The Royal Windsor Secret by Christine Wells

Author:Christine Wells [Wells, Christine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-09-12T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Paris, France

Autumn 1939

“Go back to England? Why would you do that?” Philippe Santerre regarded Cleo with shocked concern. They had come to Angelina for one last hot chocolate before Philippe returned to the Army. He had enlisted well before France declared war on Germany, but he seemed surprised to learn that Cleo intended to serve her country, as well.

When Germany invaded Poland, making a mockery of the peace Chamberlain had so proudly brokered, Cleo was forced to accept that her dreams of becoming a jewelry designer in Paris must be put on hold indefinitely. She had not finished her course at Boulle before Lord and Lady Grayson came to fetch her back to England.

“It’s all hands on deck, my dear,” said Lady Grayson. “You’ll have to decide what you want to do. Most young girls I know are joining the FANYs or the WAAFs.”

“But what about your studies?” demanded Philippe.

Cleo shrugged. “I’ll have to defer my training, of course.” The truth was, she hadn’t been enjoying the course at l’École Boulle lately. She felt as if she’d learned all she needed to know. Was a formal qualification really necessary?

“Britain might have declared war on Germany but nothing’s actually happening over there yet,” Philippe protested.

“Still, it’s where I need to be.” More accurately, she needed to be useful, and unlike the French, the British were keen to employ women in all kinds of roles. She might even be given a posting in Cairo if she played her cards right.

Philippe didn’t understand. “But why leave Paris when the home of fine jewelry is here?”

“There’s a war on,” said Cleo. “I think my ambitions in that direction will have to wait.”

“But no,” said Philippe. “Cleo, don’t you see? I was serious about backing you financially. You can go into business for yourself here in Paris. You are immensely talented. Everybody says so.”

Cleo smiled. “That is a high compliment. But really, dear Philippe, even if the timing was right, I couldn’t accept such a generous offer.”

Philippe leaned toward her, his face alight with zeal. “If you were a man, Cartier or Boucheron or one of those would have snapped you up by now. But I am astute enough to see what they cannot. You will set the fashion and those others will scramble to follow your lead.”

She couldn’t help laughing at the grandiose pronouncement. “You exaggerate, my friend. Even if that palaver were true, I don’t feel ready. I don’t know the first thing about running a business.”

“That part is easy,” said Philippe. “I’ll take care of all the details. You will simply create.”

That sounded so enticing, Cleo had to mentally shake herself out of the dream. “I can’t,” she said firmly. “I value your friendship too much ever to contemplate going into business with you. Please don’t mention it again.”

Philippe fell into silence and Cleo finished her hot chocolate. Glancing around her, she thought back to the first time she’d been to Angelina with Brodie and Madame Santerre. “How I shall miss Paris.

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