Page 67 of Daughters of Paris

Sébastien pushed his glasses further up his nose. ‘It might be irrelevant. Did Fleur tell you that we are currently undecided about what to write next, if anything?’

‘No I didn’t,’ Fleur said. ‘I should have mentioned that Pierre thinks we should be doing something more direct and productive.’

‘More violent,’ Sébastien added. ‘I’m not happy about it so we’re trying to think of alternatives.’

‘I can help find things out about how the Germans think the war is going,’ Colette said.

‘How?’ Sébastien leaned forward, looking interested.

Colette sat upright. ‘By going to the cabarets and dancing with the German soldiers who are visiting the city. Do you remember when you left me at the Luciennes’ hotel? The guests there are from all over France, spending their leave in the city. People talk to me.’ She beamed at the other two. ‘Men talk to me, I mean, in particular.’

‘I bet they do,’ Sébastien muttered. His voice was hard and when she looked at him questioningly his brows were drawn together in a frown.

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ she asked.

‘Nothing really.’ He poured himself another glass of Chambord. ‘Just that of course men will talk to you. But it isn’t really talking they want.’

‘That doesn’t matter if talking is all they will get to do,’ Colette snapped.

She tugged the bottle from his hand and refilled her glass. His words stung and she couldn’t help remembering that the German they had killed had thought she was a whore. Clearly Sébastien had his opinions too.

‘I want to be helpful. I don’t have a way with words like Fleur does but I can find out information. Then you, Fleur, and Pierre can use it however you choose.’

She felt her eyes begin to prickle and she sniffed to clear the impending tears. She hated arguments and avoided them as much as possible. Aside from the horrible afternoon she had tried to convince Gunther not to leave her, it was the first time she had ever argued with a man. That had been so significant but now her pride was injured and it felt essential that her contribution be accepted and acknowledged.

‘I don’t see why you don’t want my help.’ She turned to Fleur who had been sitting silently while they had argued. ‘Fleur, what do you think?’

Fleur folded her arms. ‘You know my opinion already, but you are a grown woman. If you choose to do it, we won’t stop you.’ She fixed Sébastien with a hard stare. ‘Will we, Sébastien?’

It wasn’t a question. He threw his hands up. ‘No, we won’t, but your reputation will be in shreds.’

Colette rolled her eyes. ‘For goodness’ sake. You sound like my father! I don’t think wartime is a time to be worried about reputations. I haven’t let it worry me so far and I don’t intend to start now.’

The corner of Sébastien’s mouth twitched then turned down. ‘In that case, do what you like. I look forward to hearing your reports in great detail. Have fun dancing with the Nazis.’

He got up abruptly and walked out, slamming the door behind him.

‘What is the matter with him?’ Colette asked.

Fleur walked to the window and looked down at the street. Colette joined her. Below them, Sébastien appeared in the bookshop doorway. He leaned against the wall opposite and lit a cigarette.

‘Don’t you know?’ Fleur asked.

Colette shook her head. ‘Does he think I’m a collaborator? That I enjoy spending time in German company? I’m doing it to prove to them that they aren’t intimidating us, and to find out what I can.’

Fleur gave her a sharp look. ‘You do enjoy going out, Colette. You’ve always loved dancing ever since we were little. Don’t pretend not to.’

‘I suppose I do, but it’s the dancing I like, not the company. You know that.’ Colette leaned against the windowsill. ‘Sébastien was horrible, wasn’t he?’

Fleur glanced out of the window and her eyes shone with fire. ‘He feels strongly about what he believes is right. He doesn’t always hide his emotions well. If you intend to get to know him, you’ll have to be prepared for that.’

Colette looked down at the road. Sébastien was slouching against the wall, his lean frame all angles. He cupped the cigarette in his hand and stared up at the window. Fleur and Colette ducked back out of sight, but Colette knew he had seen her. Her heartbeat sped up.

‘Are you saying he is jealous of me going out dancing with other men?’

Fleur rolled her eyes. ‘No, I didn’t say he’s jealous. I said he thinks it is wrong. You’re going to have to put in a lot of effort if you want to convince him otherwise, whatever the look on his face when you hugged him.’

The look on his face… Colette hadn’t seen it and wished she had seen whatever Fleur had. Her pulse grew faster as she digested the possibilities. She risked a peek out of the window. As she watched, Sébastien pinched out the cigarette and put it back in his pocket, rationing half for a later time. He glanced up at the window and this time Colette didn’t bother to hide. She held eye contact until he thrust his hands in his pockets and strode away, though later she wondered how sharp his eyesight was and if he had even seen her after all. He had an odd way of showing admiration, if that really was the case, as half the time he seemed contemptuous and the other half mocking.

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