Page 125 of Daughters of Paris

‘Why are you telling me now?’

‘I’m compromised now.’

‘But you were arrested for an unrelated matter. I know Elouard was worried, but he needn’t have been.’

‘It doesn’t matter. I’ve caught the eye of the authorities. If they look too hard at Laurent Renou, they might discover discrepancies. My cover story and papers are first class, but it can’t be risked.’ He closed his eyes then opened them and looked away. ‘I have to go back to England. I don’t want to, but I’m being sent.’

A pit opened in Fleur’s belly, her heart and lungs dragging down into blackness. She moistened her lips, though her tongue felt too dry.

‘When?’

‘As soon as arrangements can be made. It may be weeks before I am able to leave, or just days.’

‘Are you here to say goodbye?’ Fleur whispered. It was too sudden. Too soon. She willed herself not to cry but a tear must have slipped past her defences because Laurent reached out and wiped her cheek with his thumb.

‘I’m sayingau revoir. Or perhaps not. There is a possibility.’ He stood and paced around the room then stopped in front of the window. The sun was behind him, silhouetting him in the brightness and she struggled to see his expression. ‘Would you come with me?’

‘To England?’

‘Yes. It might not be possible. I don’t know what type of plane they’ll send for me, or where I’ll have to meet it, but I can call in a few favours with a few people. Life isn’t exactly luxurious, what with rationing and the war, but it’s a safer place to be. Hitler hasn’t managed to invade and he won’t.’

No Nazis. No checkpoints. No watching behind her at every turn. No demands for papers.

‘What would I do in England?’ she asked.

Laurent sat beside her again. ‘You can do useful work for the war effort there. I’ll be assigned another role at that end of the operation. I have a flat in London that I stay in when I’m not in the family home. Only a small one, but big enough for two of us. When this whole thing is done and dusted, we can move back to the country. There is a piece of family land in the Yorkshire Dales that is ready to build on. I’ve never done anything with it because I didn’t see the appeal of living there alone, but together we could build a home.’

He smiled, inviting Fleur to complete the picture in her mind.

She put her head in her hands. There was so much to take in. To discover that Laurent had lied to her was bad enough, but in the same blow to be offered something she had always wanted, and at the side of the man she loved. It was more than tempting.

He stood. For a large man he was very careful and unobtrusive in his movements.

‘I won’t ask you for an answer now. It wouldn’t be fair. I know I have at least three days’ grace before anything can happen. I’ll come back soon, or you can find me at the garage fixing engines and swapping tyres. I’ve been taken off any useful work.’

Fleur raised her head. ‘Will you tell me when the date is confirmed?’

He nodded. ‘I will. Though I rather hope you will be coming with me.’

He left then, closing the door quietly. Fleur lay on her bed, her mind spinning. Presently, there was a tap on the door and Colette entered. She was carrying two glasses of wine.

‘He told me to come look after you,’ she said softly.

‘Did he you tell you why?’ Fleur sat up and declined the wine. She didn’t want it. Her insides felt too sour to stomach it.

‘No. Only that he was probably going to break your heart, and his with it. Did he?’

Her eyes blurred. ‘Yes, I think he did.’

‘Are you angry at him?’

‘No. It isn’t anything he could control. I’m so sorry, Colette. I know we said no more secrets, but he’s told me something I really can’t share with you. I can only say that he is leaving Paris.’ She clasped Colette’s hands to prevent any protests. ‘Please, you have to trust me. If I can ever explain, I will. I’m sorry, I think I want to be on my own for a little while. I have a lot of thinking to do.’

She turned on her side and faced the wall.

England. She had always wanted to go but not under the circumstances and not during a war. She thought back to the night they had spent hiding in the forest, waiting to collect the delivery. Getting out of Paris would be risky. Getting out of the country could be deadly. She didn’t want Laurent to go but he had no choice. What would be here for her once he had left?

The answer came in the sound of a shrill cry of delight from the other room. Louise, and Colette laughing in response. As much as she wanted to be with Laurent, she really couldn’t leave them.

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