Bold text signifies that the words were spoken in Spanish and translated to English for the story

Chapter 48 Madrid

Their hotel turned out to be every bit as luxurious as promised. Lucas had taken Jack for a walk along La Castellana, the main boulevard running north and south through Madrid, leaving the women to soak in the bathtubs in their suites. Elizabeth thought her skin looked like she was turning into a prune by the time she convinced herself to get out of the glorious water. Laura arrived to help comb out her wet hair and Elizabeth returned the favor. They then lay on the king-size poster bed in Lucas and Elizabeth's suite, in the robes that the hotel had provided. They both dozed for a brief time, but were awakened by Jack who ran into the room and jumped up on the bed.

Lucas followed him, "sorry ladies, we are very energetic despite the walk."

Jack was excited to tell his mama and Laura what he had seen. "We saw peacocks," he announced. "They were blue and green with long tails."

"Yes indeed, we did. We were strolling by one of the larger residences that has a lovely garden and there they were preening, three in total," Lucas informed them.

"You have to go see," Jack told them.

"Indeed, we will," Elizabeth replied. "But first, perhaps Laura and I might get dressed."

"Silly," Jack giggled at the thought of his mama and Laura visiting the peacocks in their fluffy white robes.

"Lucas, I can take him to my room and give him a bath so that you can take yours," Laura told him.

"That will be great, do you mind keeping him for a while; I want to convince my beautiful wife to resume her nap…." He trailed off but Laura got the idea, turning away with a blush. "We will come fetch you both for afternoon tea; it is served in the parlor downstairs.

Laura nodded and held out her hand for Jack, "I don't need a nap," he announced.

"Well, let's get you cleaned up and dressed and then you can decide. If you don't want to sleep, I will read you a story instead," Laura told him.

Elizabeth half listened to the water filling the tub in the bathroom as Lucas prepared to have his turn. She was looking forward to having him curl up next to her, so they could drift off together. But in moments she fell fast asleep.

Lucas was glad for a chance to feel clean again but didn't dawdle as he was looking forward to stretching out next to his wife. He wrapped a towel around himself, fastened it at his waist, and then headed in to join her. He spread her damp hair higher on the pillow so he could hug her and nuzzle her neck. She moved in closer and mumbled in her sleep. He concluded that she was having a lovely dream as she sighed contentedly.

Elizabeth was having the loveliest dream, one that a lady might not relay to anyone else, except perhaps whisper her fantasy to her lover. She was with him now, her knight, as they lay in a meadow of wildflowers, kissing with desperation as he would soon be off to war. This could be their last time together…. She found herself pressing into him, her mouth consumed by his as he stroked her back. Suddenly Elizabeth realized that this was no dream, her lover was there with her, and she was clinging to him, kissing him, with increasing need and desperation. "Elizabeth," he said as only he could say the syllables, as if they were an endearment. "Are you awake? I think you have been having a dream," he said somewhat breathless from her assault.

"Please, don't wake me. Come with me back into my dream. I need you, I want you, only you." She whispered to him. And so, he returned to her, knowing that wherever she had been swept off to, it was with him. He gave her, her release, before taking her up again and joining with her in her meadow of wildflowers.

He glanced at his pocket watch on the nightstand; he estimated that they had been sleeping for a little more than an hour. It would soon be time to go and take Jack and Laura to tea. So, he kissed her cheek and breathed in the scent of lilacs in her hair; and then he rose from bed. She slowly opened her eyes and watched her husband as he dressed; that beautiful man was hers. She admired his long legs as he slipped on his trousers and tucked in his shirt. He turned and saw that she was watching him, and while at one time it had made him blush, now that they had been married for six months he was used to her appreciative gaze and felt flattered to be the reason. He had thought that their passion would have waned to some extent over these months, but if anything, it had increased. That didn't seem possible, but the intimacy of discovering one another's wants and desires, made their connection even stronger.

"Come my love, time to get dressed and collect our son. He was insistent on not napping so Laura I am sure is anxious for a respite," Lucas told her.

Taking the hand, he held out for her, she rose from the bed and into his arms. "I love you," she told him.

"Always," he replied and gently took her mouth with his. After a few moments, he stepped back from her and kissed her gently on the forehead. "You bewitch me," he told her letting her know that if weren't such a loving papa, she would be right back in bed from where she had just come.

"I'll dress now, you may want to go check to see if our son is awake or if he finally succumbed to a nap…."

"All right, I will be back in a little while," Lucas told her as he put on his socks and shoes and headed to the suite across the hall.

The next morning, the sun had already raised the temperature considerably by the time they dressed for breakfast. They had chosen to eat outdoors on the patio next to a fountain; the sound of water was trickling in the background as they discussed the day ahead. The Tremblys had invited them for luncheon and would be sending a carriage at noon. They had told them to dress casually, as lunch would be served on the veranda along their gardens. Laura and Elizabeth had both elected to wear their new muslin day gowns which would be lighter than their usual attire. They both had straw bonnets with ribbons matching their dresses; they would need the hats to block out the brilliant sunlight. Lucas and Jack also had straw hats, fedora style and no ribbons of course. Jack had laughed when Laura had asked where he had left his ribbons.

They took a leisurely stroll down the boulevard to see the peacocks that Jack was so excited for them to see. They were indeed quite striking as their feathers glistened in the sun. The gardener at the residence asked if they would like to enter to see them more closely. They understood his gestures, but Laura did understand a few of his words.

"Can we Papa? Can we?" asked Jack.
"Certainly but stay close to the man and do what he says. We don't want to alarm the birds," Lucas told him.

The gardener showed Jack the peacocks and then toured them around the rose garden which smelled so delightful as the sun warmed the petals and released their scent.

"Muchas gracias," they told the man when it was time to head back to their hotel.
"De nada," he replied bowing to them. "Come back again."

The carriage came at precisely noon and took them a bit out of town to the countryside. The Tremblys occupied a small villa in a fenced property. The horsemen opened the wrought iron gates and led them around the drive to the front of the house. The drive surrounded a circular rose garden with a fountain in the center. Again, the scent of roses was strong but pleasant. They were greeted by the butler who then called their hosts to let them know they had arrived. First on the scene was Floppsie who jumped on Jack excitedly licking him as he giggled and laughed profusely. He hugged her the whole time.

"Ah, Madam Trembly," Lucas greeted her as she entered, "it is so good to see you again. As you can see, Jack and Floppsie have already found one another." He took her hand and kissed it in his charming way.

"It is so good to see you all again," she embraced Elizabeth and then Laura. "May I introduce my husband; Jonathan, dear this is Lucas Bouchard and his lovely wife Elizabeth and their companion Laura. And over there covered with puppy kisses, is Jack." Mr. Trembly shook each of their hands, leaving Jack for later as he was quite occupied at present.

"Come on through, we will be out on the veranda just through those doors," she gestured. They followed her out, her arm linked in her husband's. He patted her hand and held it with affection. Lucas and Elizabeth looked at one another and smiled; theirs was obviously a love match.

They were seated at the table, and each served a glass of "sangria", ice cold red wine with slices of fruit and a touch of brandy. It was both delicious and refreshing, but Elizabeth felt a bit light headed in the heat, and left hers mostly untouched. Floppsie and Jack soon joined them, and he was given sangria made with grape juice and fruit. He declared it "sooo good," to the delight of his hostess and the maid that was serving their lunch. Maria noticed that Elizabeth had left her drink alone and poured her a glass from the pitcher she had made for Jack. "El sol es muy fuerte," she told her. Elizabeth smiled understanding that the maid had commented on the bright sun and nodded, taking the refreshing drink from her.

"This is Maria, and she is my savior. She is teaching me a bit of Spanish so I might speak with her and our butler and chef. I am afraid I am not the best pupil."

Maria smiled, not really understanding the words, but she got the idea that she was being complimented.

"I will be back shortly with the first course," she told Mrs. Trembley.

"Gracias, Maria," the older woman replied.

The first course was a cold tomato soup called "Gazpacho". There were chopped vegetable passed to sprinkle on the soup, including cucumber, green peppers, onions, and cubes of bread. The soup was delicious, and it was the introduction of Spanish food to all but Lucas. The flavors were vibrant and spoke to the summer sun that grew this wonderful produce.

The gazpacho was followed by a dish of steamed mussels, also served cold on the shells marinated with vinegar and minced onions, peppers and tomato and a hint of garlic. Elizabeth thought that Jack would turn up his nose at the shellfish but instead declared them "sooo good" as well.

The main course consisted of grilled lamb; it was so tender and succulent with a hint of garlic and rosemary. It was accompanied by roasted potatoes with a spicy sauce and a community salad of crisp romaine lettuce, tomatoes, chunks of tuna, boiled eggs, and green olives. Elizabeth loved the salad as it was like a Spanish version of the Niçoise salad she was so fond of.

The main course was followed by a platter of Spanish cheeses including one called "Manchego" that was paired with a firm paste made from quince called "Membrillo". Together they were the perfect pairing of salty and sweet. There was also a bowl of fruit brought to the table. And finally, a tart of apples in custard was served to complete the meal.

"That was delicious, "Lucas pronounced, followed by similar sentiments from Elizabeth and Laura.

Elizabeth spoke next, "we want to thank you for the invitations to the Louvre pre-opening celebration for Victory Day. It was something we will never forget."

"I am glad that you had an enjoyable time. My friend at the embassy in Paris called me a few days after the event to tell me that you had had a good time. Do you have a favorite painting? I heard the selection of artwork was exceptional."

"Well," said Elizabeth, "it is hard to choose. We cataloged each one in our travel journal. But if I had to pick one, and only one, then it would be "The Lacemaker" by Vermeer," she told him.

"I knew it. You admired it with such attention I knew that it captivated you," Lucas told her.

Elizabeth smiled; she knew he had guessed her two favorites, but she had been coy with him. "And you my dear, did not hide your admiration for the Spanish School representation."

"Yes, it was new to me. I look forward to seeing more at the Prado Museum while we are here in Madrid," Lucas told them.

Mr. Trembly replied, "you can take a tour with a museum guide, but I would recommend that you take one of the embassy staff in my employ. He is from Madrid and is intimately familiar with the Prado and especially the Spanish school."

"Well, if it is agreeable with him, we would be delighted to have an escort. Elizabeth and I are quite familiar with Italian, Dutch and French art, but neither of us have studied the Spanish artists. The El Greco and Velasquez paintings that we saw at the opening were magnificent."

"Well, if you enjoyed those, then you will be enchanted by what you will see. The art of the Spanish school is darker than those of the other schools, perhaps it is the history of Spain; the church and the Inquisition, and the Moorish occupation, that significantly influenced it," he told them.

The women decided to take a stroll in the gardens while the men remained to drink brandy and speak about international politics in the post war era.

The Tremblys had encouraged them to take a carriage ride through town before they returned to the hotel. They slowly journeyed down La Castellana, passing famous statues at each "plaza" along the way. Jack got very excited about the statue of "Cibelles" riding her chariot led by two fierce lions. "Roooar" Jack imitated. The fountain itself was bursting with spouts of water. They headed south past the fountain of Neptune which was right by their hotel and turned west toward the Puerta Del Sol (door of the sun). The center of the Puerta Del Sol, was considered kilometer 0, the center of the radial network of roads traversing the country. It was originally one of the doors to the city, when it was walled in the 15th century. A large clock kept the time for Madrid, and as the capital, all clocks in the country were synchronized to it.

They then made their way close by to La Plaza Major, which was a square surrounded by apartments built in the early 17th century. They got out of the carriage and went to have coffee/tea and pastries at one of the little cafés that had outdoor seating. Jack chased the pigeons, while Lucas chased him, trying to keep him from getting hurt on the cobblestones or filthy from the birds. He finally convinced him to come sit down to have some freshly squeezed orange juice ("zumo de naranja") and some "Churros", a crunchy deep fried pastry shaped like a large cigar and sprinkled with sugar.

They enjoyed their treats but soon decided that they shouldn't keep the driver waiting for too long in the heat of the day. So, they made their way back to the carriage and then circled back to head north up La Castellana toward their hotel. They listened to songs accompanied by guitars in the hotel lobby, for a while, before heading to their rooms to rest before dinner.

The next day they decided would be all about Jack, and him having fun. So they headed to El Parque de Buen Retiro , or Retiro Park, built in the 17th century by the king. It was opened to the public in 1868. One of the main attractions of the park, besides its large green space, is a large lake. There were row boats for rent so visitors could paddle around the lake, and of course Jack was excited to have Lucas take him. Elizabeth was concerned because her little boy did not know how to swim, but the attendants had put a life preserver on him and on Lucas. Lucas was a strong swimmer but had decided to set an example for the little boy.

After paddling for almost an hour, Lucas decided to row them back to the boat dock so they could get lunch. They found Laura and Elizabeth where they had left them. There was another family next to them that had two little boys who were playing with their sailboats along the edge of the water. The father came over to Lucas and asked him if his little boy would like to join his sons. The man had overheard them speaking English, so he was using his highly accented but very good English.

"Jack, this nice man would like to know if you want to play with his boys. They are the ones that you are watching with the boats," Lucas asked him.

"Yes, please!" he said to Lucas and the man. The man led him down to the water and introduced him to his sons Juan and Jose. They smiled at him and the older boy, Juan, handed him the string to his boat. Jack took the string and spoke in the universal language of smiles.

Lucas, Laura, and Elizabeth kept one eye on Jack who was having a good time playing with the boys and their boats. Lucas flagged down a vendor, that was selling sandwiches and bought lunch for everyone including the parents of the two boys. They chatted amicably with the parents, the man interpreting for his wife. Laura was able to say a few sentences to her in her new language, Spanish, listening carefully to the woman to get a better sense of how it sounded from a native.

Elizabeth and Lucas were both impressed with her courage as she interacted with the woman despite her general shyness. The woman, who had introduced herself as Carmen, was helping her with her pronunciation and before long Laura was rolling her r's with the best of them. She had also learned that here in Madrid they spoke Castellano, where the "z" was pronounced like "th". In Mexico it was pronounced like "s". The boys finally came in search of food and Laura practiced her Spanish on them as well. Jack had already learned several words and could say "my name is Jack" "thank you" "I like to sail the boat" and "I am hungry".
"Tengo hambre," he told Laura rubbing his tummy as the boys had done to teach him. Laura passed out the sandwiches to the boys who then sat in the grass to eat them. They pointed and played charades to teach Jack Spanish and in return he taught them the same words and phrases in English, just as he had done with French/English and the children back in France.

The boy's father introduced himself as Pedro and spoke to Lucas in English. "You have quite the son there. He is a natural born communicator."

"He has had practice; we have just come from a month in France visiting my family where he had to speak in French but taught the children some rudimentary English too. I had prepared him a bit before we went there, but mostly, he absorbed French like a sponge," Lucas told him.

"I can hear my sons have learned a few words of English in exchange for teaching him some Spanish. Perhaps I will continue with them in English from time to time. Someday when they attend school, they will learn English as their second language, It is rapidly overtaking French as the language of science; I predict someday that it will be the major second language overtaking French in both science and diplomacy. No insult to your French roots, but in Spain you will find no one sad that French will be English."

"I believe you are not wrong," replied Lucas to the man. "In eastern Canada, especially Quebec, French is still most important; but as one heads west, English is the dominant language. In the western parts of Canada and the United States, immigration of Asian peoples has introduced Chinese and Japanese to some extent. And in the western states of the United States immigrants from Mexico are making Spanish a language of increasing importance. The Mexican Revolution has created an influx of Mexicans exiles to the United States, especially in the agricultural sector from California up into Washington."

Elizabeth was half hearing Lucas and Pedro speaking; Lucas was in his element. He enjoyed discussions of politics and social issues, economics and business, topics that Elizabeth was less equipped to discuss with him. So, it was nice for him to have had contact with men during their travels to have such discussions with. Back home he had Henry and to some extent Bill and Mike, and more recently Lee to feed his interest. He and Henry had taken Fiona under their wing to teach her more about business as she was interested in pursuing a career along those lines. There would be a growing number of women in all fields, as woman had begun their struggles for opportunities to have a larger say in broader areas of society.

They said goodbye to their afternoon companions and returned to their hotel. The boys had promised to get help from their father to write a letter to Jack when he returned to Hope Valley and he would have Lucas help him write one in return.

The Tremblys had promised to come into the city for dinner with Laura and Jack. They would be dining in Laura and Jack's suite so that Jack could play with Floppsie. Mr. Trembly had assured Lucas that he was reading a very interesting book and would be happy to sit on the terrace and enjoy the evening with his book, while Jack played, and Laura and Mrs. Trembly entertained themselves with their pursuit of Spanish.

As for Lucas and Elizabeth, they had reservations for dinner at the oldest restaurant in the world. Sobrino Botin (or just Botin's) was founded in 1725 by ironically a Frenchman, named Jean Botin. When he died, his nephew renamed the restaurant from Casa Botin to Sobrino (nephew) Botin. They dined on the house specialty; roasted sucking pig, apple in the mouth and all. After dinner they went to a Taverna de Flamenco to enjoy listening to guitar music and singing and watching the Andalucian flamenco dancers.

They returned late that night, finding Jack and Laura in bed fast asleep. They went to their room and Lucas poured himself a glass of brandy from Jerez, Spain, that the hotel had provided gratis. "Would you like some my darling?" Lucas asked her.
"Perhaps just a glass of cold water that the staff has left us, with lemon slices, I need something refreshing," she told him. He poured hers and then took their glasses to the terrace. He had long ago removed his jacket as the Taverna had been hot from the weather and the crowd. He removed his tie and unbuttoned the top few buttons. Elizabeth was dressed in the lightweight dress that she had worn on the night they had gone to the jazz club in Paris. He removed his socks and shoes and encouraged her to let him do the same for her as there was no longer any reason not to be cooler and more comfortable. They took their glasses outside and sat holding hands next to one another in the lounge chairs on the terrace. It was after midnight and finally cool enough to make them more comfortable. He adjusted his chair so he was sitting upright and encouraged her to come sit on his lap so that he could kiss her. He had been waiting for this moment all night, as they had experienced the passion and heat of the Flamenco. It had been heady and beautiful; he had wanted her desperately as she sat next to him, her thigh against his, her hand on his knee and his covering hers as they had all but melted into the sensuous music and movement.

She had felt the heat as well, as the music and the dance had been steamy. They now kissed passionately until it wasn't enough to satisfy the hunger that they had aroused in one another. She stood and reached for his hand as she led him back inside. She was wearing her hair up in combs to keep it off her neck in the heat. He pulled her into his arms, her back against him as he kissed her neck and shoulders. He reached up and removed the combs from her hair letting the chestnut tresses fall. He grabbed it and wound it around his wrist, pulling her head back exposing her neck to his mouth. She moaned with pleasure, and that was his undoing. He swept her up in his arms and lay her on the bed as he removed his shirt and eased down next to her. He took her mouth in his again, fanning the embers and reigniting the passion of the dance that had seduced them.

They woke both exhausted as they had not slept much that night. But along with exhaustion was also an overwhelming sense of contentment. Both felt well and completely loved. He nuzzled her neck with his nose and then kissed her cheek as he heard a knock on the door. Normally they didn't lock it, but he had done so last night as he had anticipated a memorable night.

"One moment," he called to Jack and quickly grabbed a robe as he headed to the door. Elizabeth had a cotton nightgown under her pillow which she quickly put on.

"Mama, Papa, soy Jack", he announced in Spanish through the door which Lucas promptly opened.

"Bienvenido, Jack," Lucas told him and bowed motioning him to enter. He promptly ran and jumped on the bed to kiss his mother. She gave him a hug and looked up at Lucas, the fatigue clear on her face. But she also had a sweet and adoring smile for him.

"I love you," she mouthed. "Je t'aime," he mouthed back.

He went to the bathroom, washed up a bit, put on his pajamas and then returned to bed. He kissed Jack and then his wife and closed his eyes pretending to snore.

"Papa is very tired, we stayed out very late last night," Elizabeth told Jack.

"Papa sounds like a tired bear," he said and did a demonstration. Lucas couldn't keep in his mirth as he burst into a belly laugh at Jack's bear imitation.

"What sound does a bear make?" Lucas asked.

"Grrrrooowl," demonstrating his best mean look and claws. Lucas growled back and both burst out laughing as Elizabeth shook her head at their silliness. She ducked under the covers so as not to laugh too.

Finally, she came up for air, "so what are the bears up to today?", she asked.

"Laura said we would go to visit the King's house," Jack said.

"Ah, the royal palace, that sounds like a good idea," said Elizabeth.

"Remember, tonight we have the embassy gathering," said Lucas. Mr. and Mrs. Trembly will be stopping by to pick us up at 6:00. They will bring Maria with them as she will be babysitting Jack this evening so that Laura can go with us."

"She seems like a very nice woman, but what if he needs something and she doesn't understand him?" asked Elizabeth. "Laura said she would stay behind."

"Not to worry, Maria's niece is a nursing student and according to Mrs. Trembly, speaks very good English. She will be accompanying Maria; I think they will get along fine. And I have alerted the concierge who will check in with them periodically. They will be served dinner in Laura and Jack's suite at 7:30. Floppsie will be there too so Jack will feel very comfortable. Also, he can practice Spanish with Maria and her niece."

"Leave it to you to have everything planned and under control," she told Lucas.

"It is my specialty," he replied.

"I thought that was your magic hands," she said.

"Any complaints?" he teased wiggling his eyebrows. She smacked him without much power behind it.

A couple of hours later they found themselves in an opulent palace, second only to Versailles. Jack and Laura were awed by the fancy furnishing and impressive amount of gold leaf everywhere. This was their first experience with something so lavish. They tried to stay with their guide, but Jack had other ideas. Laura spent a lot of time reeling him back in. For lunch they were escorted to the gardens, which was a relief. Laura and Lucas exchanged places as he kept Jack from straying too far. They ordered lunch from an outdoor café that was designed for the many visitors. They explored the carriage house, green houses and other amenities before catching their hired car for their return to the hotel.

Jack had done enough running around that he was soon nodding off in his room.

Lucas was dressed first for their evening, so he took Jack on a walk, leaving the women to dress. Both had special gowns from Paris for the occasion. He himself was wearing tails, something he didn't often have the need for, but it would be expected for this diplomatic event. They strolled outside and sat on a bench outside, Jack, eating a biscuit to tide him over until dinner.

"Now, Jack, you know that Mama and Papa are going to a special dinner party; we are going to bring Laura with us too. Do you remember Maria, who gave you the juice and served the dinner at Floppsie's house?" Lucas asked him. He nodded.

"Well, she and another young lady will be staying with you while we are gone. And Floppsie will be joining you. You will be a very good boy for them, won't you?" Lucas looked directly at the little boy making sure that he understood.

"Yes, Papa, Floppsie and me will be good."

"You must listen to the ladies, Maria speaks Spanish, but Inez also speaks English."

Jack nodded that he understood and proceeded to munch on his biscuit. Lucas was impressed by how well Jack had taken the fact that he would be staying with virtual strangers. The fact that Floppsie would be there he figured had a lot to do with it. But also, he had been with so many different people this summer and had become much more gregarious as a result.

At 6:00, the Tremblys arrived to find Lucas and Jack waiting for them. Lucas hurried to the carriage and helped Mrs. Trembly out as Mr. Trembly had been placed in charge of carrying Floppsie. Jack rushed to take the leash from the man and got his usual share of wet doggie kisses.
"I would shake your hand Bouchard, but I am afraid the Floppsie has been licking it," he laughed," is there somewhere I might wash up?"

En lieu of shaking the man's hand, Lucas gave him a pat on the back and said, "there is a guest's only washroom off the lobby, but I am sure the concierge won't mind since you are with me. We might ask if he has a clothes brush for your tuxedo as well," he told him. The man looked down at his suit which was indeed covered with long dog hair. He shook his head and rolled his eyes.

"Lead the way," he told Lucas. Lucas held his arm out for Mrs. Trembly to take as he escorted them to the lobby. He found a seat on a sofa for her and showed her husband to the washroom. He then went to retrieve a brush from the concierge and asked to be connected via phone to Elizabeth.

"The Tremblys have arrived, and I am with them in the lobby. I will send up Jack, Maria and Inez with one of the bell boys. Will you and Laura come down yourselves or shall I come up and escort you?"

"Oh, we will manage just fine. You stay and entertain our hosts. Laura and I will be down as soon as we are able to chat with Maria and Inez to see if they have any questions. Is Floppsie with them too?" she asked.

"I'll say, I had to ask for a brush for Trembly's tuxedo, it has a significant amount of Floppsie's coat on it," he told her.

Elizabeth giggled as she thought of Lucas brushing dog hair off of Mr. Trembly. Lucas could very well ask for one of the staff to do it, but she knew Lucas. He would do it himself as the man was doing them a favor by bringing the dog in the first place.

Almost a half an hour passed before Laura and Elizabeth arrived in the lobby. They made a striking pair as they entered, holding hands with bright smiles on their faces. Lucas walked across the room and took one woman on each arm and escorted them to the sofa where their hosts were sitting. Several of the guests were looking at the trio. Lucas in his tuxedo and the ladies in their Parisian couture.

Mr. Trembly rose immediately as was proper and commented, "Ah Bouchard, you are a lucky man to have such lovely women on your arm."

"Indeed, I am," Lucas answered. "Madam Trembly, you are looking particularly lovely this evening."

"Lucas Bouchard, you are indeed the charmer but alas this old woman has seen better days," she answered.

"Ah, my dear, you will always be beautiful in my eyes," her husband told her as he held his hand out to help her to her feet. He kissed her hand and linked her arm in his as they turned to exit the lobby.

Laura smiled at Lucas and Elizabeth, "they are so sweet together," she said.

Lucas and Elizabeth looked at one another, that would be them someday they were thinking. Older and grayer but still in love.

Lucas replied, "yes, they are a very nice couple and lucky to have one another. As much as he grumbled about it, I don't think he actually minded the dog hair all that much. He knows how much she means to his wife."

Dinner at the American Embassy was a lavish affair; it began with a cocktail hour where guests were introduced to one another. As one of the embassy staff, Mr. Trembly was one of those helping with introductions. Lucas and Elizabeth met the ambassador and several of the dignitaries from other embassies in Madrid. They were also introduced to the young man that would be accompanying them to the Prado Museum the next day. They planned to meet in the hotel lobby for breakfast.
A five-course meal was served and afterwards there was dancing. Lucas and Elizabeth waltzed several times with each other but also with some of the others in attendance. Elizabeth danced with the ambassador and Lucas with his wife. They had chatted at dinner and had been quite impressed with the couple who were only a handful of years older. He had been raised as the son of a diplomat, apparently his grandfather had also been in government service.

It was finally time to say good night and return to their hotel. The Tremblys waited down in the carriage while Lucas went up to Jack's room to escort Maria and Inez down. Jack had gone to bed with Floppsie next to him. Maria gently tried to remove the dog from his arms, but he held on tight. Maria looked at her niece, shrugging her shoulders.

"Dejala," she told Maria and to the others, "we shall leaver her, I think that Señor and Señora Trembly will understand," Inez told them. You can return her when Jake is dropped off for the day before you head to the Prado."
"Gracias por todo," said Lucas, essentially exhausting his knowledge of Spanish. "Thank you, both for spending your evening watching over him. We really appreciated being able to attend the gala." Inez translated for Maria, who then smiled at them."

"De nada, es un hijo muy agradable."

Elizabeth and Elizabeth were able to understand her as some words were very akin to French.

It was coincidently the 100th year anniversary of the opening of the Prado Museum to the public. At the time of the opening, it contained only paintings from Spanish artists but later, paintings from the royal collection were added with art from all of the major European schools. It was the Spanish School that they would be focusing on today as this was least familiar to them and this was indeed the highlight of the museum. Roberto Navarro was their guide, and he had a depth of knowledge about the art that was quite impressive. Once again, Lucas and Elizabeth entered the paintings into their journal making notes from the descriptions Roberto gave them. There were paintings by El Greco, Goya, Velasquez, and others.

Goya was one of the most interesting of the artists; he went through a number of transformations in his life. He was, for a number of years, a court painter and some of his most famous works are portraits of the royal family. It was during this period that he created a pair of full length portraits of a woman purported to be "The Duchess of Alba", one clothed and one nude. He was clearly more inspired by the nude as her features are carefully illustrated while the clothed version has much less defined features. His nude is considered the first true nude in history; that is, not in a mythical or other historical scene. During the Peninsular War, in which France had invaded Spain, Goya painted images from the battles. In his later years, with growing physical and mental despair he painted a dozen paintings on the walls of his home; this is known as his "Black Period" and the visions are disturbing nightmares. Some 50 years after his death, the murals were removed and transferred to canvas.

Lucas and Elizabeth admired his paintings, but in particular, were captivated by the nude, "She was his lover I think….," said Lucas.

"I would agree," said Elizabeth, "but somehow what should be scandalous and embarrassing, I can only find beautiful; is that wrong of me?"

"No, my love, she knows he is worshipping her and is beautiful in his eyes. Remember our wedding night, I thought you looked the fairy queen, and wished I could have captured your portrait that night as he did of his "Maja"". When you are well loved and look up at me with that contented knowing smile, you grab me by the heart. You are all that I have ever envisioned in a woman. I lust for that long voluptuous form that for me is sheer perfection."

She blushed, as much from slight embarrassment as from the heat she suddenly felt. "Perhaps we should go over to where Roberto and Laura are discussing that royal family portrait," she told him. "I feel a bit shaky at the moment."

"I seem to have worked myself in a state as well," he leaned his forehead to hers and then kissed it and led her to join the others. He was indeed in a state and knew that the rest of the tour might be uncomfortable. Perhaps they would visit Goya's Dark Period paintings next so he could shake these feelings off.

Instead, they next visited the work of Diego Velasquez. Both were stricken with the beauty and power of the "Crucified Christ"; no words were needed as they held hands and squeezed them in reverence. Also, by Velasquez was "Las Meninas" a painting of a five-year-old princess and her "entourage"; in it he paints himself painting the princess, and her parents are reflected in the mirror. The painting was a complex study of perspectives.

Next, Lucas was extremely excited about the work of El Greco ("The Greek"), an example of which they had seen in the Louvre. El Greco was not appreciated in his time as his dramatic and expressionistic style, featuring long angular bodies often of unusual skin tone… tinted blue, green or hints of yellow. He is known for his religious figures, Christ and his apostles. It wasn't until long after his death that his work was viewed as masterful. Lucas found the deviation from traditional art of the period both unique and fascinating. Roberto told Lucas that one of his most famous works hung in a church in Toledo which was the next town on their list of stops. They would be sure to visit his work there.

They invited Roberto to accompany them to the Trembly's for tea. Jack had stayed with them as the artwork in the Prado was hardly appropriate for a young boy. It wasn't the nudity that concerned his parents as much as some of the darker, more violent visions that might give him nightmares. Lucas and Elizabeth weren't entirely sure that they wouldn't be having a few. One of the paintings they had seen was called "The Garden of Earthly Delights" by Bosch; it was a depiction of man's failings worthy of the most terrifying nightmare.

They recounted their experience in the Prado to the Tremblys, repeatedly thanking Roberto for imparting his knowledge to them in what had been a truly memorable visit.

"Ah," said Mr Trembly," did I not tell you that Roberto was the right man for the job?"

"Yes, you did, and we are in your debt. Not just for introducing us to Roberto, but for your gracious assistance with our son. It is very kind of you both to have watched over him so that Laura could enjoy Madrid with us."

"It has been a pleasure," they both assured him. "Floppsie has loved seeing Jack again. She will miss him," said Mrs. Trembly.

"And he will miss her too," said Elizabeth. "I can already hear my husband trying to convince me that what Jack needs is a puppy as soon as we return home."

"Well, I think that he should have the company of a dog; at least until he has siblings to enjoy!" Mrs. Trembly announced.

Elizabeth blushed and looked at Lucas, who was already looking at her carefully. Yes, he would be discussing the prospect of a dog for Jack, but he was also ready to broach another topic with her.

They had ended up staying for dinner, something they had not planned, but they agreed to let Jack spend more time with Floppsie on what was there last night in Madrid. In the morning they would be catching the train to Toledo.

The dinner was of course delicious; all prepared by their Spanish chef who was a master of the flavors of Spain. Lucas was going to speak to Gustave about adding some Spanish dishes to the menu at the Queen. He knew that it would not be a popular request of the chef who thought that only the French could cook. But he was determined to broaden the menu of the Queen as his plan to expand the restaurant and deemphasize the bar were put in place. He wanted the community to experience cuisine from other countries. He would come up with a plan to get Gustave to think it was his own idea. Surely, he could do credit to any cuisine, n'est pas? He would get Elizabeth to join in on his plan; she had a way with Gustave, something that he would definitely use to his advantage.

As might be predicted, Jack's goodbye to Floppsie was not without tears. He tried to be "a big boy" but couldn't stop the quiet tears from falling. They took him back to the hotel and his Papa promised to help him make a likeness of Floppsie for him to paint. He was finally able to get his son to fall to sleep, tightly holding the teddy bear he had won him in the Founders' Day carnival.

They returned to their room quite anxious to remove their shoes after all the time on their feet during the museum tour. Lucas went and drew a bath for Elizabeth so she could soak; he added some bath salts to the water that would help ease her tired feet. Perhaps he would treat her to a foot massage as well. While she was soaking, he removed his shirt and washed up using the pitcher and basin inside the master bedroom. He slipped into a robe so he would be ready for a quick bath himself.

She called to him to help rinse her hair before she stepped into the robe that he held out for her. She had unplugged that tub and he turned on the water to refill it a bit so he could have a quick turn.

She set about combing out her hair and then carefully selected from her lingerie. She would wear the filmy confection that Rosie had given her for her wedding trousseau. She hadn't worn it again since then, saving it for a special occasion. And she figured that their discussion over the Goya "Maja Desnuda", had inspired the right occasion. Well, she wouldn't be nude, but Rosie's gift molded to her like a second skin. She waited for him, spreading her hair over a towel on her pillow so that it would dry. She lay on the sheets with the bed uncovered as the night was hot and sultry. Her bath had cooled her a bit, but she had sultry on her mind as Lucas entered the room.

Of course, he remembered the gown and how she had looked that night as moonlight cast a cool glow over her. She had been beautiful. And just as that night, she now took his breath away. Somehow not the Elven Queen this time, but a temptress who knew what she wanted. And he was prepared for wherever she wanted to take them. His eyes traced every curve as he walked to her. Those long legs, one with the knee slightly raised, her long neck beautifully exposed as her hair spread out around her. The top of her gown cut low enough that she was barely covered. She held one arm out to him to motion him over and when he got there, she tugged at the belt of his robe. He joined her, enjoying for a few moments the feeling of their bodies in perfect alignment as they lay facing one another on their sides. He began his exploration which he hoped to extend as much as he could, wanting that feeling of bringing her with him slowly, savoring every moment until the hunger overwhelmed them both.

The next morning, Lucas woke as dawn broke; feelings of love and contentment swamping him. She was curled against him, her cheek against her chest and he leaned over to kiss her forehead.
"I love you," he whispered. She snuggled closer if that was even possible but didn't wake; he kept still, enjoying the movement of her breathing. He thought about their night, retracing the outline of her curves, the movement of her body against his as she soaked in his adoration. Almost as if sensing his thoughts, she opened her eyes slowly and looked at him. "Mine, all mine," she said with a smile. "You make me greedy."

"Mmmm… I like you that way," he teased her enfolding her into both arms as they reveled in the afterglow of their night.

"Elizabeth, I have something I want to ask you. Something that I haven't wanted to say out loud but find I can no longer hold it inside."

"You know you can tell me anything, Lucas, you can ask me anything. You are my soulmate, and we are extensions of one another," she assured him."

"Mon coeur, it has been over a week since… ", he hesitated, "since your last cycle should have arrived. Dare we hope? Is it too soon?"

She freed her arms and pulled his head to hers so that she could kiss him softly. She nuzzled his nose with hers as she whispered, "I can't be certain yet, but yes, I think we can hope now. I believe that we have been blessed since that night in Paris when we wished for our miracle."

"I love you, Elizabeth, and I will watch over you and care for you; you can count on me."

"I am counting on it, my love. I want to share everything with you. I am blessed to have you," she said with love.

He held on to her, overwhelmed with the feelings that he might be a papa. To have another child to love would be special. A little boy or girl to join their family. Jack would be such a good brother.

Elizabeth began to giggle. He poked her and asked, "what is so funny?"

"I was thinking that even if we are going to have a baby, I say yes to the puppy for Jack", she told him.

"Really?" He exclaimed with glee. "Really?", like a kid on Christmas.

"Yes, really," she told him. "If you are so excited about a puppy, then what is going to happen when our baby arrives?" she asked him.

"That will be the second-best day of my life," he told her.

"And the best?"

"The day I saw you on the street and knew that you were all I had ever hoped for. My hopes were dashed for a short while when I thought you weren't available; but my heart never let go from that moment on."

"And I will never forget to be grateful that you waited for me to be your family, Jack and me. And hopefully now we have another precious soul that has joined us, and who I can't wait to meet."

A smile slowly spread on his face, the dimples showing and his eyes alit. "Me either." He gently placed his hand on her abdomen reverently, as if a silent prayer for the child she knew in her heart she was carrying.