’s establishment. He had even remarked upon it to his wife and the older woman nodded in agreement at Alain.
Alain was able to discover the woman was named Marie and she was maid to the Gauvreau family. The Gauvreau family was well known and the head of it was Jean Pierre Gauvreau, who worked for the Ferme générale. Alain wondered if the maid might indeed be working under an alias and was not called Marie at all. He even suspected she may be using the employment as a maid to hide her true desire—to bring down the French monarchy in secret.
It was a slight setback. Though Alain was certain Monsieur Gauvreau would not want anyone under his roof writing these ridiculous pamphlets, he would also not simply hand over a member of his household to be interrogated. He must plan his next step carefully.
***
The day of Sophie’s ball was a cloudy one, with a touch of rain in the air. The servants hurried throughout the elegant home, taking care of last-minute items that Eugenie deemed necessary.
Sophie had slept well but the conversation with Sebastian played in her mind. She knew that he was worried about her and she understood that. But he didn’t understand the sheer need she felt to relay all that she learned. She had once been ignorant. There were people in the same position as she had been, and they must be told the truth.
She knew of the inspector seeking her identity, but as a young lady of breeding she didn’t fear him. He would not hurt her or pursue it once she was discovered. He would probably speak to her father and there would be a tongue-lashing and she would have to stop writing for a time. After that, she would simply choose another name to write under and be more careful.