I shall take back the narration.

After strolling around the grounds for an hour, Elise and I returned to the house. Andelbert was waiting for us in the parlor.

“Can I get you anything?” Andelbert asked.

“Yes,” I replied. “Elise will be staying with us until her business with the Grand Duke is concluded. Please have Maria prepare a room for her.”

“Very good,” Andelbert said and left to inform Maria.

“That reminds me. I assume you brought a case with you?” I said to Elise.

“Yes, I have a small case. Captain Desmet told me to leave it on board. He said his crew would deliver it to the Portbelly Inn for me.”

“I will send Andelbert to fetch it.”

“Thank you.”

Later that afternoon, Andelbert returned with Elise’s travel case and took it up to her guest room. Maria escorted Elise to her room so she could freshen up before dinner.

Maria has kindly agreed to tell the next portion of the tale.

I chose the best guest room for Elise. It has a beautiful canopy bed and a large sitting area. It also has an excellent view of the estate gardens. I hoped we would have a chance to chat so I could get to know her better.

“This is your room. I brought hot water up from the kitchen. Let me know if you need anything else,” I said.

“It is wonderful, Maria. Far more luxurious than I am accustomed to.”

Elise walked over to the window and said, “The view is spectacular.”

“I am pleased you like it.”

“Maria, can I ask you a personal question?”

“Of course.”

“How did you meet Andelbert?”

I smiled and said, “I showed Andelbert and Britpop to their guest rooms. Later, Andelbert asked me to show him the Palace kitchens.”

“Truly? How romantic,” Elise said sarcastically.

I laughed.

“I was taken aback until he explained that he was a baker. I could have had one of the other maids or one of the kitchen staff give him a tour, but I was curious. He seemed so passionate about seeing them.”

“How did the tour go?”

“Surprisingly well. I showed him the kitchens, ice houses, and vegetable gardens. Although he spent much of the time looking at me.”

Elsie laughed and said, “Men are so easily distracted.”

“True. When the tour was over, Andelbert asked me if he could bake bread for the King.”

“He didn’t.”

“He did. But before I could make the request, he somehow got Marquis Lafayette to ask the King directly.”

“Andelbert is quite surprising.”

“He is, indeed. They both are.”

“I am discovering that. So how did Andelbert court you?”

“He showed me how to make his bread. Although I still cannot make it as well as he does. Then he asked me to show him more of the Palace grounds. He is quite persistent.”

“And you agreed?”

“I arranged a picnic for the two of us.”

“Well played.”

We both laughed.

“Tell me more about Britpop, if you don’t mind. I scarcely know him.” Elise said.

“Britpop is a good man with a kind heart. Not unlike Andelbert. They are more like brothers than anything. Britpop had me write out his adventures with Andelbert, sharing many of his inner thoughts. So I feel as though I know him better than I should. He is a fish out of water here, but he is rising to the challenge. I believe his travels matured him and gave him more perspective on life. Any woman would be fortunate to have his attention.”

“And you think I have his attention?”

“It is obvious, is it not?”

“I suppose. I am still coming to terms with this version of him. I knew him only as a pirate.”

“He is as much a pirate as I am Queen of France. As you will come to see.”

“Thank you, Maria. I am glad we got to chat.”

“As am I. I hope we can spend more time together.”

“I would like that.”

I shall resume as narrator.

As Maria was getting Elise settled into her room, I wandered to the kitchen to chat with Amelia about dinner. Truthfully, I just wanted to sample what she was cooking.

“Amelia, what have you planned for dinner?”

“You shall have fish caught fresh from the lake today. Andelbert’s bread, of course. And a salad with my special dressing.”

“And for dessert?”

“I arranged to have Felix make some of his French pastries.”

“Delightful. You must join us for dinner.”

“It wouldn’t be proper.”

“You have a problem dining with a blacksmith, a sailor, a butler, and a maid?”

“You’re a Baron, Lord.”

“It’s just a title. In my mind, I am still a blacksmith.”

“Nevertheless, it would be an intrusion. You young people should be enjoying your time together, not entertaining an old woman.”

“It would be no intrusion. Elise would be happy to meet you.”

“And she shall. But not at dinner.”

“I see I am getting nowhere. As you wish.”

“Now come sample one of the pastries and tell me what you think.”

“You can read my mind, sweet lady.”

Amelia hit me with the towel she had hanging over her shoulder.

We had some time before dinner, so Elise and I went to the patio. Andelbert had set out refreshments for our enjoyment. At her request, I began telling Elise the tale of Anderbert and my adventures in France. I had only gotten to our meeting with Lafayette when dinner was announced. I assured Elise I would continue the tale.

Again, Andelbert and Elise joined us at the table.

“Elise, you promised to tell me of your meeting with the Grand Duke,” I said.

“I am sure Andelbert and Maria would find it quite boring,” Elise replied.

“On the contrary, I am quite interested,” Andelbert said.

“Please do,” Maria added.

“Very well.”