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“In the seventeenth century, when this beautiful garden came into being, people believed as we do that walking was healthy exercise. I love the idea that a tree Le Notre planted has been enjoyed for generations.”
“Yes, that’s what I love about music. We can enjoy it long after the composer is gone. It’s very peaceful here, isn’t it?” Griffin reached for another piece of cheese.
“Isn’t this where they had the guillotine?” she asked.
He winced. “Actually, it was just outside the gates, but I’d hoped you’d overlook that portion of the Tuileries’ history.”
She patted his thigh. “It’s peaceful this afternoon, which is all that matters to us. I must have been a bird or squirrel in a previous life, because I love being outdoors. I’d shrivel up and die in one of Dilbert’s cubicles.”
“I always get a laugh out of Dilbert in the comics, and I’ve never worked in an office. In fact, I’ve never even had a job.”
“Never? Not even in high school? Oh, never mind, you didn’t attend high school, did you?”
“No, I spent my teens either practicing the piano or studying with tutors, so I missed the whole experience. But I’ve never met anyone who longed to repeat it.”
“Thanks for keeping the conversation light. I’m so grateful you’re not the type who just clams up and broods.”
Startled by that unexpected compliment, Griffin was appreciative nonetheless. “Well, thank you. Are you going to eat the last part of your sandwich?”
“Why don’t you finish it? I want to try one of these gorgeous little tarts.”
“You could be described in the same way, you know.”
She laughed with him and then nibbled the blackberry tart. The buttery crust broke away with gentle pressure, and the sweetened fruit was superb. “Oh, this is heavenly.”
“I love the way you lick your fingers.”
“I’m sorry, I know enough to use a napkin.” Darcy had two in her lap, so she really had no excuse.
“No, I mean it.” Having eaten the rest of the sandwich, Griffin took a bite of the strawberry tart and nodded his approval. “The French have raised baking to an art form, haven’t they?”
Darcy swallowed the last blackberry. “Yes, indeed. They do everything here with great flair.” Over his shoulder, she spied two handsomely dressed young men pointing their way.
“Fan alert,” she whispered. “There’s a couple closing in on us. It looks as though they’re working up the courage to ask for your autograph. Makes me appreciate how rock stars’ wives must feel.”
“I’m sorry, but at least I’ve never been mobbed like Sting. If they actually speak to me, I could tell them regardless of whom they believe me to be that they’re mistaken.”
“That would be dishonest,” Darcy warned, “and unworthy of you.”
“True.” Griffin reached for her waist, pulled her across his lap and kissed her soundly. “There, did that discourage them?”
Darcy smoothed the hair at his nape as she surveyed the curious pair. “No, both men look as though they’d like to line up for kisses themselves.”
“Let’s get out of here.” He set her on her feet, and she wrapped the leftover cheese in a napkin and shoved it into her purse before helping him toss their trash into a nearby container.
“Let’s just walk until we’re too tired to go any farther,” she suggested, and they set out to explore before the pair observing them could say bon jour.
Four hours later, they had toured the Latin Quarter to the level of exhaustion, and Griffin drew Darcy into a cafe on the Boulevard St. Michel. They chose a table in the rear where they were unlikely to be overheard and began with an appetizer of escargot.
“We used to order these every time we went out to dinner in Germany.” Darcy sopped up the garlic butter with a toast point then picked up the tiny fork to pluck another snail from its shell. “I’d forgotten how good they are.”
“You see,
there are advantages to travel.” Griffin was having such a good time watching her eat, he’d consumed only two snails while she was on her fifth.
“Speaking of travel, whatever happened to your trip to Budapest?” she asked.
Becoming decidedly uncomfortable, Griffin shifted position before responding. “I hate to admit this, but I just plucked Budapest out of the air in an effort to inspire you to apply for a passport. If you’d really like to go there, I’ll arrange it.”
