Let Them Have Cake (16 page)

             
“She’s back. It must have been a slight fainting spell. Perhaps she hasn’t eaten.
Pierre
!
Pierre
, please bring Anne-Marie some bread and cheese, and perhaps a bit of wine,” the Queen directed.

             
Pierre
brought the requested food items and they all stood about and watched as Anna ate. She finished the last few bites, and drained the wine glass.

             
“Thank you, I’m feeling much better now. I should have eaten, but I guess I somehow neglected to do so.”

             
“Let’s go to my cottage so that you can rest. This has perhaps been too much strain for you today. We can make plans later, after our celebration dinner.”

             
Geoffroi gently helped Anna to her feet, wrapped a shawl about her shoulders, and escorted her out the door.

***

             
A crackling fire blazed in the fireplace inside Geoffroi’s thatched roof cottage. The scent of burning cedar filled the air. Evidence of habitation by a masculine individual was everywhere. Leather boots warmed next to the fire. Stretched animal hides hung on the wall next to several racks of antlers. Cloaks and other articles of clothing were strewn about the furniture. The floor needed a good sweeping and the windows were devoid of any type of window treatment.

             
“Would you like to lie down now or perhaps have a cup of
tea?” Geoffroi offered.

             
“I’d like some tea. It’s cold. I’ll lie down after I drink it,” Anna replied.

             
Geoffroi busied himself filling the teakettle with water he poured from a bucket kept in the kitchen. He hung the kettle from a hook on the inside of the fireplace, and then turned to Anna.

             
“Are you warmer now?”

             
Anna smiled at him. “Yes, I am contented.”

             
He sat on a chair opposite Anna. The flickering fire was reflected in his eyes. He had trimmed his beard and hair and was wearing a clean white shirt with ties at the neck and puffed sleeves. Curly brownish-red chest hairs were visible above the low neckline of the shirt. Geoffroi exuded masculinity with every look, every movement. When he moved his limbs, muscles rippled and strained at his clothing. Anna was sorry she’d just fainted. Otherwise she’d be in his lap instead of sitting alone on a chair.

             
“Anne-Marie. This will soon be your home. I realize it has only been a huntsman’s cottage and isn’t fitting for a woman.”

             
“It’s fine, Geoffroi. It’s warm and the bed is quite comfortable.” She blushed at remembering her first encounter with Geoffroi, just after arriving at the hamlet.

             
Geoffroi smiled knowingly. “It is. Quite comfortable. Yet
I’m concerned that you won’t feel like this is your home.”

             
“If you’re here, I’ll feel at home.”

             
Geoffroi got up and poured Anna a cup of tea. He handed it to her and sat back in his chair.

             
“It needs a woman’s touch, I know that. I’d like you to start now so it is ready for after our wedding.”

             
Anna marveled at the sensitivity of this 18
th
century huntsman. That he would consider her comfort amazed her.

             
“Where will I get the items I need?” Anna asked.

             
“The Queen is so generous, I’m certain she will supply you with items from her excess. We will approach her and ask her indulgence. Otherwise, we will send to
Paris
.”

             
Anna leaned back in the chair and sipped her tea. She surveyed her surroundings with a more critical eye. She would start with a thorough cleaning from top to bottom, and then add some curtains to the windows. It wouldn’t take much to make it look like a woman lived there.

             
“We will soon be man and wife. Another option available to us is to remain here in the cottage or move to the countryside,” Geoffroi proposed.

             
Anna was silent for a moment, and then asked, “Where in the countryside?”

             
“To the family farm, of course. We can build a cottage on the land--away from my parents.”

             
Anna was beginning to panic. She didn’t know he had family nearby. Would they be shocked at seeing her? If they lived in the country, surely the news of Anne-Marie’s death would reach them soon. The Franchets were choosing to hide it, but that wouldn’t last forever.

             
Geoffroi continued, “If we go to the country, then it would be safe to bring your children to live with us. We may even have our own children one day. Yes, I think that would be best.”

             
Anna changed the subject. “Ah, listen, Geoffroi. It’s raining. I can hear it hitting the trees and the side of the house. I love the rain.”

             
Geoffroi looked sharply at Anna. “Since when? You have never liked the rain. You say it puts you in a melancholy state.”

             
Anna took a deep breath. “Perhaps I’ve changed my thoughts since we’ve decided to marry. It feels so cozy in here.” She squirmed a bit at his puzzled gaze. “I’m drowsy now. I believe I’ll go and take a rest.”

             
“Do you mind if I lie with you a bit?”

             
Anna smiled. “I’m certain the bed is cold. You will help warm it.”

             
They rose simultaneously and walked hand in hand to the bedroom. Geoffroi pulled the top bedding back and helped Anna remove her outer clothing and shoes. He removed his own shirt
and boots and crawled in after her. Anna turned onto her side, her back to Geoffroi, and he snuggled close to her. He pulled the covers up to their chins, wrapped his arm around her waist, and nuzzled her neck--his mouth close to her ear.

             
It seemed a very long time before Anna was able to sleep. Her thoughts kept returning to the impending wedding. Someone would eventually find out that Anne-Marie had died, and then the attention would turn to her--the imposter. This was getting more complicated by the minute.

***

             
“Geoffroi. Wake up. Someone is pounding on the door.”

             
He woke with a start and was fully alert in seconds. He sprang from the bed and looked around protectively. He motioned for Anna to stay in bed, then went to the door. Geoffroi opened it to find Jacques standing in the darkness.

             
“Come in, Jacques. What is it?”

             
“We are ready to begin the celebration feast. The Queen is getting impatient.”

             
Geoffroi raked his fingers through his luxurious crop of reddish-brown hair. “We’ve been sleeping. Please return to the Queen and tell her we’ll be there shortly.”

             
He returned to Anna and coaxed her out of bed. “Come, my love. We are to be honored with a feast and party. We must hurry. We are already late.”

             
Anna dressed in the green gown Queen Marie Antoinette had given her, and hurriedly brushed her hair. The humidity from the rain had curled her hair; she arranged it in an up do and secured it with tortoiseshell combs. Geoffroi dressed in his usual white huntsman shirt and added a leather vest that laced together with leather ties. He brushed his hair and beard and they were out the door in minutes.

***

             
“Ah, you’ve arrived. Please be seated so that we can begin our celebration.” Queen Marie Antoinette sat at the head of the long wooden table and gestured for Geoffroi and Anna to sit together at the other end. Musicians were playing beautiful background music on a keyboard and stringed instruments. Monique, Genevieve, Jacques and the remainder of the Queen’s friends were seated on the sides of the table. Candles were lit and lined the center of the table. Small floral arrangements were arranged around the candles. A crystal chandelier overhead reflected tiny bits of light around the room.

             
Pierre and his kitchen assistant began bringing in huge platters of food. Oysters presented and passed around first. Roasted ham, duck, chicken, and beef came next. The roast duck- -being Queen Marie Antoinette’s favorite--was served to her first. She drank only water, but champagne was being served to all of the others. Fried artichokes, green beans, root
vegetables including turnips and potatoes were in abundance. These swam in thick, herb and butter scented sauces. Anna wondered how
Pierre
had worked this miracle on such short notice. She then thought about the peasants that were starving, and understood why they were resentful and why they would eventually revolt.

             
They finished the lavish meal, and retired to the gathering room to sip brandy and listen to the musicians. Jacques and Monique snuggled on a fainting couch. Genevieve sat next to the Queen and embroidered a small pillow top.

             
“Jacques. I believe it would be lovely if you would paint an engagement picture of Geoffroi and Anne-Marie.” Queen Marie Antoinette smiled at the couple. “On the small settee by the fireplace, don’t you think?”

             
“Certainly, Madame. I’ll gather my supplies.”

             
Jacques left the room to gather his equipment. Monique was pouting at being left alone.

             
“Monique.” The Queen had noticed her mood change. “Please assist Geoffroi and Anne-Marie in getting their clothing arranged attractively for the painting.”

             
Monique reluctantly rose and followed the couple to the settee. She fussed over their clothing and hair until she had the scene to her liking. She waited for Jacques to return, in case he needed her assistance.

             
They sat patiently as Jacques first sketched the scene on canvas. Unable to move, Anna was soon lost in her thoughts. It had been a wonderful engagement party, not unlike how she had dreamed her modern party to be. Suddenly, she remembered what was going to happen to these people. The Queen and many members of her court would ultimately be tried for treason and would be publicly executed by beheading. She remembered that it was said that Queen Marie Antoinette’s last words were an apology to her executioner for accidentally stepping on his foot as she approached the block for her beheading. What would Geoffroi’s fate be? What would her fate be? She shuddered to think of the implications of her second visit to the hamlet.

Chapter 15

             
Anna couldn’t believe how quickly two months had passed. Her wedding to Geoffroi was only a week away. They had passed the time sitting for their painting to be completed, working on making the cottage a comfortable home for man and wife, and helping with wedding preparations. The Queen had taken charge of most of the wedding plans, and seemed to be at her happiest when coming up with a new idea that someone else must carry out. Anna had so far been unsuccessful at finding a way out of the 18
th
century.

She thought about her night clothing she had hidden when first arriving at the hamlet.
             

“Geoffroi. Where is that large basket that was here by the chair?”

             
“What basket is it that you want?”

             
Anna was frantic. She had been cleaning the cottage for hours, and couldn’t find the basket she had hidden her nightgown and bathrobe in when she’d first arrived at the hamlet and
changed into a dress she’d found hanging in the cottage. She now knew that dress had belonged to Anne-Marie, but where was her 21st century clothing?

             
“The large basket that was near the chair in front of the fireplace. It had cloth in it.”

             
“Oh that. I was going to use the old cloth for grooming my horse. It is still there.”

             
“Where? It is still where?”

             
“In the barn near where the horses are. Why do you need it?”

             
“I don’t, really. I liked the way it looked in here, that’s all.”

             
“If it will make you happy to have it in here, I will empty it and bring it back,” offered Geoffroi.