The Pomp of the Lavilettes, Volume 2

Fresh from a harrowing encounter with a bear, Ferrol is convalescing in the leafy gardens of Manor Casimbault. His devoted attendant Christine tends his wounds, while the ever‑ambitious Madame Lavilette navigates society’s expectations and the subtle power plays of the local cure. Life at the manor drifts between genteel hospitality—hand‑crafted tonics, quiet conversations, and the occasional pipe‑smoked surgeon—and a lingering sense that something larger is about to stir.

One afternoon Ferrol overhears a covert exchange: the rebels’ desperate plan to ferry five thousand dollars for the cause of freedom. The sudden prospect of a hidden fortune ignites a dangerous idea, and he finds himself torn between duty, self‑preservation, and the thrill of a daring heist. As the garden’s shadows lengthen, the stage is set for a game of intrigue where loyalty, love, and betrayal will be tested.