Page 49 of Love in Bloom

“Camille, you’re exasperating.” His voice was both a mixture of irritation and laughter.

“So I’ve been told.” Her expression grew serious. “But if we’re going to put off our discussion of the future, can we please agree to simply enjoy each day, each moment, until that fateful hour of parting. I think it’s the only way I can do this.” She pointed between them.

“Can you really live in the moment? We both know you’re a planner.”

“For you I can do anything, even that.”

Her words touched his heart, as did the moisture gathering in her eyes.

“Will you agree to live in happiness with me the next four days?”

Tristan knew it was a terrible idea to pretend as if what existed between them would carry on after four days passed, but he couldn’t help but agree when she looked at him with uncharacteristic eagerness and vulnerability. “Yes.”

“Good.” She pecked him on the cheek. “Now go get ready. We have morning meditation to do.”

♥ ♥ ♥

Camille alighted from the bus. “Brilliant,” she whispered.

The sun was headed toward the horizon, and the sky would soon begin its magical transformation from sunset to twilight to night sky bedecked with stars.

“This way Mesdames et messieurs.” Lizette waved to the group to follow her.

Camille’s gaze lingered on the glorious, vast château before her. Warm yellow walls topped by slate gray roofs, including a dome, dazzling glass windows acting as sparkling jewelry, and stone banisters introduced Vaux-le-Vicomte in all its glory.

“You like it.”

“Who wouldn’t?” Camille took Tristan’s hand, tracing her thumb across the scar on the back. An idle habit she hardly noticed anymore. “It even has a moat.”

“Fancy a swim?”

Camille liked the way his expression lit up when he teased her. “Not in this dress.” She waved a hand at her royal blue cocktail dress. She’d managed to pick it up at a charming boutique near their hotel after their excursion to the Jardin des Plantes. She hadn’t packed anything so formal for the trip. Amazingly the dress fit her like a glove, with no alterations necessary. Typically anything she bought had to be altered for her willowy frame. She’d have to shop in Paris more often. The Parisian women certainly knew how to dress.

“This way,” Lisette called to them.

They caught up to the group, Camille’s gold heels slowing her usual speed-walk to more of a canter than a gallop on the gravel.

Lisette said, “The Vaux-le-Vicomte was designed by the architect Louis Le Vau for Nicolas Fouquet, the powerful Superintendent of France for Louis XIV in the 1600s. Today it’s owned and run by the de Vogüé family.”

“Lucky ducks,” Camille said under her breath to Tristan.

“We’ve seen some glorious châteaux and palaces. Would you really want something so grand for everyday living?”

She put on a haughty air and changed up her usual British accent to something more highbrow. “Maybe it would do as a summer home.”

Tristan laughed, and the sound thrilled her with delight. She wanted to spend all her days making him laugh and having him make her laugh in return. Why did their relationship have to be so complicated?

Lisette continued as she led them around the château to their dining spot. “Fouquet was a colorful character who, to his detriment, overshadowed his master, the Sun King. This naturally got him into trouble. Never outshine the king, especially with your home.” She waved them on. “This location has been used in many films, including The Man in the Iron Mask.”

The gardens were visible even before they made it around the side of the château.

Camille sighed with delight. “I never knew the French had such an eye for botanical design. I should’ve come for a visit long before now.”

“But then we couldn’t have been together to do it,” Tristan reminded her.

He’d thawed out a bit over the course of the day. He’d been tense during morning meditation. His body language and expression throughout the day betrayed his internal struggle to keep them protected emotionally from themselves and each other while working to keep his promise to live in the moment and enjoy their time together. Thankfully the latter seemed to prevail.

They were seated around a large circular table to accommodate their party.

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