“So I decided to enjoy myself on a Grand Tour,” Luc was saying as they walked together.
Sophie held her parasol casually as she looked about the park. She glanced over her shoulder and saw her grandmother at a polite distance, carrying her own parasol and watching the couple discretely.
Sophie wore a linen gown of blue and white stripes with a square neckline and elbow-length sleeves. Her grandmother was dressed in a similar gown of royal blue with pink embroidery along the scooped neckline. Sophie studied Luc from the corner of her eye and noticed the cream-colored silk coat, waistcoat and breeches adorned with silver embroidery and cream hose. His shoes bore silver buckles and he cut a resplendent figure.
“I shall travel to Geneva and then on to Turin.” He sniffed and smiled disdainfully as an elderly couple passed them in the opposite direction.
Sophie nodded and thought his elaborate dress more befitted her friend Lizette than a man. She had never really bothered to notice male attire before she had met Sebastian, but when she looked over the satin dress of Luc, she thought of Sebastian’s woolen coat and breeches. He always seemed so masculine and radiated a sensuality that was most becoming.
“I will also visit Florence to study the Renaissance paintings and Roman sculptures,” Luc said with a sense of superiority.
“Indeed,” she murmured in response.
He nodded in agreement. “Yes. I’m quite looking forward to it, and of course, my father will pay for the entire journey.”
Sophie had been entirely willing to have her father and grandmother search for a male of the right age to consider as marriage potential. But so far, it hadn’t gone well: her father’s colleague was still in love with his deceased wife and young Luc seemed to be in love with himself.
“Ah, mademoiselle, do you mind? I see some friends that I would like to acknowledge.” He asked permission to leave her side.
“Of course.” Sophie watched Luc leave to join three young men and she came to stand next to her grandmother.
“He seems quite animated,” Eugenie remarked.
“Yes. Quite.” Sophie watched the men chuckle at a distance.
Eugenie caught the tone in Sophie’s voice. “Most men are entirely too selfish, my dear. Your father is not such a man. But many are.”
“I suppose they are. But does that mean I must settle?” She shaded her eyes with her parasol.
Eugenie sighed. “What on earth do you want, Sophie? You want to discuss Plato with your husband?”
“No, Grand-mère. But neither do I want a simpering boy who talks only of himself and dresses like a dandy.”
“Mademoiselle Gauvreau.”
She heard the voice and turned.
It took Sophie a moment to take in the handsome man and his sister. She smiled and addressed each. “Monsieur Fairfax. Mademoiselle Fairfax.” She nodded to Sebastian and his sister Leila.
Sebastian in turn nodded to Sophie and her grandmother, who remembered both siblings from the time spent at the chateau.
Leila looked lovely in a lilac-colored gown while Sebastian was dressed in chocolate-hued breeches and a merlot coat.
“I saw you from a distance and wanted to wish you both a good afternoon,” he said smoothly while taking up Luc’s place beside Sophie. They strolled the lane with Leila and Eugenie trailing behind them.
Sebastian looked over at Sophie and wanted to bring up the pamphlet but didn’t want to upset her or her grandmother, whom he was certain knew nothing about it.
“Sophie?”
“Yes?” She turned her face to his and he stopped. He would speak with her later when there was no audience to overhear. He would find a time at the ball to make her see reason.
“Thank you for the invitation to the ball. Leila and I are both looking forward to it,” he told her instead.
“Of course. I hope it will be a success.”
“It will be,” he assured her.
Leila caught up to the couple and reminded him of an engagement they had and he nodded.
“Until the ball, mademoiselle. Madame.” He nodded to both Sophie and Eugenie before they left.
“Such a handsome man,” Eugenie remarked, and Sophie watched as the brother and sister moved away.
“Yes, he is.”
When Luc re-joined them, Sophie felt as though she had lost a diamond and claimed a topaz.
“Where were we?” he asked.
***
Lizette picked up another lemon cookie and held it in her plump hand before devouring it. She watched as Sophie moved about the room restlessly. She stood next to the chair, then walked to the small couch, and finally stood next to the large windows that overlooked the street below. Sophie knew about the pamphlet and its outcome and that most people in their circle were not amused.