I'm bbaaacckkk! Finished my IB exams and left for home...ahhh...
I could not update for so long as madre mia immediately roped me into being her latest charity event's technical advisor (what a joke!) and stage manager! So exhausted! But that's all over and I shall be a lot more regular in updating.
raoulisafop: Thanks very much for your offer to keep an eye on my non-existent French! I really appreciate it!
The story is likely to be quite long as it will be in several parts.
I'll keep writing as long as there is someone actually (hopefully) reading it!
Much thanks to those who reviewed... You made my day!

Chapter Six

'My stepson! B-b-but…Monsieur! He is…' The Maire's ruddy glow had faded into ash and his eyes were haunted by the thought of having to give an explanation to his wife about le petite Erik's intrusion into their domestic bliss; he shuddered at the imagined outpouring of delicate infuriation and fury which would indubitably rain upon his head when his precious Marguerite learns of his help of her son. He could hardly bear the thought of her being upset; she was almost as important to him as his curls.

'Oui, monsieur…I agree completely! The child is absolutely pitiful!' declared Frederic with deliberate obtuseness. 'We, gentlemen of the world, must lead these ignorant people into greater understanding and sympathy for the unfortunate! Our refined sensibilities would not allow us to act otherwise!'

The mayor sensed a trap closing around him, but he did not know how to extricate himself without denouncing himself as an uncultured and unkind buffoon, but the thought of his little Marguerite's upset was enough of an impetus for him to make another attempt at escape. However, before he could sputter out his convoluted rationalizations for the righteousness of his non-participation in the protection of his stepson due to various very important yet rather vague reasons, the pretty little maid popped her blushing face into the room and announced chirpily the arrival of another visitor. With suspicious haste and gratitude, the Maire gave his consent for the intrusion of another unexpected guest.

A tall and brashly handsome man strode with unconscious authority into the room and the mayor literally jumped out his chair, curls all bobbing in eager obsequiousness. 'Monsieur le duc! You honour me with your visit! What small service may I perform for you?'

'Non, non! I apologise for my intrusion, Maire. I am merely here because I had heard that Monsieur Fournier was here. Monsieur Fournier is the brother of mon bon ami, Lyon!' Monsieur le duc Jean-Luc Girard turned to Frederic and said 'It is such a pleasure to finally meet you. Lyon has told me much of you!'

'Non, Monsieur le duc! The pleasure is all mine. But, please disregard whatever my brother has told you as it is all lies! I, on the other hand, has heard nothing but praise from my brother about you. Thank you so much for looking after him, I am certain that it was quite tiring!' laughed Frederic. The two young man dissolved in shared amusement and knowledge about the much maligned Lyon's various escapades.

'Ah…Oui! I am sorry, Monsieur le Maire. It was rude of us to prattle on thus', apologised Frederic with a slight smile on his face as fond memories of his brother lingered.

'Non...non! I completely understand! I had not realised that you knew our estimable Duke!' The round little mayor was completely awestruck by the rapport between his young guest and one of the most powerful and richest men in France. His mind clambering to find ways to curry favour from so important an individual, Etienne le Roux eagerly tried to impress upon the duke the close friendship he had with young Fournier. 'You should have said so! I would have immediately sent word to Monsieur le duc that you were here and invited him to join our tête-à-tête if he wished to do so!'

'Non…I had arrived slightly earlier than expected to meet with Monsieur Fournier here. Ah…Frederic, I have already asked Madame Morel to prepare your belongings to be conveyed to my estate. You need only check that she did not miss anything.'

'Merci beaucoup, Monsieur le duc! I will not take long to do so, as I did not bring much with me on this trip.'

'Bon, bon! We shall be able to leave tonight then. But please call me Jean-Luc or Luc as Lyon does! We are almost family as I feel we share a brother! ' Jean-Luc, then frowned thoughtfully and said 'For now, please don't let me keep you from your talk! I did not realise you knew anyone from the area!'

'I had only just met le Maire today! He was kind enough to grant me an audience when I intruded so rudely upon his door! I wanted to bring to his attention a disgusting incident of abuse which I had witnessed earlier… A little child was being attacked for merely having the misfortune to be physically imperfect!' Frederic enunciated hotly, bristling with anger again with the memory of tiny Erik's sad resignation to pain and fear.

'Ah… You are just like Lyon! Always wanting to save the world… That's how many of his little mishaps start out! It is quite admirable…' The duke turned to the mayor and said with a tinge of irony, 'It is very good of you to protect every member of the village, no matter what their position.'

'Oui, oui!' agreed Frederic enthusiastically, 'The mayor did not even realise that the boy in question was his stepson, Erik, when he declared that he would not rest until the child was protected from all future abuse!'

'Really…' drawled the duke as he studied the mayor's barely concealed expressions of dismay as the fat little man grasped the fact that he could not possibly refuse to take action for Erik now without alienating Monsieur Fournier and ultimately his brother, the Duke!

'O-oui… Oui! I had agreed to help the boy as best I can! I shall put the word around that none is allowed to hurt the child.'

Frederic beamed at him approvingly and said 'Ah, tres bien! But that is not enough! The child must live with you and receive an education! Through my conversation with him, I have come to the realisation that the boy is unusually intelligent and discerning for one so young. You must encourage him and help him develop his genius! The boy will undoubtedly do you proud! The old bat he is residing with at the moment will not be at all beneficial to the child.'

Etienne lost all vestiges of colour at Frederic's words and stammered out that his wife would never allow it! Frederic and the duke received his exclamation impassively and the Maire quickly grasped the fact that he was very close to losing their positive regard.

'B-but…I'll speak to her and explain to her why the child must reside with us', spluttered the mayor in desperation as he saw his dream of mingling with the crème-de-la-crème nobility drifting away.

'Ah…Merci beaucoup, Monsieur le Maire. I just knew that you were a man of great empathy and honour. I have no doubt that you will do the right thing.'