to go back. But how can he? His estates were confiscated after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes when Huguenots were persecuted by the Government.’
‘That must have been sad for your family – but I can only be glad because it has brought you here.’
She was quite enchanting, and after the first shock of being with the most beautiful and attractive young woman he had ever met he began to wonder how soon he could make her his mistress.
He was too experienced to make a false step; he knew very well that he would have to be patient. He was prepared for a little delay, but because of that, the culmination would seem all the more worthwhile when it was reached.
He went warily through the evening – yet as though in a dream. And when he said farewell to the Princess he had made no assignation with her charming demoiselle d’honneur, not being sure how this should be done.
‘I trust,’ said the Princess, a little slyly, ‘that Mademoiselle d’Olbreuse looked after you?’
‘Admirably,’ he answered.
‘I am so pleased. You look as though you have really enjoyed my little ball.’
‘So much,’ he answered fervently. ‘As I never have enjoyed a ball before.’
She laughed and tapped him with her fan. ‘I am delighted. Then my little Mademoiselle did her duty. She is such a good and virtuous girl. I knew I could trust you with her … and her with you.’
Two days later he presented himself at the Princess’s house and begged for an audience with her.
Once more he was received graciously. He looked about him for a sign of Eléonore. There was none.
‘You are contented in Breda?’ asked the Princess.
‘I am not sure. It has occurred to me that I should not give myself entirely to pleasure while I am here.’
The Princess raised her eyebrows and asked what he had in mind.
‘My education in languages has been rather neglected, I fear. I have been thinking that while I am staying here it might be a good opportunity to remedy that in some way.’
‘Oh? What language did you wish to learn?’
‘French. I was wondering if you could suggest a teacher.’
‘I doubt not I could find you one. Some old nobleman – an exile from France, very short of money – might be glad to earn a little.’
‘You have many French friends with you here in Breda.’
She studied him archly. ‘As you discovered when you last visited us.’
‘Yes. There was one young French woman …’
‘Ah, Mademoiselle d’Olbreuse. What an excellent idea! Her father might help you. Oh, I am not sure. They are a very proud family. You have no idea how proud some of these exiles can be. Pride seems to grow out of poverty.’
‘To show it perhaps is their only way of reminding others of their past splendours.’
‘I am sure you are right. I do not think the Marquis would care to become a teacher of French. I believe I know an old professor …’
‘Well, I fear I should not wish to be so serious as that. He would put me through lessons which I should find beyond my powers of concentration.’
‘But my dear friend, you will have to concentrate if you wish to learn a language.’
‘I meant rather to learn through conversation … light, amusing conversation.’
‘Such as you might exchange with a young lady?’
‘Exactly.’
‘With say … Mademoiselle d’Olbreuse?’
‘That is what I mean.’
She laughed and nodded. ‘Well, I could ask Eléonore how she would feel about giving you such lessons. Shall I do so?’
‘I would deem it a great favour if you did.’
‘It would please me to please you,’ she aswered. ‘After all we are connected by marriage now. But I must warn you, cousin. Are you my cousin? Let us pretend so. It is such a pleasant, cosy relationship. I must warn you that it could only be Mademoiselle d’Olbreuse teaching you the French language. You would not be expected, however tempted, to teach her anything.’
She laughed and went on. ‘She is an enchanting creature, I grant you. She
‘That must have been sad for your family – but I can only be glad because it has brought you here.’
She was quite enchanting, and after the first shock of being with the most beautiful and attractive young woman he had ever met he began to wonder how soon he could make her his mistress.
He was too experienced to make a false step; he knew very well that he would have to be patient. He was prepared for a little delay, but because of that, the culmination would seem all the more worthwhile when it was reached.
He went warily through the evening – yet as though in a dream. And when he said farewell to the Princess he had made no assignation with her charming demoiselle d’honneur, not being sure how this should be done.
‘I trust,’ said the Princess, a little slyly, ‘that Mademoiselle d’Olbreuse looked after you?’
‘Admirably,’ he answered.
‘I am so pleased. You look as though you have really enjoyed my little ball.’
‘So much,’ he answered fervently. ‘As I never have enjoyed a ball before.’
She laughed and tapped him with her fan. ‘I am delighted. Then my little Mademoiselle did her duty. She is such a good and virtuous girl. I knew I could trust you with her … and her with you.’
Two days later he presented himself at the Princess’s house and begged for an audience with her.
Once more he was received graciously. He looked about him for a sign of Eléonore. There was none.
‘You are contented in Breda?’ asked the Princess.
‘I am not sure. It has occurred to me that I should not give myself entirely to pleasure while I am here.’
The Princess raised her eyebrows and asked what he had in mind.
‘My education in languages has been rather neglected, I fear. I have been thinking that while I am staying here it might be a good opportunity to remedy that in some way.’
‘Oh? What language did you wish to learn?’
‘French. I was wondering if you could suggest a teacher.’
‘I doubt not I could find you one. Some old nobleman – an exile from France, very short of money – might be glad to earn a little.’
‘You have many French friends with you here in Breda.’
She studied him archly. ‘As you discovered when you last visited us.’
‘Yes. There was one young French woman …’
‘Ah, Mademoiselle d’Olbreuse. What an excellent idea! Her father might help you. Oh, I am not sure. They are a very proud family. You have no idea how proud some of these exiles can be. Pride seems to grow out of poverty.’
‘To show it perhaps is their only way of reminding others of their past splendours.’
‘I am sure you are right. I do not think the Marquis would care to become a teacher of French. I believe I know an old professor …’
‘Well, I fear I should not wish to be so serious as that. He would put me through lessons which I should find beyond my powers of concentration.’
‘But my dear friend, you will have to concentrate if you wish to learn a language.’
‘I meant rather to learn through conversation … light, amusing conversation.’
‘Such as you might exchange with a young lady?’
‘Exactly.’
‘With say … Mademoiselle d’Olbreuse?’
‘That is what I mean.’
She laughed and nodded. ‘Well, I could ask Eléonore how she would feel about giving you such lessons. Shall I do so?’
‘I would deem it a great favour if you did.’
‘It would please me to please you,’ she aswered. ‘After all we are connected by marriage now. But I must warn you, cousin. Are you my cousin? Let us pretend so. It is such a pleasant, cosy relationship. I must warn you that it could only be Mademoiselle d’Olbreuse teaching you the French language. You would not be expected, however tempted, to teach her anything.’
She laughed and went on. ‘She is an enchanting creature, I grant you. She
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