Richard Metternich knew Franz wasn't bragging. Franz wasn't afraid of powerful ministers—or rather, no matter how powerful a minister was, none could shake Franz's position.
"So what should I do? Am I supposed to leave the diplomatic world?"
"What else could you do if you left diplomacy? Go back to being a Playboy? Or become a PR manager, specializing in handling rich women?"
Richard Metternich was at a loss for words. It seemed his womanizing had left Franz with a very bad impression of him.
"You two don't see eye to eye, and your styles don't mesh. Staying in the Foreign Ministry will only waste your youth.
"Go to France. Louis Napoleon should like you, but don't use your father's old methods. Personal ties are worthless in the eyes of certain people.
"Louis Napoleon spent many years in exile in Britain. If you really want to negotiate with him, you should do it the British way."
"The British way?"
Richard Metternich thought back to the British girlfriends he'd had, trying to figure out what the British way was.
"Treat negotiations like a business deal. It'll make things easier for both of you and reduce the chances of misunderstandings."
Richard Metternich was reminded of the British mistresses he'd courted. They were usually snobbish, arrogant yet insecure, and painfully ignorant. They could often be won over with the slightest trifle, but if they decided someone was a stingy miser, they'd probably dump him on the spot.
"I get it!"
Richard Metternich flashed a wicked smile, leaving Franz utterly baffled.
"Paris is a fine place, but don't go wild. They might be even more debauched than you."
Richard Metternich nodded emphatically.
"Understood."
"All right, go tell Edward to come in."
Richard Metternich left in high spirits. Paris at the time held an irresistible