Page 43 of Daughters of Paris

‘I swallow my morals to put bread in my belly. Were you earning your keep?’

She swung towards him, finger jabbing out. ‘Don’t you dare—’

‘Both of you stop arguing,’ Fleur pleaded.

Colette and Sébastien exchanged a glance. Colette lowered her hand and lifted her chin.

‘I answer to my conscience and my friends, not to strangers.’

He folded his arms. ‘Then can yourconscienceanswer my question? Did anyone miss you?’

‘I drove to the club with the Lucienne sisters and three officers from their hotel. We always return there together before I catch the Metro, but tonight I leftLa Balajoon my own more than an hour before we usually go home.’

Her mouth trembled. She clenched her jaw to try stop it.

‘Oh god! They will have wondered where I had gone. They will know it was me. I should just turn myself in to theAbwehr. I’ll say I was alone. I promise I won’t mention you at all Fleur.’

‘Now there’s no need for that,’ Sébastien said calmly. He squeezed Colette’s upper arm gently. Reassuringly. It was the first kindness he had showed her and the first touch from a man she genuinely welcomed.

‘Where is the hotel?’

Colette swallowed, trying hard not to burst into tears. ‘Boulevard Pereire in the seventeenth arrondissement.’

He sucked his teeth. ‘Come with me, Mademoiselle Nadon, I think I can help you. Fleur, you go home. Will I see you tomorrow as usual?’

‘Yes. I’ll take my lunch break around half past twelve and come to the café.’ Fleur and Sébastien embraced again.

‘You can trust Sébastien. Do what he tells you,’ she told Colette then walked off.

Sébastien turned to Colette and folded his arms. He looked her up and down appraisingly. ‘Mademoiselle Nadon, have you ever ridden on a motorcycle?’

It was not the question she had been expecting.

‘No,’ she replied warily.

He led her to the motorbike and bestrode it. ‘I think you will have to hitch up your skirt a bit. Climb on behind me and put your arms around my waist.’

‘Are you sure?’ Colette asked.

‘You’ll fall off if you don’t.’

Reluctantly she obeyed. He started the motorbike and drove slowly. The engine was smooth but in the almost deserted streets it sounded dreadfully loud.

‘It’s icy. I don’t go any faster than this. Close your eyes if you think it will make you feel safer.’

‘No, no I will be fine,’ Colette assured him. She didn’t enjoy the way the vehicle leaned as they went round corners and winced when they passed traffic going the opposite direction. Being sightless and not able to anticipate the motion was a worse thought. She did not want to seem cowardly but held on tighter, pressing her chest to his back. He smelled of cigarette smoke, wine, and vanilla.

‘Good girl. Direct me to the hotel if you will.’

Still holding on tight, she directed him. They turned off Boulevard Lannes and wound through streets that were empty of traffic. Colette relaxed a little, though did not dare loosen her grip on Sébastien. They drove past the hotel without stopping. A street further on, he pulled into an alleyway and turned off the engine.

‘You can let go of me now. Climb off.’

‘What are we doing?’ Colette asked.

‘We are going to have a lover’s quarrel.’ Sébastien grinned. ‘You left the club because you were secretly meeting me, however our evening has not gone to plan so you have come back to the hotel. Have you ever wanted to be in the movies, Mademoiselle Nadon?’

‘Not particularly,’ Colette said, ‘but I will be happy to quarrel with you. And you had better call me Colette if we are lovers.’

---