Monty visits from London with news and concerns.
“It’s good to see you again, Father!” Monty exclaimed as he embraced John upon entering the townhouse. “Olivia and the baby are already settled in our hotel, so I came right over. And before I forget: I spoke with Thomas Thompson last week, and he told me to tell you he received your personal note and should be coming to Paris soon. He’ll be visiting a client on business, a Sir Ian McKellen he said you might know, and he would be happy to make time to call upon you while he is in town.”
“Thank you, son. Dexter will be joining us for supper, but before that I thought we discuss some of the local business matters in which I could bring you up to date.” John led Monty into his study and poured them drinks before taking a seat at his desk. They spoke very much as business partners of long standing, and an observer would hardly know they were father and son in their professional manner with one another. However, the last order of business had a more personal appeal, and they began to talk very much as family about it.
“Ricardo from Barcelona has brought me news that the young woman I have sought to have as my lover is in fact not married in the most legal sense. The Catholic church would approve it, but unfortunately for her and her husband they did not file the proper papers in the regional legal system. I am hoping to use the technicality in my favor, and I have found a partner of sorts, who funded a good part of the search, who had both personal and business interest in the woman’s marriage. We shall see what becomes of it.”
“Be careful, Father,” Monty said with a look of deep concern. “There are a lot of things that money, power, and information can do for a man, but making a woman love you is not one of them. Don’t… force the situation if is not willing to bend itself to you. I don’t want to see you hurt.”
John nodded in understanding, not wanting to admit Mira had been a weakness to him, causing him to use emotion in his judgment more than he should. After a silent moment, they changed the subject to the latest news from Monty’s household: Olivia was going to have another child in May!
“Thank you, son. Dexter will be joining us for supper, but before that I thought we discuss some of the local business matters in which I could bring you up to date.” John led Monty into his study and poured them drinks before taking a seat at his desk. They spoke very much as business partners of long standing, and an observer would hardly know they were father and son in their professional manner with one another. However, the last order of business had a more personal appeal, and they began to talk very much as family about it.
“Ricardo from Barcelona has brought me news that the young woman I have sought to have as my lover is in fact not married in the most legal sense. The Catholic church would approve it, but unfortunately for her and her husband they did not file the proper papers in the regional legal system. I am hoping to use the technicality in my favor, and I have found a partner of sorts, who funded a good part of the search, who had both personal and business interest in the woman’s marriage. We shall see what becomes of it.”
“Be careful, Father,” Monty said with a look of deep concern. “There are a lot of things that money, power, and information can do for a man, but making a woman love you is not one of them. Don’t… force the situation if is not willing to bend itself to you. I don’t want to see you hurt.”
John nodded in understanding, not wanting to admit Mira had been a weakness to him, causing him to use emotion in his judgment more than he should. After a silent moment, they changed the subject to the latest news from Monty’s household: Olivia was going to have another child in May!