China Blue (The Dudley Sisters Saga Book 3) by Madalyn Morgan (top 100 novels of all time TXT) 📕

her cheeks in frustration and walked on. As she passed the alley that ran along the side of the house she saw a shadowy figure, followed by the dim glow of a lighted cigarette. She pulled on the collar of her coat and crossed the road.

There was a café opposite the church where the Belland family worshipped. It was getting dark, so the café may have closed by now, but she would go there anyway. She had to go somewhere – and the further away from the Belland house the safer they would be. She turned the corner and exhaled with relief. A narrow shaft of light escaped into the street as the café’s door opened. A young man and woman left and Claire slipped in.

Inside she waved to the man behind the counter as if she knew him. He put up his hand in a tired but welcoming gesture. She spotted a vacant table and made her way to it. As she sat down, she heard the door open. The waiter sauntered over with his notebook in one hand, taking his pencil from his waistcoat pocket with the other.

‘I won’t be eating tonight,’ Claire said, glancing sideways at the lunch board above the counter. ‘Lunch was wonderful, but so filling, I don’t think I’ll need to eat again until breakfast,’ she laughed. ‘Just a cup of your delicious coffee, please.’ The café owner puffed out his chest and nodded. When he brought her coffee, Claire continued to chat in a familiar way. ‘You look tired. Have you had another busy day?’ Before the café owner had time to reply, Claire took a sip of her coffee. ‘Mmm, she crooned, closing her eyes, ‘lovely.’ The café owner smiled his thanks through a yawn.

Claire sipped her coffee and watched as customers finished their meals, paid and left. Of the half dozen Germans still lounging about drinking, she wondered which of them had followed her. She couldn’t be sure he had even come into the café. She heard the door open just after she entered, but it could have been anyone. The coffee was good; she would come here again. She picked up a newspaper from the table next to hers and began to read. She must act normally. Soon she would go to the ladies’, and see if there was a back door, or window she could climb out of. She absentmindedly took a sip of her coffee. It was hot. She put the cup down and got up, taking her handbag with her, but leaving her basket, so it looked like she was coming back. She walked to the back of the café. There was a sign above an alcove saying Toilet, and an arrow pointing to the left. She followed the arrow, but instead of turning into the toilet, she walked on to a door marked Exit. She pushed on it, but it was locked. She turned and opened the toilet door. There was no window. So much for making her escape, she thought. She pulled the piece of string that doubled for a chain and returned to her seat.

The café owner met her as she sat down. ‘I will be closing in ten minutes. Would like another cup of the coffee you love so much, before you leave?’

‘Thank you, that’s very kind.’ As he poured the coffee, Claire looked up at him, wondering if he had guessed she was being followed.

‘I will also have another cup before you close,’ Claire heard someone with a German accent say.

‘Certainly, sir,’ the owner sighed.

She was watching him pour the German officer’s coffee when the door burst open. Claire’s jaw dropped at the sight of a woman she recognised from a photograph on Édith’s mantle as André Belland’s wife, Thérèse. Bustling into the café and expounding how sorry she was to have kept her best friend waiting, Thérèse said, ‘I had to make Father’s dinner. You know mother and the little ones have the chicken pox? Covered in weeping sores, they are.’ Thérèse shivered. Trying to hide her surprise, Claire nodded vigorously. ‘Well, because it’s so contagious Father won’t allow them downstairs when he is home, in case he catches it. Did I say it was contagious? Oh yes. Well, it isn’t fair, I have to do all the housework and look after Mother and the children.’ Waving to the café owner, Thérèse pulled Claire to her feet. ‘I feel itchy myself,’ she said, scratching her head and the top of her arm, before opening the door.

The two women hurried off in the direction of the town. ‘How did you know where to find me?’ Claire whispered.

‘Frédéric saw you in the avenue. When you kept walking after he’d given the all clear signal, he knew something was wrong and he followed you. When he came back, Mother-in-law said I was to come to the café and get you out.’

‘That was brave of you, Thérèse, thank you.’

‘Not really. Frédéric and André were behind me. They were waiting outside the café to make sure we weren’t followed when we left.’ When they had walked along several streets, Thérèse looked back. ‘All the talk about chicken pox has put your stalker off,’ she laughed. Linking her arm though Claire’s, she said, ‘I think it’s safe to go home now.’

‘After the day I’ve had, I can’t think of anything better.’

Thérèse laughed. ‘I’m not sure you’ll feel that way after you’ve seen Mother-in-law. She is furious with you for going off without telling anyone.’

Claire knew she had broken the rules. She had put herself and Thérèse in danger, Frédéric and André too. They walked in silence until they arrived at the alley that ran alongside the short row of houses. A cigarette glowed and brightened. Thérèse opened the door in the wall and Claire followed her into the yard. ‘I’m sorry I put you in danger, Thérèse. I just needed to