Back at the Stable

He jumped off his horse, the colt breathing hard and covered in a thick sweat from the ride.  The groom runs up to him, taking the reins of the horse, looking over at Frederic-Louis. "Comte, you should not ride him so hard, he's too young to do this too... you'll ruin him before he's old."  Frederic-Louis paces back and forth, wheeling at the man's words. "How dare you tell me how to ride my horse." He said in a low menacing tone. "Never speak to me like that again or I shall whip you myself."  The groom backed up a bit, rubbing the colt's nose. "I didn't mean it like that sir, you know I only care for the horses, its my duty to see they remain in good shape and healthy."  Frederic-Louis turned his head and then looked back at the man, working to calm himself down. "Fine, go cool him down... you are right, no need to spoil him at this age."  As the groom lead the horse away, Frederic-Louis went to door of the stable, looking out the way he'd come. "Silly girls, how dare they disturb my work."  The Gramont family was known to him, but he'd never seen the girl before.  Perhaps she was a sister or cousine to Gabrielle-Marie, a Gramont now married to his brother, Henri-Armand.  All of the Gramont girls seemed to possess a certain beauty, and this one was no exception to that.  Right now though, Frederic-Louis had better things to do than play host to any female, let alone a Gramont.  His last amusement seemed to leave in the middle of the night with her belongings and had not been seen since then.  Maids were becoming scarce around Normandy, more so because of his own reputation.  Perhaps seeking out a few new ones from Paris might help, or a village further off.

He shook his head and made his way back to the house, thinking it would be wise to clean up and take tea in his study for now... away from the girls.