The Sheik's Son(9)
The next morning Marie handed her a note from Monsieur Blanche. He wrote to let her know that he had published her cousin’s pamphlet and that he had received a great response from it. He was very curious to know if her cousin had written anything else and if he could meet him in person to discuss additional pamphlets.
Sophie thought long and hard about her response. She wasn’t sure if Monsieur Blanche knew the true identity of her “cousin” or if he indeed wanted to discuss further writings. In any case, she planned her next step carefully.
She wrote a note back to the printer with an apology. Her cousin Jean had recently journeyed to England to visit family. She could certainly get in touch with him if he would like and ask him about any further writings. If he agreed, she would contact him.
Once again, she asked Marie to deliver the letter and to wait for a reply if the printer wanted to send one with her.
It was late in the afternoon when Marie returned with a response. The printer thanked her for her very kind note. If it was not a bother, he wrote, he would like to have further writings from her cousin. He mentioned that the pamphlet was well received and that several people had asked him about the true identity of the writer. He asked her to please assure her cousin his identity would remain “unknown.” He would wait to hear from her and would be pleased to receive his next pamphlet.
Sophie tapped her toes in nervous energy as she re-read the note several times. She had not thought it possible that an esteemed Paris printer would be so enthusiastic about her writings. She had already formed several additional ideas to write about and now she could give free rein to them and elaborate as she had not done in her previous pamphlet.
The next afternoon she received an invitation to tea from Madame Necker and her daughter Germaine for the following day. They kindly invited Sophie’s grandmother as well, which was the proper thing to do.
She mentioned the invite to her grandmother that evening and Eugenie smiled.
“Of course, my dear. Madame Necker is well regarded in Paris,” she remarked.
Eugenie knew that Madame Necker was renowned for her salon and the literary circle that surrounded it. Though that didn’t interest Eugenie in the least, her name was well thought of and she knew her son would be pleased if she helped foster this relationship between the salonist and her granddaughter.
Sophie was surprised that her grandmother agreed so readily. She had not thought it would be of interest to her but was happy to be wrong.
***
Sophie spent that evening bent over her desk with quill pen in hand. She had only barely touched the surface of what she wanted to express in the first pamphlet. The first pamphlet seemed like silly child’s play compared to what she was about to write.
This time, as her thoughts became words on the paper, she wanted a more intimate feeling so she addressed the pamphlet as a “letter to the people.” In doing so, she wanted them to understand and accept that her desires were for all of Paris and, indeed, all of France to come together. Sophie spoke about her love of the country, but also the need for change.
She delved more into the need for women to have equality in all things. She brought up the natural world and the fact that animals comingled regardless of their gender and that they cooperated in harmonious togetherness.
She felt the quill pen pull on the paper as she scratched out one word and added another over it. She moved the wick lower in the oil lamp to lessen the flame as the night wore on.
Finally, she heard the grandfather clock in the hallway downstairs chime one in the morning and she rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand. She would finish in the morning. She was getting sleepy and wanted her pamphlet to sound fresh and exhilarating.
***
Juliette had been surprised when Sebastian walked into the brothel and asked to speak to her. She didn’t know if Giselle had angered him in some way, but thought it unlucky. Sebastian was one of those men that kept to himself, didn’t make unusual demands of the girls and paid promptly.
He was not known to be a troublemaker and held the esteemed position of secretary to the Duke of Dorset, the British ambassador to France. Though he was handsome and had his pick of women, he seemed to take one woman at a time and never became too entangled.
So when he asked for her, Juliette thought there might be some special party that he wanted several girls to attend. Instead, he had come to her small salon on the ground floor in the large three-story townhouse and taken her into his arms.
She had at first been shocked and then stunned. She had felt his hands on her face and his kiss had been deep and searching. She felt herself awaken and then he had taken her swiftly on the couch in front of the fire.