Chapter Five #2
Aldric would have objected on behalf of anyone being treated this way. But she was also Henri’s sister, and Henri was his best friend in all the world. He could not simply leave her in misery.
Jean-Francois gave no indication he meant to grant Céleste the simple request, let alone facilitate it.
As much as Aldric hated that he’d learned how to be presumptuous and dictatorial from his father, those skills did, at times, prove useful.
“I will accompany your sister to a comfortable chair.” He held his arm out to her.
She set her hand in the crook of his elbow.
Wanting to make certain the gesture didn’t cause difficulties later, Aldric didn’t step away immediately but addressed Jean-Francois once more.
“Unless, of course, you have objections to either your sister obtaining rest or to me accompanying her on the short walk.”
M. D’Aubert, as well as a few other people standing nearby, took note of the inquiry and watched with curiosity for the answer.
Objecting to Aldric’s offer, after having touted the high connection of his visitors, would undermine the importance Jean-Francois clearly hoped to gain from their visit.
But allowing Céleste to leave with Aldric after he had initially withheld permission would undermine Jean-Francois’s power over his sister.
What would he choose?
In the end, he simply nodded and motioned for them to take their walk.
Aldric walked slowly. He didn’t know the extent to which Céleste was ill and didn’t wish to push her unnecessarily. And moving more slowly meant he would have more time to observe and talk with her. That was his role in the group’s strategy, after all.
“That was well maneuvered, Aldric,” she said quietly.
“A particular talent of mine,” he said.
“Ah yes. ‘The General, planner of plans and strategizer of strategies.’”
He didn’t always appreciate being teased. But something in the way she approached it in that moment made him inwardly smile.
“Will my efforts to find you a seat mean your brother will be more . . . difficult than usual?” he asked. “I am attempting to make things easier for you, not worse, but I don’t yet know where that line is drawn.”
They nodded to people as they passed, allowing the silent acknowledgment to act as a greeting.
“Despite your connection to Henri, Jean-Francois is enough in awe of you and your family that he will not risk your wrath or disapproval.”
“At least not while I am present.”
She didn’t argue with his theory, which told him he was not incorrect.
“Do we need to convince him to let you join Nicolette and Henri in the group’s lodgings?” Aldric asked. “If it will save you misery—”
“That would not be wise.” She spoke too swiftly and with too heavy a hint of panic for him to take her response lightly.
Even being away from Jean-Francois wouldn’t save her from whatever she was being subjected to.
“When you eventually return to his home, he will ‘express’ his disapproval?” he guessed out loud.
As they reached a cluster of chairs, she bumped into one. “Clearly I am either overly distracted or wearier than even I realized.”
“Perhaps you should sit here,” he suggested.
“Rather than simply knock my knees into dozens more chairs before finally sitting in one?”
“It seems you are also a strategizer of strategies.” He saw her seated, watching her closely.
All he could say with certainty was that she looked tired.
He couldn’t begin to guess what ailment might be underlying it.
“Perhaps if you told your brother and sister-in-law that being with your friends would be beneficial to your health, they would be less likely to see it as a defection.”
She gave him a very dry look. “You are assuming they are interested in my health and well-being.”
His gaze narrowed. “What is it they are interested in?”
“You are the Gents’ expert observer. You tell me.”
“You are issuing a challenge?” He rather liked the idea.
“Are you equal to it?” she countered.
“Always.” He not only enjoyed solving mysteries, he also now had the perfect opportunity to gather more information about her situation and her oldest brother’s behavior.
Two ladies, approximately Céleste’s age, arrived in the next moment and greeted her.
Again, she watched them with eyes a bit squinted but without any indication of actual disapproval or displeasure.
If Aldric had to guess, he would say her eyes were bothering her.
That could happen when a person was particularly tired.
Céleste made the introductions. Aldric’s status as the son of a duke, even an English one, earned him even more interest from them than he was already receiving.
“His mother was French,” Céleste added. “Clothilde Guillaume. I believe we can claim him as a fellow Frenchman while he is here.”
She likely meant it as a bit of teasing, but he liked the idea.
The ladies sat on either side of her and quickly launched into a discussion he didn’t need to be present for.
He excused himself and slipped away. Lucas was being shown off by Jean-Francois like a prized horse.
Anyone watching who didn’t know Lucas well would think he was perfectly content with the situation.
Aldric recognized the glint of annoyed amusement in his friend’s eyes.
He would need to undertake a rescue before the night was over.
As he made his way slowly in that direction, he caught sight of someone he knew but hadn’t seen in many years.
On his last visit to Paris, he had made the acquaintance of the Marquis de Lafayette.
The marquis was almost a year younger than Aldric but had lived more life and experienced more things than men twice their age.
He was infinitely interesting to talk to.
At that moment, he was deep in conversation with Henri and Nicolette.
There was an attempt made to appear casual in their discussion, but Aldric’s skills of observation and his knowledge of Henri revealed far more than others would likely see.
This conversation involved something of deep importance and, he would wager, secrecy.
Céleste was being closed-lipped about the details of her situation. Henri and Nicolette seemed to be keeping a secret as well.
Aldric’s entire purpose in the Gents was to help them wisely navigate complicated situations. How was he supposed to do that if they weren’t telling him things he needed to know?