Page 91 of Ravishing Camille
“How kind of them,” he said as he sank his fingers into her hair and gave himself up to her and more of what they both wanted.
Epilogue
May 5, 1889
122 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré
Paris
Camille stretched and yawned. Rays of spring sunshine radiated through the lacy curtains of the bedroom, foretelling lovely weather for the opening of the Grand Exposition and the Eiffel Tower. Every one in the family, except for the babies, were to attend the events which so many had anticipated for months. Exhibitions from thirty-five countries promised to be an eye-opening experience for anyone who went, adults and children alike. The Hanniford children had chatted for days of nothing but where they wished to go or what they wished to eat.
All in the family would arrive at the main gate at exactly ten-thirty. They would assemble as a group and walk in together. After that, the adults agreed they would be hard put to keep the family together. Everyone had different desires. Even Camille and Pierce had lists that did not match, but given her condition, Pierce had decided it was best to take Camille everywhere she wished to go first.
“I am forever at your service, Mrs. Hanniford,” he had declared more than once.
She ran a hand over the mound of her belly and smiled at the grand designs she had for their future. This child, conceived in the chateau in the village of Amboise last September, would enjoy new machines and inventions all her life. Some of them would be on display at the Champs de Mars. Many would come later.
This baby’s father would help to bring them to the people of the world. And Camille would be so proud to declare that the man who accomplished such things was her husband and her only love.
She stretched both arms out across the bed and inhaled the fresh air wafting in through the open casement.
She was so fortunate. She had the luxuries many wished for. A caring and talented mother. A step-father who was attentive and wise, famous for his business acumen and known for his ethics.
An ardent husband who set her heart a quiver with his charm and his devotion. And soon, they would add to their joy with the birth of their first child.
Pierce had always been the man she adored. And rightly so. For his skills at negotiating conflicts between workers and owners, for his kindness and understanding of the reasons people wanted and needed a fair income from their labors, Pierce Hanniford had turned his talents at diplomacy to the art of creating plans for four towns in the United States. The small towns had seen exponential growth in the past decade and their city councils had voted to plan not only the streets but also the water lines, sewers and electrical grids. Pierce had a team of engineers who were specialists in that detailed planning. He was attending the Exposition at the Champs de Mars not only as a visitor but as a consultant to the City of Paris on the construction of the exhibits.
The hall door swung wide and Pierce appeared, smiling and carrying a breakfast tray.
“Still waking up?” He shook his head and smiled. “If you don’t get up soon, we’ll miss the ten-thirty meeting.”
She pretended to frown at him. “I don’t take that long to get dressed.”
He cast her a wary eye. “I don’t know by what clock you judge your habits, Madam, but I’d say you need to sit up and eat this now or we won’t be at the gate until noon!”
He had donned his summer robe of navy blue and the color contrasted with his impressive black Irish good looks. He stood, gazing at her with those twinkling silver eyes of his, waiting for her to prop herself against the head board.
“You are a pest, Pierce Hanniford. If I could go without a corset and petticoats, I’d get dressed much faster.” And at that, she put her hands to the bed and pushed up.
Her grin vanished as a stabbing pain raced up her spine.
“No dawdling, my darling. This tray is heavy.”
“I…Yes. Of course.” She sat up and sighed against the pillows. False labor. She’d felt the pangs for the past week. Happy to have her coffee and croissants, she arranged the covers around her tummy. Her lap had disappeared long about January and she had marveled at just how much her figure could expand for one baby.
Pierce settled the tray over her. “Sit a bit higher, sweetheart.”
She pushed up and another pain cut through her good humor. “Oh! I…there.”
“Hmm.” He gazed down at how her stomach lifted the tray off the flat of the bed. “I will have to buy a tray with taller legs.”
“Unnecessary, sir! Just let me levitate this one.” She rubbed the sides of her stomach where now a muscle cramped and took her breath.
“More false labor?” Pierce bent and lifted her chin. He took in her expression and knit his dark brows.
She nodded. “A pang or two.”
“Good. Well! I have to tell you we have the morning mail and a note from New York.”
