Chapter Two #2
“Is that what is in your letter?” Kes asked. “You’ve read it far too often for it to be something insignificant.”
Aldric was the most observant one in the group, but none of them were dunderheads. He ought to have realized they would notice his distraction.
“Yes,” he said. “A favor my mother asked many years ago. Before you tea-tattlers press for more gossip, that is all I intend to tell you.”
Lucas snapped a jaunty salute. “We always listen to our General.”
“No, you don’t,” Aldric said dryly.
“As fond as I am of Paris, and as fond as Paris is of me”—Digby tossed out an arrogant smile they all knew was mostly feigned—“a building project is underway at Pledwick Manor that I wish to be present for. I fear I will have to abandon you lot and resign myself to Yorkshire instead.”
That launched the Gents into discussions of the various things they were involved in, whose estate ought to host the next gathering, things they wished to do when next in London.
Aldric didn’t for a moment think they were truly satisfied with his very brief answer.
But they knew his preference for privacy enough to honor it.
Henri moved to sit in the chair nearest Aldric’s. “If you really are for Paris, we could travel together.”
Aldric nodded. “That was going to be my suggestion as well. After all, I don’t know if my brother will allow me the use of the family yacht.
The duke only permitted it that one time, and I paid dearly for it.
” His heartless father had demanded he give his mother’s ring to his nephew as punishment for the favor.
“Crofton will be no different. Worse, most likely.”
Lucas dropped into the chair on Aldric’s other side. “I suspect all of London agrees with our evaluation of the newest Duke of Hartley: he is going to be an unendurable pest.”
“I did not at all trust the way he smiled at me during the reading of the duke’s will,” Aldric said. “He is plotting something, and I suspect I am not going to like it.”
“All the more reason to make a sudden journey to France,” Lucas said.
Julia and Nicolette arrived among them in the next moment.
“We have had a wonderful idea,” Julia said.
“I have not ever been to Paris, and I’ve wanted to go for ever so long.
And, Lucas, you promised to take me but haven’t yet, which should fill you with unendurable guilt.
To relieve you of that burden, I think we should journey with Henri, Nicolette, and Aldric. ”
Lucas sat up a little straighter, eyeing her with doubt and concern. “It is a long journey. Are you equal to it?”
“My pregnancies are not difficult,” she said. “And once this newest arrival is with us, we will have three children who are four years old and younger. There will be very few journeys after that. This is my opportunity, Lucas, and I mean to seize it.”
Far from dismissing the idea, Lucas was clearly pondering it. “This would mean being away from Philip and Layton. It is too long and complicated a journey to undertake with such young children.”
“Being separated from them will be difficult,” Julia acknowledged, “but if we don’t make this journey now, we will likely not have another opportunity for these adventures until after the children are grown.
Mark my words, Lucas, we will be undertaking a great many journeys once they have flown the nest, but I’d like to have a grand adventure now as well. ”
“My mother and your father would be ecstatic at having the boys with them for a month or so,” Lucas said.
“And I would get to spend weeks with Julia,” Nicolette said, speaking in French though she likely didn’t realize she’d done so. “We don’t see each other often enough. I do wish we all lived nearer each other.”
“This could be a great deal of fun,” Lucas said. “Of course, the General doesn’t always enjoy fun.”
“I enjoy fun when it is wise and reasonable,” Aldric said.
“Reasonable?” Lucas repeated with a laugh. “You had more fun than any of us that time we maneuvered a cart onto the library roof.”
“That was a feat of science. Controlled fun. Fun should be subject to rules more often.”
Lucas pretended to be confused. “I thought Kes was supposed to be the one who turned every lark into an intellectual discussion.”
“It is the tone that sets us apart,” Aldric said. “He grumbles. I expound.”
Henri’s laugh pulled a smile from Aldric.
His connection to Henri was even deeper than the rest. They both had roots in France, difficult fathers, and mothers they’d lost far too young.
They both still had older brothers who made their lives miserable on a regular basis.
Henri knew what it was to struggle with family.
But Henri had a sister he loved, who loved him.
He had a bit of family that wasn’t broken.
“We’ll be a little snug during the journey to Paris,” Aldric said. “But if we can endure each other’s company in such tight quarters without anyone resorting to murder, journeying together will be a good approach for all of us.”
“The General approves,” Lucas said. His gaze shifted to Nicolette. “What about Le Capitaine?”
Still speaking in French, Nicolette said, “I approve as well. The plan is rather ingenious.”
Henri looked to Julia. “What of our actual genius?”
“Undertaking a journey together?” Julia beamed. “I would like nothing better.”
Quick as that, Aldric was poised to fulfill a promise to his beloved and much-mourned mother, and soon enough, he could make good on the promise Stanley had made to him: leaving the Gents before he ruined them.