‘Do you always live dangerously?’ asked Darcie. ‘I thought you Americans didn’t jaywalk.’
‘It’s the French influence on me,’ replied Matt with a grin.
He let go of her hand, and Darcie had to pretend to herself that she wasn’t just a tad disappointed. They took a seat outside and studied the menu for a few minutes before the waiter came and took their order.
‘It’s so lovely here,’ she said, her gaze wandering across the riverbank to the Île de la Cité where she had been earlier that afternoon.
‘Yeah, sure is,’ he said.
Darcie was certain he was still looking at her. Fortunately, the waiter chose that exact moment to return to their table with their food and a bottle of wine.
‘Oh, I didn’t order wine,’ said Darcie. She had no idea if it was expensive or not.
‘I did, but you don’t have to have any if you don’t want.’ Matt smiled as if to reassure her. ‘Don’t you drink?’
‘No. It’s not that.’ This was far more awkward than Darcie imagined. She didn’t want to make a fuss about the cost; she’d just have to suck it up and if it meant skipping a meal tomorrow, then so be it.
‘I’m not trying to get you drunk,’ said Matt.
‘I know. I didn’t think for one minute you were,’ said Darcie. ‘I’m here on a budget. I have to watch my pennies, plus I don’t enjoy freeloading and I would never expect that just because I was out with a man, he would automatically pay for everything. Just for the record, I fully intend to pay half the bill this evening.’
‘Is that right?’
‘Yes. It is, as it happens.’
‘OK.’
Darcie looked at him, taken aback by the one-word reply. ‘OK?’
‘Yeah, OK.’
She flattened her napkin and refolded it for no particular reason other than it gave her hands something to do. ‘That’s good, then.’
‘Listen, I’m sorry if I made you feel awkward,’ said Matt. ‘I didn’t think.’
‘It’s fine. Honestly, don’t worry about it.’ She smiled at him to show no hard feelings.
‘So, this dress you took to Chanel today, what made you think it was one of theirs?’ said Matt. ‘And you said something about a connection with the war and the Ritz.’
Darcie was glad of the change in conversation and went on to explain the background to the dress and how she’d come by it. ‘There was an envelope in the case, which had the nameNathalie Leroux, andRitz Parison it, but I can’t find out a single thing about her. I asked Christophe Padgett but he didn’t really seem interested. I think by then he just wanted to get rid of me.’
‘Where does the war come into all this?’
‘There was also a train ticket dated 1942. Oddly, that was for a station in England.’ Darcie gave a sigh at the seemingly unconnected pieces of information. ‘Earlier, you said you might be able to help.’
‘I know someone who’s an editor with a magazine. They specialise in World War Two and the fashion in that era. They might be able to fill in some gaps. If they don’t know, they might know someone who does.’
‘What magazine?’
‘The History of Us.’
Darcie was sure her eyes had nearly bulged out of her head.The History of Uswas a global publication that focused on the world wars. It was critically acclaimed by historians around the world and a great reference source for amateurs and professionals alike. It was to historians whatRolling Stonemagazine was to music lovers. ‘You know an editor at the magazine?’
‘Yeah. Kind of.’
‘Kind of?’
‘My mother works for the publication.’
