12

December 25th, 1804

I stood, frozen, on the steps of the church.

My eyes focused on the man's knife.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"You'll be coming with me," he said.

"You wouldn't kill me in front of these people," I said. That was a bold statement for me.

"No," he said. "But I can kill those you love."

"I don't believe you," I said. He pointed to my right.

The market. I looked up at the clock tower on the church. It was 1:30. The market was just ending. Which meant Papa still could have left.

"Your adoptive father is in there," the man said. "I made sure of it. My associate is following him. Do you still doubt me, Miss Sophie?"

"No," I breathed.

"Then you'll come with me." He motioned away from the market. He placed a hand high on my back and pushed my forward, knife still slightly concealed in his sleeve.

I walked stiffly away, head craned to watch the market. If only I could see Papa; if only I could warn him.

We seemed to walk for a long time. Eventually we ended up in front of the palace. I had walked by it only once. It was elaborate; almost too elaborate.

The gates opened upon our arrival without a word from my captor. We walked up the path and the massive front doors opened.

We went inside and walked through a maze of rooms, hallways, and stairwells. If I had been terrified, I would have been breathless with the grandeur. We stopped in a library. Henri's study could not even compare to the number of books this library had.

"Oh," I breathed as I stepped in. I moved away from the threat of the knife. Someone stood on the ladder, high above the ground.

"You're dismissed, Pierre," said the man on the ladder. "I'm certain Miss Sophie has learned to behave herself by now."

I heard the door shut behind me. I walked to one of the bookshelves and ran my fingers along the spines of the books. It was reckless to do, touching such fine, expensive objects. A week ago, I would have known my place. A week ago, I would not have dared to even breath.

"This library has been collected for over three hundred years," the man said.

"It's magnificent," I mused.

"Thank you. It's mine," he said, turning around on the ladder and looking at me. He was an ugly little man but he held himself tall and proud.

"And you are?" I asked, careful not to say it too aggressively. The last thing I wanted was to upset him.

"Your emperor." Napoleon Bonaparte. "You should bow."

I stayed standing.

"That was not a smart decision," he said. "You do not want to make an enemy out of me."

"I think you've already decided that you are. You want me dead," I said.

"If I had wanted you dead, you would be dead," Napoleon said.

"Then what do you want?" I asked.

"I want you under my control," he said. "I want to be able to spare you; killing you would be extravagant. But you're a threat."

"A threat to what?" I asked.

"You could be a symbol. Your very existence could start a revolution," he said. "Both you and I know the outcome of the last one. It doesn't need to happen again."

"Fine. Then let me go. I won't tell anyone who I am and I promise not to start a revolution," I said. I had no interest in being a princess or a queen. I had no interest in ruling France.

"I know that you won't," Napoleon said. "You see, I've only been emperor officially for 21 days and nights. One of my first orders was to send out fifty of France's finest to find you children. I knew you were alive. I've found you first. Your brothers and sister are hiding quite well. But I'm on my way to finding the younger Louis. Louis Joseph is your oldest brother obviously. He's been tricky. Your sister Marie is hiding away in the British Isles. But my friends there are quite forthcoming with information."

"So you'll let me go?"

"Have you seen any of your siblings?"

"No," I said.

"Then how did you find out about your royal blood?"

My heart started racing. My hand flew to my locket, a nervous habit.

"I opened the locket," I said. "A note came out, explaining everything."

"Interesting. And where is that note?"

"I burned it. I didn't want anyone to find it," I said.

"So where have you been staying?"

Our eyes met.

"Don't lie to me, Sophie," Napoleon said, his voice singing.

"I'm engaged," I said.

"Engaged? How delightful!" He climbed down the ladder quickly and beckoned for my hand. I gave it to him and he inspected the ring. "Oh this is not the ring of a peasant. Nobility?"

"Yes," I said.

"Who? Perhaps I've heard of him," he said.

This man was good. He knew how to draw secrets out of you. He chose his words carefully and spoke them with craft.

"I doubt it, Your Highness," I said.

"So you're learning, are you? But I need a name," the emperor said.

"Henri Baudin," I said. His smile grew larger.

"Ah, yes. Henri. I met him when he was still a child. I doubt he remembers."

"Please let me go back to him," I begged.

"I think I'd like to see him again," the emperor said.

"Please," I said.

"I'd like to hear the story of how you met and I don't have any dinner guests," he said. "Besides, it's Christmas." He walked towards the door and pulled a string. A servant entered the room.

"Set two extra places for dinner tonight," Napoleon instructed. "And summon Mr. Henri Baudin. Tell him he'll find what he's looking for."

The servant nodded and left.

"Do you read, Miss Sophie?"

I felt sick. Henri couldn't come here. I didn't want to see the look on his face. He would be so disappointed in me. He wouldn't understand my decision.

"Yes," I said.

"Did your betrothed teach you?" He purred the word I hated the most.

"Yes."

"Well pick a book and read then," he said, the agression back in his voice. "You might be here for awhile."