New to Baron Britpop Blastfurnace? You can read Books 1 & 2 starting here:
In the previous chapter, Elise’s father apologized for his remarks when he learned that Elise had been given the position of Captain. Elise and her crew took The Eternal Horizon out to familiarize themselves with the ship and each other. Captain Brun, the former Captain of The Elise, met them on their return and had angry words for Elise.
In this chapter, Britpop, Andelbert, and Maria are in Versailles visiting The Palace. Andelebert had entered a bread-baking contest in the village and Britpop and Maria went on ahead to the Palace.
Maria and I settled into our rooms. I heard a knock on my door. It was Maria.
“I suspect a bread-baking contest will take hours. Would you accompany me to the gardens? I have no desire to sit in my room waiting.”
“That is a fine idea,” I replied.
As we walked through the hall of mirrors, a guard approached us.
“Baron Blastfurnace?” the guard asked.
“Yes, I am Baron Blastfurnace.”
“The King requests an audience with you after dinner. Remain in the dining hall. A guard will escort you to the King. Madame and Monsieur Swift are also requested to attend.”
“Thank you.”
Maria and I passed through the gardens and strolled along the canals.
“How does it feel to be back?” I asked.
“It is hard to say. After that horrible experience of you and Andelbert being arrested, I was not sure I wanted to come back to the Palace. But I cannot help thinking about the wedding and how unbelievable it was. In some ways, I miss being here, but I love my new life in Kapri. What about you?”
“I am much the same. I look forward to seeing the King and Queen, but I wonder if things will be different now. I suppose we will find out tonight.”
“They would not have requested an audience with you if they did not want to see you.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“I am always right. Didn’t Andelbert tell you?”
“He had no need. It is obvious.”
Maria laughed and took my arm.
“Yo, are you making moves on my employer?”
We turned and saw Andelbert walking toward us.
“He did not abandon me for a bread-baking contest,” Maria responded.
“Touché. Forgive me, my love. I am all yours.”
“Did you win?” I asked.
“I did. And I had a wonderful chat with the baker. He is also a pastry chef.”
“Well, don’t enter any more contests today. We have an audience with the King and Queen after dinner,” I said.
“So quickly?”
“I was surprised also.”
Dinner was the usual spectacle of course after course of artistically presented food. Afterward, a guard escorted us to a large, opulent room where the King and Queen were seated next to each other. They said nothing. Andelbert and I bowed, and Maria curtsied.
“You may rise. Baron, Monsieur, and Madame Swift, we are delighted to see you,” The King said.
“As are we,” I replied.
“I trust you have severed ties with the pirate Peanut Butter,” the King stated.
“He is on his way to the British Colonies in America as we speak, your Majesty.”
“Good. And there are no other pirates in your past we should be concerned about?”
“No, your Highness. He was the first and last.”
The King smiled. “Enough of the formalities. How are you, my friend?”
“I am exceedingly well. I made it home safely, and Elise has agreed to be my wife.”
The Queen smiled. “How wonderful. Where is Mademoiselle Boissonnaeu?”
“She is at the Port of Bordeaux preparing to sail her first voyage as a merchant ship Captain.”
“Truly?” The King asked.
“It is true,” I responded.
“I am not surprised,” the Queen said. “She seemed quite ambitious when I chatted with her during your last visit.”
“She is that,” I responded.
“Well, that is a tale I would like to hear,” the King said. “Sadly, our time is limited. Andelbert, I trust you will be baking bread for tomorrow’s dinner?”
“It would be my great honor.”
“Excellent. I shall inform the kitchen. It does my heart good to see you again. We shall speak again soon. You are dismissed.”
“What are your plans for tomorrow?” Andelbert asked as we walked back to our rooms.
“I would like to visit Paris and thank the Montgolfier Brothers again for helping us escape.”
“May we join you?” Maria asked.
“I would love that. We can take in some of the sights while we are there.”
“We will have to wait until I have prepared the bread for baking. I will rise early and make the loaves. The cooks can handle the baking.”
“It sounds like we have a plan.”
I realize I have been slow to write chapters lately. But I haven’t been completely idle. I have been outlining, writing chunks of dialog, brainstorming story ideas, and doing research.
I want to get back to Captain Peanut Butter and Lafayette, but I need to learn more about Philadelphia, the Continental Congress, and the characters of the time before I do. Thank you for your patience. - Mark
I welcome your thoughts, questions, suggestions, corrections, typo catches, etc. Thank you.
Mark