Page 103 of The Last Library of Paris

He shrugged off his coat, just as I had done, and then took off his shoes and put them next to mine. Seeing his feet in socks on my white wooden floor seemed oddly intimate.

‘Sit down,’ I said. ‘I’ll get some drinks.’

I found a new bottle of port in the kitchen and uncorked it, then took it and two glasses into the living room, where Archie was sitting on the sofa.

I poured two generous glasses and handed him one. Then I sat down next to him and curled my legs underneath me.

‘You mustn’t blame yourself,’ he said, taking a sip. ‘None of this is your fault.’

‘Parrish acted as if I should have been flattered by his interest in me,’ I said. ‘But then I made a fool of him and it flipped to hatred.’

‘And you warned us that he might have been listening, and I didn’t take it seriously,’ Archie said. ‘If anything, it’s my fault.’

‘No,’ I said. ‘Nonsense. Parrish is the only person to blame.’

‘Now say that again and make it sound like you believe it,’ said Archie.

I shook my head. ‘When my brother died,’ I began. I took a sip of my port, feeling the comforting warmth reach my belly. ‘When he died, I blamed myself. Because the last time I’d seen him, we’d teased one another about our desk jobs. He didn’t even work at a desk. He was a vicar, like our dad.’ I grimaced. ‘He didn’t need to join up at all, but he wanted to do what he could.’

‘How old was he?’ said Archie.

‘He was twenty-seven when he died.’ I drank more port. ‘He’d had his birthday the week before. A month or so after he was killed, my mother received a letter he’d written telling her how he’d celebrated with some of his men and thanking her for the present she’d sent.’

‘Lord,’ said Archie.

‘When I said to my dad that I blamed myself, he said the only person to blame was Herr Hitler.’

‘Your dad speaks sense,’ said Archie.

‘I know.’ I took a breath. ‘But it’s hard to forget me teasing him about being behind a desk when his friends were all joining up.’

He made a face. ‘I blamed myself when my brother died, too.’

‘You were just a boy.’

He shrugged. ‘He wanted to impress me.’

‘That was his decision, not yours.’

‘Just as your brother decided to join up.’

He looked at me, and I looked at him, and the silence felt loaded between us. Slowly I leaned forward and our lips met for a second. Then Archie pulled away.

‘Sorry,’ I said, embarrassment flooding me. ‘Sorry, it’s been an awful day, I just misread …’

But this time, Archie kissed me, sending a jolt of electricity through my body.

‘This is a very bad idea,’ he murmured, pulling me closer to him.

‘A dreadful idea,’ I agreed. ‘Should we stop?’

‘Absolutely not.’ He took my glass from my hand and put it on the coffee table, next to his.

‘What about Nancy from clerical? I saw you with her the other day,’ I said, slightly breathless as he pushed my hair from my face and kissed my neck. ‘Or Penny?’

‘Nancy is engaged to a lovely chap called Eric,’ he said. ‘And though I don’t know for sure, I suspect Penny’s flatmate Louise is not just a friend.’

I let him push me back onto the sofa cushions and gazed up at him, admiring his chiselled jawline and piercing eyes.