Lafayette read the letter with great astonishment. He gave his uncle a look.
"This can't possibly mean the Adrienne I know!"
"Of course it is, mon ami. Marie Adrienne Françoise de Noailles."
"She is merely un enfant, uncle! I could love her with all my heart, except she is not mature enough."
"That is why you are not to wed avant you turn sixteen."
Fifteen year old Lafayette thought about the loving girl he had first met a year prior. He had always thought of her as only un ami, if not just un enfant.
"Le mariage was arranged avant you even met her." His uncle said.
The first time they had met, Lafayette and his uncle had been invited to a party held by the Duc d'Ayen, Adrienne's père. He had been conversing with some of the other young men at the party when the Duc clinked on his glass to propose a toast, during which Lafayette noticed how the Duc's daughters looked very uncomfortable standing in their gowns next to him. After the toast, the other young men disappeared and Lafayette walked up to Adrienne and started talking to her with no warning. She instantly warmed up to him and they became amis, that is, until the party was over. Lafayette did not expect to see her again.
"Is that the only reason we were ever invited to their soirées, uncle?" Lafayette was clearly trying to change the subject.
"The Duc's èpouse wanted you two to get to know each other before you wed. These parties were a good excuse."
"You said the Duc was a friend of yours."
"He was after about three of those parties. He was the only one I knew there. Now we are very good friends indeed."
"Does Adrienne know about this?"
"I will assume her parents have told her recently because there is one last step for you to be able to wed."
"What is it?" Lafayette looked skeptical.
"You are to move into the Hôtel de Noailles with Adrienne, her four sisters, the Duc d'Ayen, and his wife."
"Wait... WHAT?! You can't just tell me I'm going to move LA BAISE in with some ALMOST-COMPLETE-STRANGERS!"
His uncle's face fell.
"I had hope that you would be more respective of my decision." He sighed. Lafayette looked guilty. "There it will be as if you have une famille once again. Two loving parents, cinq wonderful sisters, and you won't even have to THINK about marrying Adrienne for another un ans."
"Mon excuses, mon oncle. May I return to my room?"
"Of course, mon ami. You may start packing while you are there."
"Lafayette? You mean mon ami Lafayette?" Adrienne asked, referring to the arranged marriage she was apparently bound to.
"Oui. Is that alright?" Henriette Anne, Marie Adrienne's mother, looked concerned. She had waited a year to tell her beloved second eldest daughter about the arranged marriage.
"Why, of course, mère!" Adrienne responded, sounding very excited. "I was beginning to develop un petit crush on him, anyway, mère." Henriette smiled, happy that the plan worked and she had fallen in love with Lafayette herself.
"Now, in un semaine or so Lafayette is to move in with us for a year until you are old enough to marry him." Adrienne looked disappointed that she could not marry him right away, but then brightened up again.
"I assume we already have a room prepared for him, mère?" Adrienne asked. She was still not entirely sure why, but she was very curious as to the answer.
"Of course, mon amour." Henriette Anne replied. "Now, go resume your studies with your sisters please. You still have much to learn."
TRANSLATIONS:
mon ami-my friend
un enfant- a child
avant-before
un ami-a friend
le mariage-the marriage
soirées-parties
père-father
amis-friends
èpouse-wife
la boise-the fuck
une famille-a family
cinq-five
un ans-one year
mon excuses-my apologies
mon oncle-my uncle
oui-yes
mère-mother
un petit-a small
un semaine-one week
mon amour-my love