The Sheik's Son(69)

“Indeed? As spoiled and beautiful as she is?”

“No. I always knew a man would come along to tame her. As I tamed you.”

Katharine laughed as she felt his fingers along her neck. “I tamed you,” she replied.

“No, I worry about that son of ours.” His fingers moved along her neck even as a sigh escaped her lips.

“Sebastian?” She closed her eyes as his fingers massaged her neck.

“Yes. He sees too much and says too little. He’s too wrapped up in his own head.” Mohammed said.

“He’ll be fine. Once Leila is married, it will be time to find him a wife.” She drew her husband’s head down as their lips met.

***

Madame Necker held a glass of champagne and watched as her husband circulated the room while she waited for the right moment to find Sophie alone.

When she did, she greeted her warmly and complimented her dress.

“Merci, Madame Necker,” said Sophie.

Madame Necker looked lovely in a satin gown of gold. The two women moved together on the edge of the ballroom as Suzanne took this moment to address her concerns.

“As you know, my dear, I educated Germaine well above the average woman. Your father saw fit to do the same with you,” she said.

Sophie was unsure of the flow of the conversation but nodded in agreement. “Yes. That is so.”

“I hold you in high regard, Sophie. So you will forgive my prying when I say I fear this course you are on.”

Sophie paled in the candlelight. “This course?”

“Your pamphlets, my dear,” Madame Necker said softly.

“I see,” Sophie said quietly. “Have you known for long?”

“For some time I suspected but at the chateau I knew for certain. You argued adeptly but with a little too much passion for one discussing childbirth.” Suzanne smiled lightly.

“And you think to warn me?” Sophie asked.

“Yes. I know I bear the guilt of some of your writings.”

“That’s not true,” Sophie said, shaking her head.

“Nevertheless. The more you become educated with the surrounding world of France, the more your pamphlets reflect that. And, my dear, I fear you are becoming a revolutionary.”

Sophie felt the tears in her eyes. “I never wanted that. I seem to always make the wrong choices. I educated myself and so wanted to educate others. In doing so I have placed myself at risk.”

“Yes, I know of the inspector. I thought to warn you.” Madame Necker placed a hand on the younger woman’s shoulder.

“I will admit I am worried. But I will be careful. I promise you that.”

Madame Necker smiled as another couple greeted Sophie and together they moved away.

***

Sebastian’s knuckles hurt from landing the punch on Etienne’s face and he wrapped them in a linen napkin. He felt more than annoyed and a little betrayed by his friend’s deception, but was it any different than what he had done with Sophie?

Certainly he had not gone as far as Etienne had and Sophie remained a virgin, but it was not from lack of trying. At least in his sister’s case it would all end well. She would be married and they would be happy.

But he was still worried about Sophie, and the inspector who seemed intent on bringing her down. He had spent much of the evening watching the inspector, and prior to the family drama, the inspector seemed to watch every move Sophie made. It was disconcerting.

Sebastian took a second glass of champagne just as Sophie approached him.

“Sebastian, what on earth was that spectacle you made of yourself? My grandmother told me all about it.”

Sebastian shook his head as he looked at her in the candlelight. Everything was falling apart and he felt powerless to stop it.

“I will apologize to your grandmother and father. It was a misunderstanding.” He was so afraid for her. How could he protect her?

He followed through with his declaration and explained everything to his hosts. But even as Sophie smiled and her father nodded in understanding of the “family matter” that had been settled, Sebastian felt more and more ill at ease over the sly inspector.

***

“Did you really intend Leila to marry an Arab?” Katharine asked as they remained on the sofa in quiet company with each other.

Mohammed was silent. Then spoke. “I had considered it. After all, Margaret married an Englishman and Isabelle will marry not at all, so I thought Leila would.”

“And I never thought she would. She’s too capricious. Arab men like to dominate.”

“Yes, we do.” He sought her lips again and she smiled.

So many years had passed and yet still Mohammed could never get enough of his princess.

***

“Let’s go out into the garden,” Sebastian suggested after he had spoken to her family.