Page 22 of Daughters of Paris

‘A funeral needs to be arranged and Agnes’ belongings dealt with.’ Louis patted her hand kindly. ‘Don’t worry, Fleur. I will help you with the legal matters.’

‘You must not feel that you should leave immediately,’ Delphine added.

Fleur didn’t understand at first, then grew cold. Of course the Nadons would need to employ a new housekeeper. Agnes’ death had not only robbed her of her last relative but also her home. She muttered her thanks and left the bedroom.

‘Fleur, I’m in here,’ Colette called her from the kitchen. The room smelled of freshly brewed coffee. The smell jolted Fleur’s senses. So normal.

‘I was listening, but I didn’t want to come in. The room seemed too small. I’m so sorry aboutTanteAgnes. Drink this, you’ve had a shock.’

Colette poured Fleur a cup of coffee and pushed it across the table to her. It was a small gesture, but the kindness of it meant a lot.

‘What will you do now?’

Fleur gripped the cup tightly. ‘I’m not sure. I can’t afford to rent a room on what I earn at the bookshop even if I can increase my hours.’

‘You could become our housekeeper,’ Colette suggested. ‘Then you could stay living here. I don’t like to think of you living somewhere strange without a friend.’

She gave Fleur an eager smile. Fleur’s throat tightened. She did not want to become a housekeeper. Helping her aunt with the chores was one thing but she could tell herself it was no more than she would do as a wife or daughter in her own house. Colette was trying to be helpful, but as she didn’t have to work at all and had a secure home, it seemed tactless to point out Fleur’s lack of options. Fleur’s heart already felt too full of shock and grief, but resentment added another level of confusion. At that moment she hated Colette. Hated Agnes too, for leaving her in this position.

‘I’ll think about it. I’m going for a walk,’ she said abruptly.

She left the house and trudged through the streets until she was exhausted. The air smelled of smoke and there were piles of rubble where familiar buildings had stood a day earlier. It was not just Fleur’s world that had changed, not just her life that was balanced precariously on the edge of a chasm. She couldn’t yet forgive Agnes for what she had done and perhaps she never would. Agnes had said nothing to Fleur. Given no hint that she was in such turmoil. If she had helped with the laundry instead of playing cards would Agnes have felt less alone? She had too eagerly left to go with Colette.

‘I could have helped you,’ she moaned aloud.

Not just with the washing but by being company and consolation.

An old man stopped and looked at her. His eyes were bloodshot and stark in a face etched with misery. He clutched a pair of shoes to his chest.

‘Did you speak to me?’ he mumbled.

He sounded confused, as if he was waking from a dream. Fleur shook her head.

Seeing shock on pale faces made it more understandable. Remembering the thunder of bombs falling and Louis’ description of destruction across the city she wondered, would anyone have a secure home for long? How many others had decided they would rather face their end on their own terms than wait for it to trap them unawares?

Chapter Seven

‘You cannot make Fleur homeless.’

Colette marched into her father’s office at the factory without knocking. He was sitting at his desk and his face grew dark when he saw her.

‘Colette, what are you doing out of the house? It’s too dangerous at the moment.’

‘Is it?’ She knotted her brows. ‘It was too dangerous to be at home for the families who were killed when bombs fell on their houses. Being at home didn’t help Agnes, did it?’

Her stomach turned over. Despite her current bravado it had taken all morning to summon her nerve to leave the house. Seeing Fleur walk off alone to take the Metro to work had made her determined to be brave and spurred Colette into action. She sat on the edge of Louis’ desk, leaned over and put her arms around his neck.

‘Papa, I’m scared. I’m trying not to be but whenever I look at the newspapers the stories are worse and worse. The Germans are getting closer, aren’t they?’

Louis disentangled her arms and leaned back, looking at her sternly.

‘Why are you looking at the newspapers?’

Colette’s skin prickled. ‘You give them to Fleur once you have finished with them. Why shouldn’t I look at them too? I’m not stupid, you know.’

‘I know you’re not. I just worry for you. Yes, the German army is advancing across the country. I fear for what is to happen. I wish to protect you from that worry.’

‘If Fleur can cope with reading what is happening then I can too,’ Colette declared. ‘And speaking of Fleur, that’s why I came to see you. You can’t make her leave just becauseTanteAgnes is dead. It’s callous.’

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