Henri stepped inside. He looked exhausted, haggard, and frustrated. “Has my brother made an appearance yet this morning?”
Aldric shook his head, leaning back in the chair he occupied at the small writing desk. “I’ve been trying to decide whether I’m more grateful for his absence or annoyed by his apathy.”
“Believe me, in matters concerning Jean-François, having those two reactions simultaneously is entirely reasonable.” Henri crossed to the high-backed chair not too far from them and lowered himself into it. “I’ve been debating whether we ought to go to Fleur-de-la-Forêt or to Chalet-sur-Loire.”
The second was the Fortier estate that was, according to the terms of their late mother’s will, supposed to have been Henri’s but, in typical fashion, Jean-François had managed to withhold it from his younger brother. Henri and Aldric knew not only the misery of horrible fathers but also the suffering caused by atrocious brothers. In a head-to-head competition, it would be difficult to determine whether Jean-François or Crofton ought to be considered worse.
“It is considerably farther from Paris,” Aldric said.
Henri nodded. “Part of the reason I had considered it.”
“‘Hadconsidered’ tells me you are no longer pondering the possibility,” Aldric said.
“While Chalet-sur-Loire has been staffed and looked after these past decades, it hasn’t been occupied. It is unlikely to be prepared to receive unexpected visitors, let alone serve as a home for Céleste and Adèle for months to come.”
“I had also thought about the possibility of taking everyone to Montbergerie, my late mother’s estate,” Aldric said. “It is a little farther from Paris than Fleur-de–la-Forêt. But it is currently being let to a family who has lived there for years.”
“I don’t have claim on a single acre in France,” Lucas said, slouching a little on the sofa. “So I am as unhelpful in this as ever.”
“We may need your particular expertise in soothing any ruffled feathers among the staff at Fleur-de-la-Forêt,” Henri said. “Jean-François rules with such an iron fist that they might be too afraid of the repercussions to let their fondness for Adèle and Céleste—”
“And you,” Aldric quickly added, knowing Henri tended to forget that he was cared about.
Henri looked a little embarrassed but continued on. “They will want to help those members of the family who aren’t terrible to them but might very well be too afraid to do so. And the people in the surrounding area almost universally dislike Jean-François, which won’t help either.”
Aldric hadn’t thought of all that, but it was a complication they would do best not to ignore. “The situation will require finesse, without question. It will give us a great deal to talk about with the ladies during the journey. Céleste knows the temperature at the estate, who is best avoided, and who is most likely to be helpful. Julia is excellent at navigating difficult people and situations.”
Lucas nodded. “She certainly is.”
“Nicolette has a head for strategy,” Aldric added. “I’m not too proud to confess she rivals my abilities in that area and, at times,exceedsthem.”
Henri smiled only briefly. Aldric had hoped to lighten his friend’s mood but hadn’t truly managed to. Better that he stick to his greatest strength: planning. He sat more rigidly in his chair and looked down at his list on the writing desk. Light from the tall windows illuminated the paper, as if reminding him of his duties.
“I have been trying to sort out how and if we can fit the entirety of our group into one carriage,” he said. “That none of us brought our personal servants with us to France simplifies things. If we utilize some creative methods of tying our various trunks to the top and back of our carriage, and if Adèle is passed from lap to lap rather than having her own place inside, and if we sit three to a bench, we can make the journey without hiring an additional carriage.”
“That would make for exceedingly tight quarters.” Henri scooted his chair closer.
Aldric nodded. “I suspect we would do better to obtain another conveyance here in Paris to be returned after we have reached Fleur-de-la-Forêt. I will need a little time to arrange that, but it can be done.”
“That would be more comfortable for everyone,” Lucas said, standing once more.
“And worth the added expense,” Henri added.
Aldric made note of that on his list.
Lucas wandered a little toward the window, talking as he went. “Does Jean-François have his traveling carriage in Paris?”
“I believe he does,” Henri said. “But I am, in my heart of hearts, convinced he won’t leave Paris despite the threats.”
“But he has his landaulet here as well,” Lucas said, reaching the window. “If that were left in Paris and we borrowed his traveling carriage, then the carriage would be going back to his estate with no need of being returned to Paris and would save us the cost of renting one.”
Aldric had thought of Jean-François’s landaulet but dismissed the idea because a landaulet was not designed for the rough country roads. But Jean-François had a traveling carriage in Paris. How had that not occurred to him?
“It seems the Jester is after the General’s job,” Henri said, a reassuring bit of levity in his voice.
“He’d likely do a decent enough job of it,” Aldric said, “but Nicolette would do a better job of replacing me.”
Henri stretched a little, even allowing a bit of a yawn. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were planning to abdicate and leave the Gents behind.”
