Who was Thomas Colbert?

Historically when a woman could not manage to have children she had as a solution to deceive her husband, but it also happened that an infertile couple, helped by a discreet and unscrupulous doctor pays a penniless young man to fertilize the wife (for the first part, for sure, for the second I have done no historical research: I quote the book). The wife had the hidden face but sometimes the husband asked to see "the standard".
Thomas Colbert, a wealthy businessman, has you it was one of its young people? This is what his widow (and childless) asked.
To do it launches Philippe Zafar in the footsteps of her husband. NY to France and finally to Bourg-Hullabaloo, Philippe Zafar reconstitute the history of Thomas Colbert. But each life is like a pebble thrown into water means any action generates "waves" (? Shock) on the environment ...

It is always hard to beat an excellent first book and for three crowns is not better, far from it, What Became of white wild. But I think F. Guard a true and real writing talent.