21

January 15th, 1805

The fireplace was still roaring when I woke up.

The rest of the night had been quiet and uneventful.

Henri had gotten dinner from a nearby inn and explained his side of the story to me.

"After you ran to go get help," he had said. "I knocked Gabriel unconscious. Sadly, he's fine now. Edmund explained the guards but by the time we got downstairs, you were gone. I waited up for you. A few days later, Diana got your note and gave it to me. I was relieved that something worse hadn't happened but it just made waiting all the more painful. Then Frank came by yesterday and said you would be in that town today. But I was delayed by Gabriel who had gotten into some trouble. I rode as fast as I could and the rest doesn't matter."

He was still asleep, his bare shoulders barely showing from under the covers.

I moved closer to him, placing my head beside his on his pillow. I drew little circles with my finger on his shoulder.

He stirred.

"Sophie," he mumbled.

"I'm here," I whispered. He relaxed again and closed his eyes.

I kissed his cheek and he smiled, turning to face me.

"We should go back," Henri said.

"And do what?" I asked.

"Marry me," Henri said. "So we can do this every morning without fear of anyone starting rumors."

He ran his fingers along my lips.

"A month ago I didn't even know you," I said.

"And look where we are now," he said. He kissed me.

"I like it here," I said.

"Me too."

"No, I mean the countryside. Do we have to return to Paris?"

"I'm afraid so," Henri said. "But we can return here, if you wish."

"Please."

"Whatever you want, Sophie," he said.

"You are wonderful," I said.

Henri sat up and leaned against the cold metal frame of the bed.

"We really should be on our way," he said. His bare chest had me in a trance. A small part of me knew this was terribly improper.

"Yes, of course," I said. He stood up and put his undershirt on. He was wearing the light, baggy, pants that he usually wore under his clothes. Neither of us had a change of clothes so I was still in my undergown.

"I think we could be home by nightfall," he said. "If we rode fast enough."

"I'm a terrible rider," I warned. He put on his dress shirt and turned around as he began to button it.

"You'll be fine with me," he said, smiling.

"Must we really go?" I asked. I was desperate to spend just one more night here.

"Yes," Henri nodded. I stood up on the bed and for once I was higher than Henri. I bent down and kissed him.

"You are no fun, Henri Baudin," I said. He picked me up by the waist and put me down on the ground.

"Get dressed," he ordered.

I went over to the other side of the bed and put on the simple gown Napoleon had provided me with.

I walked back to Henri and turned around so my back was to him. I pulled my hair away.

Henri laced up the corset, not as tight as any of lady's maids ever had though.

Since we didn't bring anything, packing up was easy. I made the bed while Henri got the horse ready.

We left before 8 and arrived back at the Baudin's house a little before midnight.

The ride felt longer though and was quiet because it was impossible to hear over the sound of pounding hooves.

Henri left the horse behind the house with the groundskeeper.

We went inside, tired and sore. Diana and Edmund pulled us away from each other to clean us up.

I almost fell asleep in the hot bath. I hadn't realized how cold the ride was.

Diana dressed me in a warm nightgown and sent me to bed, without a meal.

I fell asleep immediately.