Page 63 of Daughters of Paris

‘You could have told me,’ Fleur said. ‘I could have helped you.’

Colette scraped at the moss on the stonework with her fingernail. ‘I didn’t need you to. What were you doing poking around in there anyway?’

Fleur took a deep breath, relieved the decision had been taken out of her hands.

‘I have a secret too. As I have discovered yours, it is right I should share mine. I’ve been hiding books from the shop in the cold frame. Books that would not be looked on favourably by the Nazis.’

She could stop there and it would be enough to explain her presence, but she was tired of deceit. ‘But do you remember the leaflet that you came across and said was silly? I have been writing and printing them with Sébastien and Pierre. We glue them to walls or slip them through doors.’

Colette let out a low whistle. ‘For how long?’

‘Since the first autumn after France fell. We had to do something. It was Pierre’s idea originally but all three of us played a part in composing and distributing them.’ Fleur laughed as something occurred to her. ‘In fact, the night that you and I…’ She looked around furtively, reluctant to speak of it even here. ‘When we encountered the soldier in the park, I had a bundle of them in my bag ready to circulate. All the time you were worried about him raping me I was more concerned that he would discover them.’

‘You’ve kept this from me for all that time. Even afterthathappened. Didn’t you trust me?’

There was genuine hurt in Colette’s voice and Fleur felt a stab of contrition.

‘It wasn’t just my secret to keep. I know you thought what we are doing is silly, but would you tell something like that to someone who went dancing with Germans?’

Colette drew a sharp breath. ‘Dancing is one thing but informing on people is totally different. You know I’m not a traitor.’

She looked up and Fleur saw the glimmer of moisture in her eyes. ‘But yes. I … I see why you didn’t.’

Fleur folded her arms. ‘We didn’t tell anyone. The fewer people who know, the safer it is for everyone.’

Colette bit her lip. ‘I’m sorry I said it was silly. I would never have thought it of you or Sébastien. He seemed a man of words not action. You are so daring.’

‘Not really. Compared to what you have been doing it is nothing. You were right as well. It hasn’t made a difference to anyone. There hasn’t been a great uprising and France is as oppressed as ever.’ Fleur leaned against Colette and sighed. ‘I thought I was being brave hiding things in a box. I never expected you to be concealing a whole person.’

Colette giggled then put her hands quickly over her mouth, as if she thought it was the wrong thing to do. Fleur felt like laughing too even though the situation wasn’t remotely funny.

‘Only for a short while though. I couldn’t let him stay sleeping on the streets when I saw how ill he looked. Oh, I wish you hadn’t discovered him. All the bad luck that we should both use the same hiding place!’

Fleur squeezed her hand consolingly. ‘It just proves what a good hiding place it is. It also proves how good we are at keeping secrets.’ She sat up straight. ‘Let’s say from now on there will be no secrets between us anymore. It might mean a little more danger, but I would rather be in danger with a friend than in safety alone.’

Colette hugged her. ‘Oh me too. It means a lot that you know I’m not as shiftless as you think I am.’

Fleur was about to protest that she didn’t, but it wouldn’t be entirely true so she just hugged Colette back.

They walked back to the house together. Delphine had come out onto the terrace along with Louis and they were sitting in the wicker basket chairs positioned to catch the last rays of sunlight. Delphine was flicking through a fashion magazine and Louis reading the newspaper.

‘Hello, girls. What have you been doing in the garden?’ Louis asked with a smile. He looked old and tired. Fleur was quite anxious for his health.

Fleur tensed but Colette didn’t seem worried. She kissed Louis’ cheek.

‘Good evening,Papa, good evening,Mère. Isn’t it beautiful weather? Fleur and I have been checking the vegetables. I think we may have succeeded in growing something edible! Ooh, is that a cocktail? May I have one?’

She indicated Delphine’s glass.

‘There isn’t any left,’ Delphine said, casting a regretful look at her glass.

‘Oh, well, it doesn’t matter. I can live without it. I think I will go and do my nails. They’re dirty after touching the plants. Come along, Fleur, we’ll do yours too.’

She swept her arm through Fleur’s and whisked her off into the house.

‘I don’t know how you can be so cool,’ Fleur remarked, full of admiration.

‘Lots of practice fibbing when they asked where I was going in the past.’ Colette giggled. ‘I’d better go do my nails. Shall we do yours too?’

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