Let Them Have Cake (6 page)

             
Jeff had been preparing to pull Anna’s chair out for her, but turned to her instead. Taking her gently into his arms, he looked into her eyes. Anna could see the lights that were reflected off the water reflected again in his eyes. “I see this time we’re together as an investment in my future. If I don’t make an impression on you now, perhaps I never will. Besides, Mark seems to be taking very good care of my sisters.” He bent and kissed her. A lingering sensual kiss, full of meaning and hope for the future. Anna was a little dizzy when he released her and helped her off with her coat and into her chair.

             
“Don’t say anything, Anna. Let’s just enjoy the moment. Enjoy tonight, the cruise, the lights, and each other.” Jeff sat in the chair opposite her and took both of her hands in his.

             
Anna squeezed his hands gently. “I already am. This is as beautiful and romantic as I’d dreamed it would be. I’m so happy we cleared up our little misunderstanding.”

             
“I am as well, though I believe it was you that thought I’d brought two girlfriends with me,” Jeff chided her affectionately.

             
“I feel so silly. I was so excited to see you and then so disappointed when your sisters showed up...since I didn’t know they were your sisters.”

             
“We’re back on track now. Let’s forget it. Tell me about your ancestor. Wasn’t her name Anne-Marie?”

             
“Yes, but I don’t know much. We haven’t been able to find out her real last name. Her children took on the name of the cousins that raised them, Franchet. As the story was passed down through time, Anne-Marie’s name got lost. It makes me sad to think of it.”

             
“Maybe you’ll find something while you’re here. This food looks delicious, and I’m famished.” Jeff let go of her hands, poured Anna a glass of wine and began eating his meal.

             
The evening passed in a blur. They ate dinner accompanied by a three-piece ensemble playing soothing and romantic classical music. The boat glided along the river as smoothly as if it were on glass. They cruised first around the island that Notre Dame was built on, then proceeded on down the river. The
Eiffel
Tower
was brightly lit in the distance, and they were surprised to come upon a miniature replica of the Statue of Liberty perched on the end of another island. The evening ended all too soon.

***

             
Back at the hotel, Jeff insisted on stopping at his room
before escorting Anna to hers. He emerged carrying a bottle of
Veuve Cliquot Rose Brut,
the same champagne they’d had at the restaurant on the
Champs Elysees
earlier in the day. “This will be our own special champagne from now on, Anna. We’ll have it whenever there is something to celebrate and we’ll think of these days together in
Paris
.”

             
“Jeff, I really think we should say goodnight. We’ve had a busy day, and we must get an early start for our tour tomorrow,” Anna protested unconvincingly.

             
“We’ll be able to sleep when we get home. This is our first time being in
Paris
. We don’t want to miss anything while we’re here. Besides, I just want to come in for a little while to have a nightcap. I don’t want this evening to end. Please, Anna?” Jeff begged.

             
“All right, just for a little while,” Anna said as she inserted her key in the lock and opened the door. As she flipped on the light, she was dismayed to find that the maid had arranged her silky black nightgown on the bed for her. She quickly scooped it up and stuffed it in a dresser drawer, but not soon enough to keep Jeff from seeing it.

             
“That suits you. I imagined you wearing something like that to sleep in. You just don’t seem to be the type that would wear flannels even in this cold weather,” Jeff said as he gazed at Anna with more than friendly interest in his eyes. Noticing that
she was blushing he said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to embarrass you. Forget I said that. Now, where are your glasses? I have a corkscrew but I didn’t bring anything to drink from.”

             
“I’ll get them. They’re over there on the refrigerator. Did you notice that I was assigned a suite? I guess it was because I was traveling alone and didn’t have a roommate. I even have a TV. It doesn’t do me a lot of good since everything is in French and I’m never here anyway, but it’s kind of nice to have. I can watch CNN and keep up on world events. I’ve got a bathtub, too. I understand everyone else has a shower. Is that what’s in your room?” Anna rambled nervously.

             
“Let’s see your bathtub.” Jeff handed her a glass of champagne and followed her to the bathroom. “Well, this is a big bathtub. Big enough for two! You need a compatible roommate.”

             
Anna blushed again and turned to leave the bathroom. “Let’s go drink our champagne on the settee in front of the window. There’s a nice view of the city and of the apartment building next door, unfortunately.”

             
They opened the curtains and settled themselves on the small sofa. Anna got up again and dimmed the lights so they could better view the city lights.

             
“Look. There’s the
Eiffel
Tower
in the distance. Aren’t the lights beautiful?” Jeff said as he put his arm around Anna’s shoulders. “Uh-oh. I think we’re intruding.”

             
The drapes were open in a window of the apartment building just across from them. A young couple had apparently just returned from an evening out. They had turned on all the lights upon entering the apartment and seemed to have forgotten that the drapes were open. The woman had her wrap slung casually over her shoulder as she entered the living room. She turned to face her companion and dropped the wrap to the floor. He wasted no time crossing the room and taking her in his arms. They embraced and kissed passionately. He soon left her mouth and began kissing her neck, shoulder, then easing the spaghetti strap of her dress down, moved his mouth to her breast.

             
“I feel like a voyeur,” said Anna as she rose from the sofa to close the curtains of her room.

             
Jeff rose from the couch at the same time and stopped her from closing the drapes. “Look at that couple. That should be us.”

             
Jeff wrapped his arms around her while turning and forcing her to watch the couple. “I want you, Anna. More than I’ve ever wanted anyone in my life. I know you want me, too.”

             
He covered her mouth with an urgent, sensuous kiss, full of need and longing. He pressed himself to her and she felt his breath coming in short gasps. His hands glided down her back, smoothing her dress and pulling her closer to him.

Anna’s heart was beating faster and her breathing was more
erratic. Finally, she found the strength to pull away.

“Please, Jeff. Stop. This is moving a little too fast. I don’t want you to think badly of me.”

“I’d never think badly of you, Anna. Here, I’ll close the drapes. Let’s finish our champagne.”

Anna sank into the small sofa and accepted the glass of champagne Jeff offered. “Thanks. I don’t want you to think that I’m easy. Please don’t think I’m cold, either. I’ve watched you since you came to
Memorial
Hospital
and I’ve tried to catch your eye, but you’ve never even noticed me.”

“Not true. Like I told you earlier, I try to maintain a professional distance. I didn’t have a clue that you were interested. That’s all different now and we need to make up for lost time.”

Jeff drained his glass and motioned for Anna to do the same. He stood, took her hands in his and drew her to her feet.

“You have been the subject of my daydreams and my night dreams since I first saw you,” Anna said while running her fingers lightly down his cheek.

“I wish you had let me know. I’ve been a bit bored lately. All I do is work and sleep, work and sleep.”

He took her in his arms and drew her tightly against him. “We’ll make up for lost time now, though. I promise you that.”

Chapter Six

Awakening suddenly with a feeling of trepidation, Anna reached for her travel alarm. Six forty-five in the morning. The bus to
Versailles
would be leaving in fifteen minutes. On the verge of panic, she reached for the phone to call the front desk.

“Hello. This is Anna Mulligan in room 328. I’m with EuroTours. My alarm didn’t go off and I overslept. We’re supposed to be in the lobby at seven for our tour. Please ask them to wait for me. I’ll be down just as quickly as I can!”

“Of course, Madame. I will give them the message.”

Where was Jeff? Did she dream last night?

She ran to the bathroom, brushed her teeth, washed her face and quickly combed her hair. Why hadn’t she set her alarm? Now she would have to miss her daily shower. Oh well, she was in
France
so she would just have to do as the French do. She couldn’t miss
Versailles
. She’d been looking forward to it for so long. Deciding she’d put on a little makeup while riding in
the bus, she went to the wardrobe to dress. Anna was ready and out the door in ten minutes.

Upon reaching the lobby, she found the group still waiting for the bus to arrive. Heaving a sigh of relief, she plopped into a chair and pulled out her lipstick.

“I was afraid you weren’t coming today. I thought maybe you were upset about last night, although I hoped you weren’t.”

Anna glanced up to see Jeff standing next to her chair, a look of concern on his face. “I thought I’d dreamed the whole
thing.”

“It wasn’t a dream. More like a dream come true.” Jeff smiled at her. “I’m happy to see you.”

“I’m not at all upset and I’m really glad to see you, too.”

“Here’s our bus.”

Once they were all aboard, Lurline introduced
Regina
, a perky young woman with tousled blonde hair and a quick smile. She lived in
Paris
and was going to be their city tour guide for
the day. She was wearing a coat of a color Anna could only describe as a cross between olive and pea green. She hoped it wouldn’t become popular in the States.
Regina
also had on gloves and a stylish scarf draped over her shoulders. She carried an umbrella, explaining it was an unofficial part of European tour guide apparel and the guides raised them inside crowded
buildings so the members of their groups wouldn’t get lost.

Regina
was animated and kept them entertained on the ride to
Versailles
. She mispronounced some words in English, and they all laughed when they finally discerned what she meant. She kept referring to ‘ships’ and it took awhile to figure out that she meant sheep. The funniest mispronunciation came when she was talking about the prostitutes and ‘travesties’ seen in areas of
Paris
. After a long and entertaining explanation, they realized that she actually meant transvestites.

***

“We’ll be arriving in
Versailles
in just a few minutes. Actually, we’re going to the outskirts of the estate first, to the Hameau de la Reine, or hamlet. This is a replica of an English village, built in 1783 for Marie Antoinette by the architect, Mique. Marie Antoinette was reputed to be a spoiled young woman, bored in her marriage to Louis XVI and bored with her life in the
Palace
of
Versailles
, which is why she commissioned Mique to design the hamlet. It became her escape, her refuge, and her playground. She went there whenever life at
Versailles
became too difficult for her. The hamlet, even today, is a charming place and probably my favorite part of
Versailles
,”
Regina
explained as they pulled to a halt at the end of a long gravel lane. “We will have to walk the rest of the way. No motorized vehicles are allowed in the hamlet.”

The day was cold and damp. Fog hung in the trees and shrouded the countryside with an air of mystery. In the distance, the sound of gunfire erupted.
Regina
explained that they were in a farming area and hunters abounded. As they walked along the lane, thatched roof buildings came into view. A wooden, split rail fence enclosed the hamlet.

As they entered through the gate, they were transformed to another time, another place. It was as if they were in an ancient English village, although a deserted one. So quiet in its solitude, it was almost eerie.

A small gatekeeper’s cottage stood at the entrance. The grass on the thatched roof appeared to be at least a foot and a half thick. It was fascinating for the tourists to learn that those roofs would last fifty years or more if well maintained. Walking on a little further, they discovered another small cottage that was surrounded by a large vegetable garden.
Regina
explained that a farmer named Vally Broussard had managed the little farming village. He made sure they were able to raise all their own food, just like an authentic farm. Everyone had a job to do. Among those included care of the vegetable garden, care of the animals, mill operating, gate keeping, and maintaining the Queen’s house. The village had to be run efficiently and authentically at all times or Marie Antoinette would fly into fits of fury.