The French House by Helen Fripp (ebook reader with highlight function TXT) 📕

that quiet little place you invest all your energies in? Now, tell me what’s in the bag.’

Nicole eyed the icon nearest to them. Russian, taken from a church. The scene was of hosts of angels, the holy trinity, and at the bottom a curious monster, sending out a black snake into the throng of saints.

‘Napoléon’s troops took that icon from a church in Russia.’

‘What of it?’ said Thérésa.

‘Russia is our enemy now. Napoléon would take a dim view of any collaborators.’

‘Yes he would, but he knows how devoted I am to the Republic.’

‘I have evidence that suggests otherwise.’

Nicole took the box out of the leather bag. Thérésa didn’t even flinch.

‘That trinket? Don’t be ridiculous. Are you trying to blackmail me?’

‘You’ll keep my secret, or your affair with the Tsar will ruin what status you have left.’

‘You’re angry about your little field hand. What’s his name?’

‘Xavier. He’s a good man.’

‘Very good. Surprisingly gentle, when it came to it.’ Thérésa grabbed the box out of her hands and opened it. ‘Where’s the necklace?’

‘I wasn’t stupid enough to bring that, too.’

‘I always knew there was steel behind those pale eyes.’

‘They say the coalition army – Prussia, Austria and Russia – isn’t far from Paris. If they invade and your love affair with the Tsar is made public, you’re finished.’

‘You think I don’t know? The whole of Paris is talking about it. Everyone’s burying their jewels in their back garden or hiding them in biscuit tins. It seems you have me exactly where you want me. How thrilling! In fact, I had rather hoped that I could escape to your little part of the world for a while to avoid all the chaos. I suppose that’s impossible now?’

Nicole gave her a hollow laugh. ‘You manipulated Xavier, my oldest friend and loyal employee, into revealing my trade secret so you could sell it to my enemies, persuaded him to send his son to the war, then dumped him, all to cover up your own misdemeanours, and you still ask for my protection? What twists of reality happen in your head?’

For the first time since she’d known her, Thérésa looked rattled and Nicole noticed faint lines that looked like worry. Good. Perhaps there was a heart in there somewhere.

‘You think you see it all so clearly? Life isn’t all neat ledgers and profit and loss and little country rivalries. It’s cruel and promiscuous and indiscriminate as disease. Your noble field hand was more than happy to betray you and his family for a night with me. Life is a balance, my darling. I might have asked one favour in return for the many I have done you. I rescued your adorable salesman, gave you money and solace when you needed it and never asked for a thing in return. Your obsession with your business is equally selfish, you just can’t see it.’

‘You leave a trail of destruction while convincing yourself of your innocence, then blame it on a heartless world. But we all have choices. I will be very clear. Reveal my secret to Moët and I will use the necklace to expose you as a traitor. The consequences will be your own doing, no one else’s.’

‘Such alluring passion, but your family wealth affords you high ideals the rest of us can only dream of. Take this, it belongs with the necklace.’ She handed back the box, stroked Nicole’s cheek and left.

Nicole was left alone amongst the musty paintings. She thought about her riddling tables, now taking up a large part of her cellars, year of the comet champagne bottles lined up neatly, slowly turned a quarter each day until the moment of disgorgement. Reliable, her own to create and do with as she wanted. Her secret was safe, but her victory felt hollow. Thérésa was dangerously flawed, but she was life, excitement, magic. Even now, after all this, the thought of life without her was a little less bright.

She put the box back in the leather bag and hurried back to the hotel. It wasn’t only for her, she comforted herself. Mentine was growing up and her future was secured.

Chapter 24

Invasion or Liberation?

March 1814

‘Thank you.’ Nicole kissed the nun on both cheeks.

Soeur Ayasse patted Mentine’s luggage.

‘Your trunk is here. Good luck, and take care, Clémentine. Pray the war is over soon and don’t neglect your studies. Look after your mama, my dear!’

Nicole noticed that as Mentine hugged Soeur Ayasse there were tears in her eyes. Her little girl had friends she had nothing to do with any more and her face was more angular, new buds pressed at her dress, soft blonde hair, milky skin, a new sultriness to her green eyes. She was as tall as her now!

Nicole scanned the café for evidence of predatory men. Surely they would all be looking at her beautiful daughter? Everyone just carried on as normal, clinking cups, smoking, gossiping. No danger, but the urge to protect her newly grown-up daughter was overwhelming.

In the months since she’d last been here to confront Thérésa, Paris had become a different, more threatening, place. The camps of Cossacks, Russians, Prussians, British outside Paris threatened to break through the city gates. Everyone in this café would be weighing up the odds, telling their own stories of how Napoléon was out of support, out of control. Perhaps it would even be better if the allies beat Napoléon. At least the war would be over. One thing was for sure, she had to get Mentine home.

‘Am I leaving Paris?’

‘For now, yes. You mustn’t worry, there’s no danger yet, but just for a few months, it will be safer for you at home with me and your grandparents.’

‘What about my friends? I’ll miss them!’

‘The main thing is to be safe. The moment the war is over, you’ll come back.’

The coffee pot steamed and the gold-rimmed cups were so delicate you could see the liquid through the china. Mentine bubbled away and the room filled with a comforting din of voices. The starched white