Chapter 24

There was silence between them as they made their way out of a quaint hotel with an impossible price. They couldn't think where else to go. Despite having practically scoured every luxury hotel in Paris, her parents were still not to be found.

"Which hotel haven't we tried?" Tiffany inquired in a small strained voice.

Sébastien thought hard for awhile, then did not answer, for he knew it was inappropriate. Instead, he suggested, "Let's call it a day. We must have left messages with every respectable hotel I know of in Paris, if your parents are still residing in Paris, they should be bound to find you."

Tiffany thought it over. In the end, she sighed, "I guess you're right."

"I remember you told me you haven't been sightseeing since you came to Paris. Would you like to go around some before heading home?"

There was nothing she liked better. So they proceeded, side by side, to the gorgeous and renowned Musée Du Louvre. When they set foot on the polished marble floor of the museum, Tiffany thought she had entered into a whole new world altogether. The grandeur and opulence was incomparable. The place was indeed fit to house many of the world's greatest pieces of art!

There were so many rooms in the newly opened museum, she didn't know where to begin. Leonardo da Vinci, Michealangelo, Monet, they were all tempting and exciting. In the end, she gingerly held Sébastien's bent elbow, leaving the decision to him. Together, they spent the rest of the afternoon touring the many rooms, discovering and adoring masterpiece after masterpiece so that they were soon lost in their own world of nothing but art and each other's company.

Later that evening, after they had no choice but to return outside during closing time, Sébastien walked Tiffany to Le Jardin des Tuileries, the breezy gardens around the museum. It was fall, and the leaves from the trees had already begun to fall. Intense bursts of red, yellow, and orange rode on the wings of the wind, twisting and spiraling gently to the ground. Walking along neatly trimmed hedges, they talked more about the paintings they had just been torn away from.

Around the corner, the steady, precise clatter of hoofs sounded. Sébastien pulled Tiffany behind a nearby tree abruptly. In silence, they waited till the carriage had passed them by.

Tiffany looked at Sébastien questioningly. "These gardens are for high society Parisians. We, technically, are not allowed here," he explained, "but I brought you anyway. Only because it's so beautiful."

"Yes, I'm glad you did. Now I understand why father says money is most important, it doesn't seem fair that only the wealthy should be allowed to live in such grandeur, does it?"

"No. It's not fair," he concurred.

Conversation lingered, with his hand still on Tiffany's elbow. The breeze had misplaced tendrils of Tiffany's swept up hair. It took much effort not to gently tuck them behind her ears…

He removed his hand. Tiffany looked away. "It's getting dark. We should return," he remarked with resignation.

Tiffany started and broke eye contact. It was only then did she cast a glance heavenward and realize belatedly, as Sébastien had, that soot black clouds had completely shrouded the sun. Rain was on its way.

Hurriedly, they made their way to the main road without being spotted. Large drops began to fall lethargically, creating dark spots on the grey pavement. Thunder pealed threateningly.

"Let's hail a carriage," Sébastien murmured to Tiffany, who was walking briskly alongside him.

But there were no carriages in this part of town. The working class hardly mingled with high-society and gentlemen of status would have naturally had their own carriages. The drops were larger now, and splashed onto Tiffany's shoulder with more aggression.

Another resounding rumble of thunder was preceded by increasingly heavy drops of rain, cutting swiftly through the thick evening air, beating mercilessly on the two figures jogging along the wet pavement. Night was settling fast, and they didn't have a lamp with them.

With a small squeal, Tiffany stumbled. Her heel gave way and her ankle hurt. She tried to pick herself up, but as soon as she was on her feet, her knees buckled in pain, and she fell back to the ground. Sébastien promptly knelt, supported her knees and back, then carried her off the ground and continued hurrying on his way.

It took Tiffany a few minutes to get over her shock. But when she did, she placed her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder so that the rain didn't get into her eyes. Sébastien strode quickly, with her in his arms, mind intent on reaching home before total darkness set in.

By now, they had reached a part of the city that belonged more to the working class. Carriages rolled briskly along, rushing workers back to the warmth of their families before nightfall. People littered the streets, waiting desperately for empty carriages. Sébastien picked up his pace, head down, braving the harsh rain. As they rounded a corner, a large carriage whizzed by, heading straight into a large puddle.

Instinctively, Sébastien turned his back to the puddle so that Tiffany remained relatively dry. She couldn't swallow the lump that was forming in her throat. It remained there all the way till Sébastien stepped through over the threshold into the welcome shelter of the cottage just as night had completely settled.