“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 t
heir 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.
Juliette had not expected this of him. The only time they had coupled before had been very brief and had not been repeated. She felt that he was a man that she could fall in love with and she didn’t want to. She wanted to remain aloof and distant, and it was for this reason that she did not bed the men in the brothel.
In the past there had been lovers and she had always made certain that there was not to be any mention of love or commitment. Her brothel was everything to her and that was enough.
She had fallen deeply in love once before and a daughter had been the result. The daughter was educated at a nearby convent and Juliette was content to never repeat the situation with another man.
But now Juliette was worried. Sebastian was a handsome man with a quiet intelligence that she admired. He was not the braggart type and she knew he was admired by men and women alike. If this liaison was to continue, she would make certain that no serious attachments would be allowed.
In the meantime, she would allow him the use of her body. She enjoyed lovemaking and he was a skilled lover.
”Why me?” she asked quietly in the dark. She had turned on her side to see him lying on his back.
Their second coupling of the evening had been long and drawn-out. She had climaxed several times and now they both lay together in bed, naked and exhausted amidst the bedclothes.
“You’re a lovely woman, Juliette,” he said, staring at the ceiling and then turning his head to look at her.
“Thank you.”
“I think you and I will suit,” he explained.
Juliette waited to hear more.
“I can’t have any entanglements. I need a woman who understands this,” he spoke quietly.
“And I do.” Juliette knew that Giselle was young and pretty but also clingy. That would not do for a man like Sebastian.
“Then nothing more need be said,” he concluded.
“I’ll speak to Giselle,” she offered.