Let Them Have Cake by Kathy Pratt Read Free Book Online

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