Darcie raised her eyebrows. ‘Impressive.’
‘I do actually know Myles Hoffer,’ said Matt. ‘I’m not cashing in on my mom’s name. It’s not my style.’
Darcie appraised Matt for a moment. She sensed it might be something of a raw nerve for him, not dissimilar to her need to pay her own way. She didn’t push the matter further with him.
‘I appreciate it even more. Thank you,’ she replied.
Chapter 13
Nathalie
‘What are you doing?’
Rachelle’s voice made me jump. I was hiding behind the chicken house, keeping a careful watch on the field beyond where I knew Philippe would come from soon for his lunch. It was a day since I’d received the news about Edgar, and I was eager to put my plan in place.
‘Nothing,’ I replied, not looking at my cousin.
‘It doesn’t look like nothing,’ said Rachelle.
‘What are you doing here, anyway?’ I asked, trying to divert the conversation.
‘I saw you from the landing window when I was putting the linen away.
‘I’m just getting some fresh air.’
‘Behind the smelly chicken house is a funny place for fresh air.’
I let out a big sigh. ‘Look, Rachelle, if I don’t tell you what I’m doing, then you won’t have to lie for me or get into trouble.’
My cousin eyed me for a long time before speaking again. ‘You’re going to see Gaston, aren’t you?’
‘Please, Rachelle.’
‘He won’t help you,’ continued Rachelle. ‘It’s one thing asking you to do some sewing for him, but it’s another expecting him to help you get some sort of revenge for Edgar.’
I looked down at my feet and felt the ball of grief lodge itself in my throat and tears rush to my eyes. ‘It’s that obvious, is it?’
‘I may not have seen you for a long time, cousin, but it doesn’t mean I don’t know you and understand how you are feeling. I would be the same.’
My tears spilled over as the tenderness in her voice touched me. Rachelle pulled me towards her and I clung to her, fighting back the tears as the anger at what had happened to my brother overwhelmed me once more. I pulled away. ‘I have to do something,’ I said. ‘Every time I think about Edgar, my heart is filled with pain and my belly with anger. I want the person who killed him to pay for what they did.’
‘And as I said, Gaston will not help you and you are wrong to ask him.’
‘What do you mean?’
Before she could answer, the sound of the gate clanking open alerted us to Philippe coming through from the field. I looked at Rachelle. Without saying a word, so as not to give us away, my eyes pleaded with her to stay quiet. She leaned back against the side of the chicken shed and we both held our breath as Philippe trundled by with the horse and cart.
As soon as he was out of earshot and across the backyard of the farm, Rachelle turned to me. ‘If you ask Gaston, he will have to say no and he won’t like saying no to you. It will upset him and you have no right to do that.’
It was probably the first time Rachelle and I had disagreed about anything, but I wasn’t about to give in. ‘That’s for Gaston to decide,’ I said. ‘Now, I’m going to find him.’
‘You don’t know the way.’
‘I have an idea and eventually, one of Gaston’s men will find me.’
‘Not if the Germans find you first.’
I must admit I hadn’t thought of that, so intent was I on seeing my cousin. ‘I’ll be careful,’ I said, knowing I sounded naïve and belligerent all at the same time.
