Page 6 of Daughters of Paris

‘Well he doesn’t look like him,’ Fleur retorted.

Colette rolled her eyes. ‘Of course he doesn’t, but men don’t like it when you point things like that out. Gunther still thinks that Frau Riefenstahl will cast him in a movie. I’m not going to point out that she won’t because then he’d get into a mood.’

Fleur crossed her arms. ‘You do that if it makes you happy, but I don’t want to spend my time telling men how wonderful they are. Thank you for inviting me though, I enjoyed the champagne.’

It was the last invitation she received.

Two weeks before Fleur’s nineteenth birthday,TanteAgnes shook her awake.

‘Mademoiselle Colette wants to see you in her room. Go quickly please.’

Fleur rubbed the sleep from her eyes and sat up. Agnes had already disappeared.

She made her way to Colette’s bedroom to find Colette standing by the window looking out over the boulevard. As usual, the room was littered with clothes and magazines.

‘TanteAgnes said you wanted me,’ Fleur said hesitantly.

Colette spun around. ‘Yes. I wanted to tell you my news. I’m going to England and staying with Edith. Isn’t it exciting!’

‘How wonderful for you,’ Fleur said. She bit her lip uncertainly.

Colette’s eyes were very bright but she did not look as if it was wonderful. ‘I wish now I had paid more attention in my lessons. I will hardly be able to talk with anyone.’

‘Would you like me to help you pack?’ Fleur offered, glancing around the room. Colette shook her head. Her face twisted into an ugly frown.

‘Mèreis sending her maid to pack for me. I won’t be taking much. Winter clothes, of course, but I’m sure I will get new clothes for the spring season in London. How different do you think the fashions will be?’

She picked up a glass of water from her dressing table then sat on the chair and drank it in large gulps.

‘This is very sudden,’ Fleur said. ‘When did you decide to go?’

‘The decision was made for me,’ Colette said. She gave a bright laugh. ‘Aren’t I lucky?MèreandPapatold me last night.’

She lit a cigarette, tugging on it defiantly. Smoking was her new affectation; a form of rebellion against her father, who said it was not an appropriate activity for women.

‘Does Gunther know you are going?’ Fleur asked.

Since the party three months previously Colette had met him regularly to walk around the animal enclosures in theJardin D’Acclimatationand ride on the carousel. Fleur had half wondered whether this morning’s summons was to announce an engagement.

To her astonishment, Colette’s face grew thunderous, twisting into an ugly mask and Fleur thought for a moment her friend was about to scream.

‘Oh, yes, Gunther knows. Gunther is relieved I am going. You see, Gunther…’ She took a long, smooth drag of her cigarette then retched and made a face. She tossed the cigarette into the ashtray, her red lacquered fingers grinding the stub into oblivion.

‘I don’t want to talk about Gunther. He is returning to Trier. I think we will not see him here again, and for God’s sake do not mention his name to my mother.’

Fleur began to understand. The love affair must have ended badly and to save Colette’s heartbreak her parents were treating her to the extravagant trip. She squeezed Colette’s shoulder.

‘Of course not. I won’t say anything at all. How long will you be gone for?’

‘I don’t know.’ Colette stretched out her legs and put her hands in her lap. ‘Seven months at least, if not longer. I’ll be leaving this afternoon. I wanted to say goodbye.’

‘So soon?’ Fleur dropped onto the chair by the door. The girls didn’t spend as much time together as they used to, but this was a shock.

‘Yes. Aren’t I lucky?’ Colette began to laugh again.

‘Don’t you want to go?’ Fleur asked. ‘I would love the opportunity to travel.’

‘Why would I want to go elsewhere when Paris is full of life?’ Colette closed her eyes and sprawled back in her chair. Her face looked puffy, as if she had been crying. ‘I will go and I will make the best of it. I’m sure I will have a perfectly wonderful time.’

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