Thanks sooo much to everyone who reviewed! It makes writing this story a lot more fun and worthwhile as at least I know that there are some who are actually reading it!
You all truly made me a very happy writer today!

There will be perhaps one or two more chapters before Part Two begins!
Very close now...!

Chapter Eleven

'Très bien, Erik! I mean, very good!' praised Frederic as he hugged the beaming little boy to his side. 'It's amazing the way you have picked up the language in such a short space of time! It's only been a month but you're speaking almost as a native! It should be impossible to learn at such a speed!'

Erik had blossomed under the care and tutelage of Frederic, Luc and his soft-hearted nanny, Mrs Fitzwilliam or Fitzy. They treated him as though he was just another ordinary boy and once Erik realised that they were not affected by the sight of his mask or deformity, he had quickly become more natural and relaxed in their company. He was even comfortable enough to reveal a hidden mischievous streak which manifested itself through several very naughty pranks which he was promptly punished for. Erik did not mind his punishment too much as he was reassured that he had not lost their warm regard though they wanted to warm his bottom!

Erik ducked his head a little and blushingly replied: 'I think my real papa had spoken English with me, though I was very young at the time so I don't really remember… I feel as though I had forgotten the language but now that I am speaking it again, the words just jump up into my mind… Besides…It just makes sense to me… French and English are very similar… and so are Italian and German! Jean-Luc has been teaching them to me and he said that I can soon read harder books!'

Frederic smiled at him a little dazedly and patted him on the head.

'Go and tell Fitzy to let you have some tea now and later we shall go for a ride! We've been indoors all day.'

The little boy sped away. Fitzy had promised him chocolate biscuits!

'Pass me the sugar please- And can you believe the rate at which he is learning everything! He soaks it all up like a sponge! A seven-year-old child understanding the subtle nuances in literature such as Dante's Inferno and Shakespeare's Hamlet! And being able to study in four different languages! It's absolutely unbelievable!' exclaimed Frederic as he stirred his café au lait energetically.

'Oui… He is able to acquire the languages so quickly as I feel that he has some intrinsic ability to process and understand the syntax and…' explained Jean-Luc enthusiastically and Frederic nodded without actual comprehension as Luc rhapsodized on about his new protégé.

'And not only in languages! Monsieur Dupree has reported to me that le petite Erik has been doing work for students far older! Normal seven-year-olds learn addition and multiplication but out Erik is doing advanced algebra and calculus! And Monsieur Febvre believes that Erik is to be another Mozart or Beethoven… Non!' continued Frederic in a very badly done imitation of Erik's very excitable music teacher, 'The child is a genius! He will outshine Mozart and Beethoven! Hah! Those Germans will have nothing on us now! He is perhaps even more talented than moi in the pianoforte!' He finished by twirling an imaginary moustache and cackling like a rooster trying to lay an egg.

Jean-Luc stared at him in silence for a moment and said blandly:' Well… At least we know to never put you in charge of his dramatic education!'

Frederic just laughed and threw a croissant at Luc's guffawing head.

Jean-Luc and Erik galloped exuberantly across a clearing towards the nearby woods and reigned to a stop when the reached the edge of it. Waiting for the clumsily bouncing Frederic, they shared a superior grin and a silent agreement to tease their mutual friend about his riding skills and his very fat and plodding mount.

When Frederic was within hearing distance, Luc winked conspiratorially at Erik and yelled out: 'Allons-y, Erik! Let us leave this slow old man and his mule! We, fit young men should not be held back by such sluggish creatures!'

Erik grinned and shouted for Frederic to hurry up or he would not get any chocolat for dessert!

Frederic grumbled under his breath and inexpertly prodded the very fat and lazy Champagne with his heel in a vain effort to speed up. Champagne's eyes gleamed evilly and she pretended to comply with his wishes as she sped up to a trot. Finally breaking into a canter, she bounced Frederic along in the saddle directly in the path of a low-hanging branch!

Yelping in fright, Frederic very elegantly arched his back backwards towards Champagne's rump, only to be swatted sharply with her triumphantly arched tail. Erik and Luc were almost rolling in their saddles with laughter as they watched poor Frederic struggle to slide off Champagne.

After a few awhile, Frederic finally managed to reach blessed ground and Champagne quickly bared her teeth in an attempt to leave her mark on Frederic's shoulder. Frederic spun abruptly away, glaring at that demon pig-horse with equal heat and growled menacingly back in warning. Champagne's eyes seemed to widen in surprise before she turned away to nibble at some grass nonchalantly.

'You are the absolute worse rider I have ever seen!' chortled Luc, 'One could think that you have never been on a horse before!'

'I though we were going for a ride on a curricle!' sulked Frederic. 'And I have not been on a horse before! I was never allowed as I was a ba-'

'I mean, my parents never allowed me ride as they thought it was too dangerous for me!' rebutted Frederic akwardly with a furious blush on his face.

'Your parents were right! Riding is too dangerous to your health as you couldn't even control old Champers!' jeered Jean-Luc cheekily.

'Hah! Old Champers here is a hidden devil! She tried to kill me deliberately! She must be possessed by some demonic creature!'

'Non! Old Champers is a sweet old girl…Though she is getting a bit old and fat!'

'Jesu! She is not only old and fat but also….'

Erik watched in interest as the two friends argued good-naturedly back and forth and hugged his happiness and new sense of security to himself before jumping into the conversation in order to keep the two elders from issuing silly challenges to each other to prove their superiority!