a woman to desire two men
fighting over her.” He winced, grabbed at his leg. “I’m done for, Diamond girl,
I’ve done my distance for today.” He managed to maintain his balance as they
swirled about. They then began the slow trek back toward the house. “So. This Frenchy .
Are you fond of him, or am I to presume more between the pair of you?”
“You must not say Frenchy in front of
mother, for Leohne and I have her blood gushing through our veins.”
He chuckled. “Dear sister, I am well aware
of your French connection, and I love your mother dearly as I loved my own. I,
on the other hand, English to the very bone and shall not seek a French gal for
a wife as did my widower father.”
She laughed. “So parti pris , dear
brother, I think you would regret those words if ever you set eyes upon Angelica.
As for her brother, the count, I hardly know him. It is Angelica that I am fond
of. In her last letter she asked if I might consider a return visit to France.
And further more, I have with the Queen’s grace, invitation to stay at
Versailles for all of a month. There is to be a grand masque in October. Can
you imagine what fun that will be?”
“Good God,” exclaimed Charles. “The Queen
has sanctioned your presence at Versailles?” He glanced her way, his face a
picture of delight. “Well fancy that. My sister invited to the French court by
none other than Marie Antoinette, Queen of France.” He laughed, and
affectionately squeezed her hand. “Then you must go, for I will not be accused
of having denied you the pleasure of seeing your heart’s desire.”
“Heart’s desire?”
“Count what’s his name.”
“Oh him.” she said, heart skipping at the
very thought of once again letting her eyes fall upon Francois De Boviere,
Count of Saint Mont Marche. “It is not him I will be going to see.”
Charles chuckled. “A likely story, and I now
understand why you were so happy for Richard to escort Leohne for a
constitutional around the lake. Be warned, though, it may not deter Richard’s
affections for you.”
“If I am away
for a month, Leohne’s affections toward Richard I feel sure will win him over.”
“Ah, so you are attracted to this
French count of yours.”
“I liked him well enough when introduced,
and Angelica speaks fondly of him. It was but a brief encounter and I cannot
say that I know him sufficient to consider my heart taken by him.”
“I wager it is,” said Charles, head inclined
enough to catch a glimpse of second flush to her cheeks. “Hide all you like
behind your fan, but I know you Diamond girl, know you too well.”
“Well, to some extent you are right,” she
said, as they reached the terrace. “I did think him rather handsome when he
took my hand, and can you believe it, placed his lips on my cheeks. A proper
kiss to each cheek.”
“The Devil, be damned.” He swung his
stiffened leg in order to ascend the steps before them. “Blasted Frenchy, and
taking liberties with my sister.”
She assisted in his ascent by allowing him
to lean heavily on her shoulder. “Charles, be reasonable. A greeting such as
his happens to be quite normal in France.”
Her brother grunted in disapproval. “Would
you have Richard kiss you in like manner?”
“He would not. Though I suspect he does when
in France.”
“Men are supposed to show respect for women.
Dash it all, Diamond girl. A mere bow of head to a young miss is
sufficient recognition to her presence. And of course, odd kiss of hand to a
married woman of close connection.”
“Customs do change, Charles. After all, in
times past, only courtiers kissed the hand of a monarch, and as you said, men
now kiss the hand of married women and of widows.”
“Hmm,” he grunted again, then winced and
grappled with his leg. “Damn cramps.”
“Am I to assume permission for a return to
France is no longer granted?”
“You shall go, but I will ask
fighting over her.” He winced, grabbed at his leg. “I’m done for, Diamond girl,
I’ve done my distance for today.” He managed to maintain his balance as they
swirled about. They then began the slow trek back toward the house. “So. This Frenchy .
Are you fond of him, or am I to presume more between the pair of you?”
“You must not say Frenchy in front of
mother, for Leohne and I have her blood gushing through our veins.”
He chuckled. “Dear sister, I am well aware
of your French connection, and I love your mother dearly as I loved my own. I,
on the other hand, English to the very bone and shall not seek a French gal for
a wife as did my widower father.”
She laughed. “So parti pris , dear
brother, I think you would regret those words if ever you set eyes upon Angelica.
As for her brother, the count, I hardly know him. It is Angelica that I am fond
of. In her last letter she asked if I might consider a return visit to France.
And further more, I have with the Queen’s grace, invitation to stay at
Versailles for all of a month. There is to be a grand masque in October. Can
you imagine what fun that will be?”
“Good God,” exclaimed Charles. “The Queen
has sanctioned your presence at Versailles?” He glanced her way, his face a
picture of delight. “Well fancy that. My sister invited to the French court by
none other than Marie Antoinette, Queen of France.” He laughed, and
affectionately squeezed her hand. “Then you must go, for I will not be accused
of having denied you the pleasure of seeing your heart’s desire.”
“Heart’s desire?”
“Count what’s his name.”
“Oh him.” she said, heart skipping at the
very thought of once again letting her eyes fall upon Francois De Boviere,
Count of Saint Mont Marche. “It is not him I will be going to see.”
Charles chuckled. “A likely story, and I now
understand why you were so happy for Richard to escort Leohne for a
constitutional around the lake. Be warned, though, it may not deter Richard’s
affections for you.”
“If I am away
for a month, Leohne’s affections toward Richard I feel sure will win him over.”
“Ah, so you are attracted to this
French count of yours.”
“I liked him well enough when introduced,
and Angelica speaks fondly of him. It was but a brief encounter and I cannot
say that I know him sufficient to consider my heart taken by him.”
“I wager it is,” said Charles, head inclined
enough to catch a glimpse of second flush to her cheeks. “Hide all you like
behind your fan, but I know you Diamond girl, know you too well.”
“Well, to some extent you are right,” she
said, as they reached the terrace. “I did think him rather handsome when he
took my hand, and can you believe it, placed his lips on my cheeks. A proper
kiss to each cheek.”
“The Devil, be damned.” He swung his
stiffened leg in order to ascend the steps before them. “Blasted Frenchy, and
taking liberties with my sister.”
She assisted in his ascent by allowing him
to lean heavily on her shoulder. “Charles, be reasonable. A greeting such as
his happens to be quite normal in France.”
Her brother grunted in disapproval. “Would
you have Richard kiss you in like manner?”
“He would not. Though I suspect he does when
in France.”
“Men are supposed to show respect for women.
Dash it all, Diamond girl. A mere bow of head to a young miss is
sufficient recognition to her presence. And of course, odd kiss of hand to a
married woman of close connection.”
“Customs do change, Charles. After all, in
times past, only courtiers kissed the hand of a monarch, and as you said, men
now kiss the hand of married women and of widows.”
“Hmm,” he grunted again, then winced and
grappled with his leg. “Damn cramps.”
“Am I to assume permission for a return to
France is no longer granted?”
“You shall go, but I will ask
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