“Grand-mère!” Sophie squeaked.
Eugenie grinned. She had finally shocked her oh-so intelligent granddaughter.
***
When Sophie arrived home, Sebastian was in the front library reading. She was pulling off her cape as she entered.
“You look lovely,” he commented. “That color suits you.”
She wore a lavender-colored silk gown with a square neckline. “Thank you.”
She bit her lip and rounded the room several times admiring the books, the small bar he kept, the painting on the wall and the windows that looked out onto the street.
“Did you need something, Sophie? You seem distracted,” Sebastian remarked as he placed the book on his lap.
She turned to him, biting her lower lip as she did. Sebastian watched the plump lip pulled under and felt himself harden.
“My grandmother made some strange comments this evening at dinner.”
“Strange comments?” He set aside the book and she joined him on the sofa.
“She asked how the evening was last night and I said fine.”
Sebastian nodded. “Yes?”
“Then she went on to clarify that she was asking about the evening with you. She asked if you were rough. If you had hurt me. She said some men can be very amorous in their attentions. That some enjoy roughness.” Sophie spoke haltingly and felt her cheeks grow warm.
Sebastian waited. Of course her grandmother was asking these things. To everyone in their circle, Sophie was a married woman. Only they both knew she was an innocent.
“Do men like those things?” she asked quietly. “Do you?”
“Some men do.” Sebastian’s brown eyes met her hazel ones.
“Do you?” she pressed.
“No. I don’t require pain with pleasure. But a certain roughness can be enjoyable.”
Sophie looked away. “I told my grandmother you were a gentleman.”
Sebastian almost laughed. “I see. What did she say to that?”
“She said, ‘A gentleman at the theater but a woman wants a little bit of a scoundrel in the bedroom.’”
Sebastian smile broadened. “Maybe they do. Don’t let your grandmother scare you. I would never hurt you.”
“I know that.”
“And now that the announcement of the wedding is in the Gazette, word will get to the inspector. You should be safe.”
“Sebastian, you have been kind to me.” She went to kiss his cheek and his hand went into her hair.
She breathed in his scent, but instead of a masculine smell, he smelled of a cloying perfume.
“What is that?” she asked and breathed in again as she sat back from him.
“What is what?” he asked, confused.
“That smell. It smells like perfume,” she said.
Damn, he thought. Juliette.
“I—” He didn’t even know where to begin.
Sophie was not ignorant. She knew brothels existed and that Sebastian went to one did not surprise her.
“You keep a mistress?” she asked him innocently.
“She’s—” he struggled to find the words.
“I don’t have any right to pry,” Sophie said, but was shocked and almost stunned at the raw jealousy that pierced her heart.
“Your life shouldn’t change because of this marriage of convenience. If anything you should have more leeway. And I never expected you to be chaste. That would be ridiculous. I bid you good night.” She moved away from the sofa.
“Sophie.” He called her name once but she was gone.
When she was safely inside her room, she threw her small beaded purse into the corner and stepped out of her shoes. She realized that she wanted Sebastian. She didn’t want him to kiss and touch another woman. She wanted him all to herself. She shook her head. What a mess!
***
Sebastian met Etienne at a tavern the next evening. Etienne looked dopey with a huge grin on his face and Sebastian was the exact opposite.
“Jesus, mon ami! Is that what I have to look forward to as a married man?” Etienne complained.
Etienne had spent every free moment in the company of Leila, either with her parents or her chaperone, a young maid Katharine had hired. He was deeply in love with Leila and knew that she felt the same.
When he came upon his friend and soon to be brother-in-law, he was certain something was wrong. Sebastian seemed withdrawn.
“No. Not at all. I am not sleeping well,” Sebastian said absently, eyeing the ale in front of him.
Etienne slammed his hand onto the table and laughed heartily. “Of course you aren’t!”
Several people turned to look at the two men while Etienne grinned like a lunatic.
“No,” Sebastian said. “It’s not that.”
“Come, come, my friend. There is no shame in bedding your wife. Surely that is the greatest joy we men receive from marriage.”