I'll try to update once more this Christmas weekend, but no promises as my relativeswill beall converging onto my house!
I'll likely not update next week as I'll be heading off to Hong Kong for the New Year...Whoo!
Anyway...
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!

Chapter Nine

'Monsieur…Madame… To bring the conversation back to le petite Erik… I was wondering if you had already engaged the Anglais tutor mentioned earlier?'

The Maire glanced swiftly at his wife and replied, 'Non… We had only finalised our plans for him last night. We had not had the time to look for one as yet.'

'Ah, merveilleux!' Frederic turned to Luc and apologised ruefully, 'Je suis très désolé, but I had a déballage d'idées… A sudden brainstorm! What do you think about allowing the child to come here for the summer before he goes to school? The child needs to be exposed to Anglais at all times in order for him to be able to cope with his lessons and I know very well that you speak very excellent English and I am quite proficient myself!'

Marguerite's eyes gleamed with glee as she dreamed of the frequent visits she could now make with the boy as her excuse…Hah! Finally there was some good coming from the little monster!

Jean-Luc's eyes gleamed with fond exasperation; Lyon and Frederic were indeed brothers, though no one would know they were related much less twins whilst looking at them… Lyon was taller than his own 6 feet 2 whilst Frederic was nearly a foot shorter! However, their characters and personalities were all too similar! Could never ignore those whom they thought needed their help…

'Ah, oui… I am surprised I did not think of this myself… My old nurse is still in residence and Fitzy is very English! She was hired by my parents when I was a child to teach me English as I was to go to Eton when I was old enough!'

'Oh… Monsieur le duc! We are greatly honoured that you would invite the child here… I am sure he will learn much from you and not only English!' enthused the Maire.

'Oui…oui! And we shall be able to visit him often as the distance is not so great!' piped in Marguerite. Luc threw an alarmed glance at Frederic, horrified at the idea of having to entertain that blatant social climber with any frequency.

'Non!' burst out Frederic, quickly performing some mental acrobatics as he searched for a plausible excuse. Even after only a few days, Luc and he had become friendly and comfortable enough with each other to drop all formal civilities between them to be completely comfortable and natural with each other. Therefore, he knew that Luc had a streak of self-centredness that ensured that his own comfort was paramount. Jean-Luc might stir himself to endure some discomfort for the sake of those he cared for, but le petite Erik was definitely not in those ranks as yet! Frederic knew he had to quickly come up with something to relieve the shock of the le Rouxs.

'That is… You must not visit the boy as he must become used to being away from his family; lest he will have suffer more from homesickness when he goes to England. I know you miss the boy greatly, but you must be strong for his sake!' exclaimed Frederic who barely managed to keep a straight face at the sight of the duke's ridiculously relieved face. The maire quickly nodded his frizzy head and agreed, while Marguerite barely managed to keep herself from screeching in rage.

Frederic smiled in satisfaction and said 'Well, that's settled then… I'll go pick the child up tomorrow afternoon as to save you another unnecessary trip here. I had forgotten a few things at the inn anyway!'

The duke smirked at Marguerite's frustrated fury and idly noted that her pretty face was not so attractive when stained with that shade of purplish-red.