Chris sat in his chair, thinking as a servant brought him some sherry to drink. "Life is a chess game, now how to maneuver my pieces to best advantage?" he thought and listed the people who needed dealing with to get him Laurel. He felt this Percy had been dealt with for now and his problems with Lady Emilie and his father would tie him down a bit. But he was still a problem. Also, what do to now that he had a wedge in the house? He would have to make sure Emilie hated her cousin enough to keep getting him in trouble and away from Laurel. Girls were so petty and silly, they need a strong man to tell them what to do. Now to concentrate on money. He needed to get rid of that boy Andre who he never liked. Something about him just annoyed him and he seemed too close to his Laurel. He also had to get rid of Planchette. But how? Thoughts clashed through his head and whirled about. He would have to bid his time, it could not be to close to what happened to Emilie. But he had an idea and soon as he could talk to Albert, he would implement it. "Andre, you're first" he muttered as he began to think of his plan. "I need to see Mother soon" he suddenly thought.
Chris walked out of the room and crossed the enormous manor to his mother's study. He knocked softly. "Mother, tis I, Christof" he said and opened the door. His mother was as usual, sitting there. "Good morning, Mother, I trust you are well" he said, kissing her cheek. Chris never liked showing affection but it was expected and he always did what he was expected to do.
Comptess Musette De Mercer de Lovell looked up from her writing to see her handsome son just come to pay respect to he dear mother. What a treasure he was! "I am always having a most wonderful day when you pay a visit to me my treasure!" Come sit with me and tell me everything you've been up to!"
Chris smiled. "It is always wonderful to see you, Maman. What have I been up to? Well, besides reading and riding, helping damsels in distress. While riding, I found a young lady who is was in great peril, having been robbed and wounded. I naturally took her home to her family, who were wealthy English nobles. I can't wait to tell Father, I hope he is proud of me. The Lady is fine, but she gave me this necklace and the Lord said I could come visit her" he said. "I do hope she is well. I felt like a hero in a story. So what are you doing, Maman?"
The Comptess smiled and stroked Christof's cheek, "Ah! Such a pretty token! I hope this young woman will take your mind off that DeClaireville girl, you are much to good fot that. I am certain your father will be proud, mon cherie... but your father is away on business, so I am afraid it will have to wait. Right now I am writing to Mazzarini, the artist that your father commissioned."
Chris smirked. He needn't inform Mother that this was the way he was going to get Laurel. "Really, are you having another portrait done" he asked. Mother was always having portraits done, of herself, of the family. "So, Mother, do you know anything about the Blakeney family?" he asked. Mother was a gossip, maybe she could tell him something of use.
"The Blakeneys? That English family? I've heard Lady Blakeney is as mad as a loon. The whole Blakeney lineage, I'm told is a touch affected," the Comptess replied. "Why do you ask?"
Chris nodded. Well, that was making things interesting. "The young lady was a Blakeney, I think she's a niece or something. I was just inquiring as to her family to see if she was worthy of my attentions. A wife for a Lovell must be of the best stock, just checking up on the family"
"My dear son, you'd do best to stay away from that rabble!" the Comptess warned. "Insanity, scandal, and their English! That girl is nothing but trouble I'll warrant! Probably brought that misfortune down upon herself. You're too kind hearted, dear Cristof. First that disgraced peasant, now a mad English woman!"
Chris inwardly rolled his eyes. Mother did not think any girl was good enough for him, which was true but most irksome. "Well, I am going to get back to my studies, mother" he said, kissing her on the cheek. He needed to take a bath and think some more.
