Betrayal: A deeply moving and emotional World War 2 historical novel (Sisters of Wartime England Book 3) by Madalyn Morgan

Author:Madalyn Morgan [Morgan, Madalyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781805080138
Publisher: Storm Publishing
Published: 2023-06-18T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

Claire watched Jacques shuffle through the door of the Café La Ronde, shopping bag in one hand and umbrella in the other. She nudged Édith. ‘He’s carrying an umbrella – in this heat.’

‘He uses it as a stick,’ Édith whispered, ‘and a parasol.’

Except for the white fedora that made his linen coat look even shabbier than Claire remembered, the multi-coloured cravat at his throat and the brown and white wingtip dance shoes, Jacques was wearing the same clothes that he wore the day before. Unable to help herself, Claire began to giggle. She put her hand up to her mouth. ‘I’m sorry, Édith, but he looks so—’

‘Flamboyant?’ Édith laughed with her.

‘I thought we were meant to keep a low profile.’

‘It’s best to, yes, but not if it means a sudden change of character. Jacques was a famous impresario in the 1920s. He married a beautiful and very talented dancer – and took dance troupes out on grand tours. He was devastated when she died. Shhh, he will hear us.’

‘Madame Belland,’ Jacques said, bowing theatrically before proffering his podgy white hand. ‘How are you, my dear lady?’ Squeezing his bulk into the seat next to Édith, he bumped the table with his knee, sending Édith and Claire’s coffee spilling into their saucers. ‘A million apologies, madame. Waiter?’ he called. ‘A cloth, if you please?’

Jacques ordered coffee and a pastry with cream, and while the waiter wiped the table he apologised again to Édith and Claire. ‘To business,’ he whispered when the waiter left. ‘You know I have a friend at German headquarters.’ Édith nodded. ‘Well,’ Jacques leaned forward, ‘he told me earlier that the Gestapo took seven men to the station this morning, and your friend may have been among them. Of course he cannot say for sure. Shush,’ he said, as the waiter returned with his coffee and a cake. ‘Thank you, Robert,’ he sang.

‘Does your friend know where the men were taken?’ Édith asked when the waiter was out of earshot.

‘To Périgueux, of course.’ Claire felt numb. Jacques took a bite of his cake, leaving a white sugary substance on the narrow slug of hair above his top lip, and turned his attention to Claire. ‘The message you asked me to send was given as you instructed, miss,’ he said, with his mouth full. ‘There was no reply to that message, but there is to be a—’ Jacques looked at the door, wiped his hand across his mouth and mumbled, ‘drop!’

‘When?’

‘Monday. One package is to go to Orléans and one to Paris.’

‘I shall deliver the package to Paris. Tell them tonight when you bake, Jacques, that China Blue will deliver to Paris,’ Claire said.

‘Claire dear, there’s almost a week before the drop. I think Jacques should wait until we’ve discussed it with André, don’t you?’

Claire rolled her eyes and blew out her cheeks. ‘Very well, but I shall go to Paris next week anyway. Whether I take anything with me is up to André, but since I don’t

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