The Legacy of the Marshall Cousins: A Novel of Deceit and Noble Intentions by Z.A. Angell

Author:Z.A. Angell [Angell, Z.A.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Creativia
Published: 2017-01-21T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter XX - UNEXPECTED COURTEOUS BEHAVIOR

The Comte de Flancourt is an arrogant, conceited, ruthless and heartless man.

Bertrand de la Norte to Cecilia de Fabvre - 1718

November 1718 - Paris

Antoine de Flancourt dawdled in Paris for a couple leisurely weeks before departing to Rouen on an errand for Captain d'Ornille. Once there, Antoine promptly forgot his promise to Cecilia de Fabvre to return as soon as his duties allowed. He toured the Cathedral Notre-Dame and the church of St. Maclou despite the frigid weather. Then a very sociable, brown-haired opportunity availed herself to keep him warm and comfortable for a month. To his surprise, her continuous chatter irritated him after only a couple of weeks. He delivered his well-practiced solemn farewell speech, “We must part because passionate love causes nothing but disasters,” illustrated his point with examples of Helen of Troy and Paris and Guinevere and Lancelot, and sent the usual parting gift of an ornamental vase. After completing this ritual, he rode back to Paris. Another week passed before Cecilia de Fabvre forgave him for who knows what transgression and allowed their dance to resume. Antoine anticipated a pleasant month ahead. There was no lack of other entertainment - his time was divided between bouts of fencing and tennis matches, attending theater performances, balls, riding, socializing, playing cards at the Valiant Fox tavern, and other similar decorous pursuits.

The Valiant Fox tavern, a card-player's haven and an excellent dining establishment, was conveniently located less than a mile from his new lodgings off the Rue de Temple. On this fine evening, lively cards games commenced between Antoine, de Contraille, de la Norte, d'Chantal, and de Berteau. De la Norte's idealism and naïveté bordered on ridiculous, but his card game had certainly improved. He must have lost a lot of money to Henri de Brangelton. De la Norte seemed more self-assured and more in control, and Antoine had heard the rumors of his active participation in a brawl, again, at Henri de Brangelton's instigation. Maybe the young courtier was on the way to becoming a man. “I bet de la Norte still could not possibly measure up to Charles.” Antoine smiled to himself at the odd thought.

“Have you yet met a woman to lose your head over, de Flancourt?” de Contraille asked in order to liven up the conversation.

“God forbid!” Antoine exclaimed. “Love is an inconvenience. This is my game.“ He laid his cards on the table.

De Contraille folded his cards. “Still never dallied with anyone longer that a month?”

“On occasions, the usual female demands pop up even earlier and force me to leave even sooner.” Antoine picked up the cards and shuffled, ignoring de la Norte's grimace of distaste. Hopefully, his refined sensibilities would prevent him from repeating this discourse to his sister.

“Have you ever engaged in a philosophical discussion with de Brangelton on this subject?” d'Chantal inquired.

“I have suffered through his extended monologues on this subject,” Antoine cheerfully replied.

“Speaking of de Brangelton,” d'Chantal slapped de la Norte on the back and winked at others.

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