‘You can’t go around doing things like that. Acting on impulse, it will get you killed and could jeopardise the safety of others. This war isn’t about settling individual personal scores,’ he said. ‘It’s about the greater good.’
‘I know. From now on, I will be careful. I promise.’ I hugged him tightly. ‘I have to go. If I’m late, I’ll be in even more trouble. I don’t want to give Bochette the opportunity to tell me off about it.’
‘We need to change our meeting place,’ he said. ‘Meet me at Vallée Suisse in the Jardins des Champs-Élysées. Same time tomorrow morning.’
I kissed Marcel goodbye and hurried on through the tunnel and out the other side to work. I knew it was a risk meeting with Marcel but it was one we were both willing to take to see each other. We just had to be careful; that was all.
Arriving at the hotel, I went straight up to Chanel’s room. I was half expecting Kranz to be in there but Chanel was alone. She was sitting on the sofa in her satin dressing gown, smoking a cigarette.
‘I got rid of Kranz early,’ she said. ‘I need to talk to you.’ She rose from the sofa and we faced each other across the living-room rug. ‘Actually, it’s more to warn you.’
I gulped. ‘Warn me?’
‘Kranz is suspicious of you. He doesn’t trust you. He told me that last night. Now, I don’t want you to tell me what you were doing with the food last night because then I will have to tell Kranz. I like you, Nathalie, but you’re not cut out for whatever it is you’re attempting to do. If it’s some foolish notion of revenge for your brother’s death, then you must stop, as it will not end well for you. Of that I am certain.’
I felt light-headed, and I was sure the colour drained from my face. I reached out for the side of the armchair as I felt the floor move beneath me.
‘Sorry,’ I said, trying to stand up straight again.
‘Take this as a warning,’ continued Chanel.
‘I will. Thank you, madame.’
I carried out my duties for the rest of the morning and managed to avoid crossing paths with Bochette. I was glad when lunchtime came and I could feel myself relax a little as I chatted across the table with the other maids who were also taking their break.
I had only been sitting there for about five minutes when, to my surprise, in walked Alphonse. The look on his face sent a shiver down my spine.
I got to my feet. ‘Alphonse, what are you doing here?’
He removed his hat and nodded at the other girls before addressing me. ‘I need to talk to you.’
This wasn’t a lovers’ tête-à-tête. I could tell that from the serious look on his face and the austere tone in his voice.
‘Of course,’ I said, sliding out of my seat and following Alphonse out of the building into the rear courtyard. ‘What’s the matter?’ I asked, standing in front of him. A sudden thought that Alphonse was here to give me some sort of bad news about Maman and Papa hurtled to the fore. I gripped his arm. ‘Has something happened to my parents?’
Alphonse shook his arm free. ‘No. Nothing. They are fine.’
I took a step back as I studied the man in front of me. His face was hard, his jaw tight, but his eyes were a mix of anger and sadness. ‘Alphonse, what is it? Tell me.’
‘I saw you,’ he stated.
‘You saw me?’ A whole host of possibilities ran through my mind, but it could only settle on one that would evoke this sort of reaction in Alphonse.
‘This morning. Under the bridge.’ His eyes bored into mine. ‘With a man.’
I looked down at the ground, not only with shame but also to bide my time for a few moments as I gathered my thoughts. He said a man. He didn’t say Marcel Reynard.
‘The man. He was a friend of Edgar’s. That’s all,’ I said, wondering just how much Alphonse had seen.
‘A friend of Edgar’s? He looked much older than your brother.’
‘Look, Alphonse, it’s hard at home sometimes, especially when Maman is so upset about Edgar. I miss my brother terribly and needed some time to myself. It was pure coincidence that I just happened to bump into Edgar’s friend. Anyway, why didn’t you make yourself known, instead of spying on me?’
‘I wasn’t spying,’ protested Edgar. ‘I was on the other side of the river. I saw you walk under the bridge.’
‘You have good eyesight.’
‘Not good enough. I didn’t recognise the man.’
