Page 66 of Daughters of Paris

Sébastien picked up his coffee cup and drank it in one go. ‘Why ask me?’

‘I remembered you talking about people risking their lives to help others leave the city. Do you remember when we spoke in the bookshop?’

‘Yes, I remember that conversation.’ Sébastien nodded slowly. Colette’s heart thumped in her chest, the pulse heavy enough to reach her belly.

‘I didn’t know that,’ Fleur said, giving Colette a sidelong glance that made her feel slightly rueful. ‘Was Francine someone who might have been in a similar situation?’

Sébastien looked from one woman to the other, then abruptly pushed his chair back and walked to the window. He stood with his hands clasped behind his back and stared out for a long time. Colette moved to go join him but Fleur’s hand on her arm made her pause. Slightly chafing, she sat back down.

‘You make a formidable pair of detectives,’ he said with a slight laugh in his voice. ‘Yes, I know people who know people who help people move around discreetly. Francine – I don’t know her real name but that is the one I was given – is a member of a resistance group. She needed to leave the town she was living in and I was asked to find her a place to sleep before another contact took her onwards.’

‘Then you can help us?’ Fleur breathed.

‘Possibly,’ Sébastien answered. ‘Tell me everything, but before you do, find something stronger than coffee. I think we are all going to need it.’

They moved to the comfortable chairs. The only thing Fleur could find in Monsieur Ramper’s cupboard was half a bottle of sickly Chambord liqueur but they drank it anyway. Sébastien sat in the middle chair, with Fleur on his left and Colette on his right. He sat twisting the glass in his hand, only moving to turn his head to look at whichever woman was speaking.

‘I encountered Michal on the afternoon we talked,’ Colette said, ‘when you asked Fleur to meet you and I went home by myself. I think it was hearing you talking about the people who had to leave that made me want to help Michal.’

‘Was it? I commend you, mademoiselle. You have compassion and bravery. It is a rare combination but an admirable one.’

Sébastien looked at Colette and there was a new light in his eyes that she had not seen before. She was used to seeing desire or flirtation, or even pity or scorn, but this was something else entirely. She thought it was respect. It felt good.

She gave him a sweet smile. Her head felt a little fuzzy. The Chambord had tasted nicer the more she drank of it and she wondered if Delphine might have a bottle at home somewhere.

‘Where is he now?’

Colette slid her eyes to Fleur who shook her head almost imperceptibly.

Colette cleared her throat. ‘We’d better not tell you. Not yet. It isn’t that we don’t trust you, but the fewer people who know, the safer it will be.’

‘Very wise.’

Sébastien patted her arm, allowing his fingers to rest lightly on her left wrist. Tiny butterflies danced up her bare arm and around her belly. Fleur was sitting forward, and Colette could see her eyes drop to where Sébastien’s hand rested. Her lips were pressed together tightly. Reluctantly, Colette drew her arm onto her lap.

Sébastien turned to Fleur. ‘I can make no promises but let me speak to someone and I will see if we can find a solution.’

‘Thank you!’ Fleur said. She leaned forward and kissed his cheek.

‘Yes, thank you!’ Colette impulsively leaned over and hugged him. She heard Fleur cough. Sébastien stiffened and she drew back, mumbling apologies and mortified that she had been so obvious.

‘Now might be a good time to tell you that Colette knows about the leaflets,’ Fleur said, refilling her glass.

Sébastien raised his brows.

‘And if you don’t object, I would like to help with them.’

‘What?’ Fleur leaned forward. She looked unhappy. ‘You didn’t tell me that.’

Colette felt a little burst of guilt at having surprised her but had suspected that her offer would be met with resistance. ‘I only just thought of it,’ she said, mentally crossing her fingers at the lie.

‘Do you object?’ Sébastien asked. Fleur shook her head.

‘No, but Pierre might need persuading,’ she replied.

Colette didn’t like Pierre, even though she had never met him. Fleur’s account of their kiss had already prejudiced her. If only Fleur could find a nicer man.

‘I’m sure between you both he can be talked round,’ Colette said.

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