Sophia had been most overjoyed, friendly faces from Paris had arrived, an old friend she had longed to see again ever since her departure. Not to mention him being a key to the mind of Orléans, which was a nice benefit. Sophia had bought a new dress and ensured that her husband and dressed up properly, along with her two sons, as she had invited Lécuyer and his family for dinner, having ordered an expensive meal to be brought by the hotel. Now waiting for them to arrive as the whole family was ready.
Lothaire and his family arrived to the hotel where Sophia and her family resided in. They had enjoyed their vacation and Vienna was supposed to be the last destination before the tour home. Lothaire simply told his family they were to visit an old friend of his, but of course he had something on his mind. Both pleasure and business.. Lothaire arrived with his wife and five children, and he made his daughter Marie-Louise, now 15 years of age, introduce them and grant the host and hostess their gifts.
Sophia and Adrien both smiled, greeting them all and happily accepted the gift as they thanked Marie for her generosity, before Adrien slowly nudged to Philippe. Making both Philippe, who by now was 13 years of age, and his younger brother, who was around 9, do a proper greeting as well.
“I am delighted that you could all arrive.” Sophia said, smiling to both Lothaire and his wife.
“We are delighted to be here aswell. I have to admit that Austria is most pleasant. It seem I have been wrong about those Germans as I was wrong about a great many things”. Lothaire said as he reached out his hand to Adrien. In turn he introduced all of his children who was Joachim, Jérôme, Jean-Louis and Stéphania - all at the age of 14, 12 and 10. Lothaire hoped they didn’t make certain connections from their names. Christine the wife of Lothaire then asked Phillippe and Joseph if they were perhaps interested in fencing or playing with her sons.
Philippe smiled as he looked at her, “It has been some time since I lasted fenced, so I’m afraid that I may be out of form. But I will happily fence again.”
While Joseph nodded, “That would be fun.” Making both Sophia and Adrien smile.
“It brings me joy that my sons finally have some company their age in this foreign land.” Sophia said as she kept smiling towards Christine.
“No worries little one. Hopefully you will all return to the motherland soon” Christine said formally. Lothaire then continued on the topic “Dear Baron, when are you planning to return home to France? Surely the kids most miss their homes”.
Adrien looked briefly at Sophia before he responded to Lothaire, “I’m afraid that we will be staying here for some time. The scandal unfolding in court and in the deputies is most near my new children’s persons, and as such I wish to shield them from the otherwise false lies that circulate Paris at this moment.”
“You have all our sympathies” Lothaire said and added “but the journalists and deputies thrive from dishonesty and scandal, they are truly infesting proper civil discussions from time to time. Hopefully all will fade away quickly”. Lothaire paused for a while as he took off his coat and continued “As you can see we have traveled far and I am afraid my kids are hungry and tired. Would it be possible to have snack or a small meal?”
Adrien smiled, “Of course.” Before Sophia stepped in, smiling at Lothaire.
“Surely I would not hope that you have begun to imagine me a bad hostess.” She said before motioning to an adjacent room. “We have prepared a feast for you and your family, it is not often that we receive old friends from home.” Sophia began walking into the other room, the table ready and chairs for all, “Please, sit, by all means.” She said as she herself went over to a chair and her children also found seats. “Philippe, Joseph.” She said turning to both of them, “Let us mingle as friends, please do spread out among our visitors, do not shield yourself off in a corner of the table.” She said before she turned to her husband, the Baron. “Perhaps, my dear, you would sit with Christine? if Lothaire does not mind keeping me company that is.”
Adrien just smiled as he motioned with his hand for Christine to sit next to him.
Christine accepted the offer and sat down politely, she was even somewhat proud to be seated next to a Baron. Lothaire took the hand of Sophia and gestured her to sit down as he whispered “Of course I know you are a great hostess. I’ve been looking forward to one of your.. parties” he whispered and sat down. Then he spoke out loud “We thank you for your kindness and your preparation for a feast in our honor. As such I would like to propose a toast to the host and hostess”.
Sophia just grinned at his earlier comment as they sat down, all raising their glass as he spoke up. “Thank you.” Adrien said as they toasted before Sophia said more quietly.
“You are most kind, as always.”
“I am indeed” Lothaire said and winked. “What is on the menu for the rest of the evening?”
“We are trying something experimental.” Sophia said most daringly. “We shall begin with some oysters. Which shall be followed by some venison, freshly caught of course, and then finish with a most delicious dessert.”
“Sound splendid. I look forward to the dessert, although I have to admit I doubt much can compete with what you offered me last time” Lothaire said and started to play with her legs, but he got to a more serious tone “now there is a matter I want to discuss with you. I hope we can get away with the unpleasantries before we.. do what we both desire the most”.
She made no attempt to stop him as she sipped a bit of wine, “Then you simply lack imagination.” She responded as they brought in the oysters, the servants walking around, letting the guests take oysters as they wished from the bowl. “But of course.” Sophia turned to him, “What is it that you wish?”
Lothaire took an oyster and barely got it down. He had never liked them, but he complimented it nevertheless as he didn’t want to come across as uneducated. “I look forward to that then. But the issue is your sons. They possess great talents, it would be a shame if they were to stay in Vienna forever or come under the guardianship of some low charcter in France” Lothaire said as he took another oyster. “I hope you don’t get offended, I merely wish the best for your family. What if I took them, or one, back to Paris and perhaps to the Palaise Royale?”
She laughed quietly as he ate the first oyster, looking over at her husband who was engaged in conversation with Christine before turning back to Lothaire, sighing quietly but keeping her smile. “We shall not remain in Vienna forever, just until things have settled down in France. As for their guardianship, they are my sons and I shall not forsake them to anyone. I thank you for the offer and I know you mean well, but for now I wish to keep my sons with me. It would not suit them well to continue moving, but we shall be back before too long.”
“I am glad you will return home eventually, perhaps we could meet more often. I do mean well and hope you take no offense and understand your desire to be around them. Of course you wouldn’t forsake them if they, or one of them, were under the tutelage of the Orléans”. Lothaire said and went over to another topic. “Now how do you find Vienna?”
Sophia shrugged, “It has its charms, but it is no Paris. The fashion and public is far too strict and conservative, not to mention they lack more cafes. But there are also some very kind people here. Philippe has recently been to a church which he greatly admired. A Peter’s church or the like.”
Lothaire listened to her as she spoke and thought that this might very well be the future of France, and dreaded the thought of that. “Well hopefully you will come back to a decent culture soon. How is this spa you spoke so highly of? Perhaps we are to make a visit later on, for desserts or after desserts I suppose”.
“I do hope so, once Paris relaxes a bit then I am sure we shall return most eagerly.” She said happily, blushing as she continued. “The spa is most excellent, it truly relaxes the spirit and body, I feel most healthy after bathing in its water.” She frowned slightly, “It is open in the morning, though.” She added, “There are some smaller spas open if one is willing to pay for it.”
“How nice, I heard it’s most good to have some morning baths” Lothaire said and drank from his drink. Then out of sudden his son Joachim proposed a toast to the brave French soldiers in Greece. “My little boy seem to be fascinated by Napoleon and the French army as of late. I hope it won’t get him into any trouble”.
Adrien raised his glass, making the rest of them raise theirs in support as Adrien spoke up “Napoleon is an impressive figure, though I'm afraid there is little to cheer for him about nowadays.”
Lothaire quickly responded “Yes good Baron, there is not much to cheer for him now. But at least in Greece Napoleon aren’t leading the French soldiers”. Lothaire then smiled to Sophia and asked her “how is your husband? Is he too making you sick as you was when I made a visit?”
Sophia took an oyster as she looked over to her husband, sending him a smile and a nod as Adrien began talking with Christine and Philippe again, while Sophia turned to Lothaire, looking at him sternly. “That is most rude to the host.” She said, sitting proudly as she looked at him speaking quietly, “My dear husband would never dare make me sick.”
“Pardon madame, perhaps I can make it up to you later?” He said and grinned “so he’s not giving you enough attention? I hope it will be corrected very soon” Lothaire said and continued to eat the oysters hoping that no one could see his dislike for the shellfish.
“Perhaps.” Sophia responded with a smirk as the next dish was brought in, the venison. “Though what of you, did you enjoy the trip here from France? Did you see the cities, eat the food and enjoy the cultures”
“Indeed I did” Lothaire said as he digged into the venison, this was much more to his liking. “Of course in France it was all politics. My family did see the cities and culture, I was stuck to all sorts of meetings and lunches and whatnot discussing policies, politics and ideology. It is tiresome” he said as he continued to consume the venison and thanked the Baron for the good meal. Then he continued “but Bavaria was interestingly enough to my liking. I rather enjoyed their culture, but I must say it can’t compete with proper English culture” he said and discreetly stroke her thigh.
“If you partook then perhaps I shall simply have to punish you.” She said as she finished her venison. “I can hardly accept such behavior.” She said as she sipped more wine and Philippe spoke up, looking towards Christine.
“So when can we go fencing?” the boy asked before Sophia was about to interrupt him, stopping herself at the movement of Lothaire’s hand.
Christine replied as polite as ever, oblivious what her husband was up to “For me you may go fencing whenever you like. But I am not the hostess nor your mother. You need to address our gracious hostess if you may leave the table” she said resolute.
Lothaire meanwhile asked Sophia “Excuse me madame, but punish me for what?” he said innocently and laughed.
Sophia turned to Christine, “I believe my son may wish to fence with yours as well, so it is not my choice alone. You are the guest, so I shall leave the choice with you.” Not responding to Lothaire while all eyes were on her.
“Very well, the boys may leave” she said and waited for them to leave “perhaps they are to form a friendship? I believe such an alliance would be beneficial for our two families” she said and surprised even Lothaire. “To friendship” she said and toasted.
They raised their glass once more, Sophia only sipping slightly this time as the boys left before turning to her husband. “Perhaps you would go with them, my love? I would rather not the younger ones be left alone at these later hours, certainly not while fencing.”
Adrien nodded, looking over at Lothaire, “Do you wish to join me?” He asked Loithare.
Lothaire reflected for a while over the proposition, he didn’t want to insult Adrien by rejecting his offer, yet it was his chance of being alone with Sophia. He then replied “I am willing to join you, as long as I don’t miss my desserts. That would be a real tragedy I am afraid”.
“Very well, we shall have you back before the cake.” Adrien responded as they left the room.
Lothaire joined Adrien outside and watched the boys fence and shouted a command out now and then or gave them advice for correction. He then asked the Baron: “Adrien, if I am allowed to call you that, what are your take on the recent events back home in Paris?” Lothaire said and watched the boys sparring.
Adrien kept his focus on the children, “It is a real shame, I hear it has brought the King quite some grief, not to even begin mentioning his ministers.” Adrien stood still, weighing the matter. “Something just seems off, I know Philippe certainly seems to think that what has happened was not what his father wished.”
"A shame indeed. It is unfortunate that you, your wife and her sons are tangled into all of this. I hope you know you have friends back home that will support you” Lothaire said and paused and sighed. “His ministers are interesting indeed.. Let us just hope France may be stable again soon”.
“I do hope so, Sophia has been rather unable to find proper rest as of late, the rumours do hurt her.” Adrien sighed as he looked at them fence, “But it shall pass I assume, either that or we have yet to see the final end of it.” Laughing as he continued, “I certainly would not mind if my new son in law was to inherit all that his brother claims.”
Lothaire laughed and spoke up “Yes you made quite the bargain. I am happy that you have found such a fine wife, many most envy you. But I am sure justice will be fulfilled to both your wife and son in law”.
“Of course, I have no doubt that God shall put things right.” The baron responded, “And yes, I have been made a most happy man.”
Lothaire smiled to Adrien and had to concentrate to put his mask on “You surely are. How long do they tend to fence?”
“Philippe can go on for hours.” Adrien said, almost proudly, though a hint of annoyance. “If you want you can go back inside, cake was never my strong suit regardless. I don't mind staying here a bit longer. If you fear you will miss the cake that much”
