Chapter 191: Chapter 191

The baroness jumped up, about to head toward the music room, but Danglars stopped her. "Leave it alone," he said.

She stared at him in shock. Monte Cristo seemed oblivious to the tension.

Albert entered looking handsome and upbeat. He bowed politely to the baroness, casually to Danglars, and warmly to Monte Cristo. Then, turning to the baroness, "May I ask how Miss Danglars is doing?"

"She’s quite well," Danglars said quickly. "She’s at the piano with Mr. Cavalcanti."

Albert kept his calm, indifferent expression. He might have felt annoyed inside, but he knew Monte Cristo was watching. "Mr. Cavalcanti has an excellent tenor voice," he said smoothly, "and Miss Eugénie has a magnificent soprano. Plus she plays piano like a virtuoso. Must be a delightful concert."

"They complement each other remarkably well," Danglars said pointedly.

Albert acted like he hadn’t heard the rude comment, though Madame Danglars blushed at her husband’s bluntness.

"I’m also a musician," Albert said. "At least, my teachers used to tell me so. But strangely, my voice never matched well with others, especially not with sopranos."

Danglars smiled with a look that said, Doesn’t matter anyway.

Then, clearly trying to make his point, he added, "The prince and my daughter were universally praised yesterday. You weren’t there, were you, Mr. de Morcerf?"

"What prince?" Albert asked.

"Prince Cavalcanti," Danglars insisted, stubbornly giving the young man that title.

"Pardon me," Albert said. "I wasn’t aware he was a prince. So Prince Cavalcanti sang with Miss Eugénie yesterday? Must have been lovely. I’m sorry I missed it, but I’d already promised to accompany my mother to a German concert at the Baroness of Château-Renaud’s."

An awkward silence followed.

"May I also be allowed to pay my respects to Miss Danglars?" Morcerf asked.

"Wait a moment," the banker said, stopping him. "Do you hear that beautiful melody? It’s charming, let them finish. Just one moment. Bravo! Beautiful!"

The banker applauded enthusiastically.

"Indeed," Albert said, "it’s exquisite. No one understands his country’s music better than Prince Cavalcanti. You did say prince, right? Though he could easily become one if he isn’t already, it’s not that uncommon over there. But about these talented musicians, you should give us a treat, Danglars. Don’t tell them there’s an audience. Ask them to sing another song. Music sounds so much better from a distance when the performers don’t know they’re being watched."

Danglars was getting seriously irritated by Albert’s cool attitude. He pulled Monte Cristo aside.

"What do you think of our lover?" he muttered.

"He seems cold. But you did give your word."

"Yes, I promised to give my daughter to a man who loves her, not to someone who doesn’t. Look at him there, cold as stone and proud like his father. If he were rich, if he had Cavalcanti’s fortune, maybe I could overlook it. Honestly, I haven’t even asked my daughter’s opinion, but if she has any taste-"

"Oh," Monte Cristo said, "maybe I’m biased, but I think Morcerf is a charming young man who’ll make your daughter happy. He’ll achieve something significant eventually, and his father’s position is solid."

"Hmm," Danglars said skeptically.

"Why do you doubt it?"

"The past. That shadowy past."

"But that doesn’t affect the son."

"Look, please don’t lose your head over this. You’ve been thinking about this marriage for a month now, and you realize it puts some responsibility on me, since you met young Cavalcanti at my house, and I barely know him myself."

"Have you done your research?"

"Is there any need? Doesn’t his appearance speak for itself? And he’s very wealthy."

"I’m not so sure about that."

"But you said he had money."

"Fifty thousand, that’s nothing."

"He’s well-educated."

"Eh," Monte Cristo hedged.

"So are all his countrymen."

"Come on, Count, you’re not being fair to the young man."

"Well, I admit it bothers me, knowing your connection with the Morcerf family, to see him pushing his way in ."

Danglars burst out laughing. "What a moralist you are! This happens all the time."

"But you can’t break it off . The Morcerfs are counting on this marriage."

"Then let them make their position clear. You should give the father a hint, you’re so close with the family."

"Me? Where’d you get that idea?"

"At their ball, it was obvious. The countess herself, proud Mercédès, who barely speaks to her oldest friends, took your arm, led you into the garden, into the private paths, and stayed there for half an hour."

"Baron, baron," Albert interrupted, "you’re not paying attention. How barbaric for someone as cultured as you!"

"Don’t worry about me, smartass," Danglars shot back. Then to Monte Cristo, "But will you talk to the father?" Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on ɴovelfire.net

"But make it explicit and direct. If he wants my daughter, he needs to set a date and state his terms. Let’s either come to an understanding or have it out. No more delays."

"Yes, sir, I’ll handle it."

"I’m not saying I’m looking forward to his answer, but I do expect one. A banker must be a slave to his word, you know." Danglars sighed, just like Cavalcanti had done half an hour earlier.

"Bravo, bravo!" Albert called out mockingly as the song ended, imitating the banker.

Danglars started giving Morcerf suspicious looks when someone came and whispered to him.

"I’ll be right back," the banker told Monte Cristo. "Wait for me. I might have something to tell you." He left.

The baroness took advantage of her husband’s absence to push open her daughter’s door. Andrea, who’d been sitting at the piano with Eugénie, practically jumped like he’d been caught doing something wrong. Albert bowed with a smile to Miss Danglars, who seemed completely unfazed and returned his greeting with her usual coolness. Cavalcanti was obviously embarrassed. He bowed to Morcerf, who responded with the most dismissive look possible.

Then Albert went on praising Miss Danglars’ voice and expressing regret that he’d missed last evening’s performance. Left alone, Cavalcanti turned to Monte Cristo.

"Come," Madame Danglars said, "enough with the music and compliments. Let’s go have tea."

"Come on, Louise," Eugénie said to her friend.

They moved to the next room where tea was set up. Just as they were settling in, leaving their spoons in their cups in that casual English style, the door opened again and Danglars entered, visibly shaken.

Monte Cristo noticed immediately and gave the banker a questioning look.

"I just received word from my courier in Greece," Danglars said.

"Ah, yes," the count said. "That’s why you rushed off earlier."

"How’s the king doing over there?" Albert asked lightly.

Danglars shot another suspicious look at Albert without answering. Monte Cristo turned away to hide a flicker of pity that crossed his face, though it vanished instantly.

"We’ll leave together, won’t we?" Albert asked the count.

"If you’d like," Monte Cristo replied.

Albert couldn’t figure out why the banker kept looking at him so strangely. Turning to Monte Cristo, who understood perfectly, he said, "Did you see how he looked at me?"

"Yes," the count said.

"But did you think there was something specific behind it?"

"I did notice something, yes. But what does he mean about news from Greece?"

"I imagine you have contacts in that region."

Monte Cristo smiled knowingly.

"Wait," Albert said, "here he comes again. I’ll compliment Miss Danglars on her jewelry while her father talks to you."

"If you compliment her at all, focus on her voice," Monte Cristo suggested.

"No, everyone does that."

"My dear Viscount, you’re terribly impertinent."

Albert approached Eugénie with a smile. Meanwhile, Danglars leaned close to Monte Cristo’s ear.

"Your advice was spot-on," he whispered. "There’s a whole story connected to the names Fernand and Yanina."

"Really?" Monte Cristo said.

"Yes, I’ll tell you everything. But get rid of the young man, I can’t stand having him here."

"He’s leaving with me. Should I send his father to you?"

Monte Cristo signaled to Albert. They bowed to the ladies and left, Albert completely indifferent to Miss Danglars’ contempt, Monte Cristo repeating his advice to Madame Danglars about how a banker’s wife should be prudent in securing her future.

Cavalcanti remained in control of the field.