The Paris Model by Alexandra Joel

Author:Alexandra Joel
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollinsPublishers
Published: 2019-11-21T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTY

As soon as Grace returned to the cabine after the day’s final show, she quickly changed into a green cotton frock with a Chinese collar, reached for her straw hat and, with barely a farewell to the other mannequins, hurried away from the maison. Philippe had said he planned to ask her something of great significance. Whatever it was, Grace wanted to hear it as quickly as possible.

She’d had a largely sleepless night. Grieving for the loss of Reuben — not just the man, but the man she thought she’d known — she had curled up in her lonely bed and wept. It seemed that having abandoned Grace once, he had welcomed the opportunity to do so again. Only this time, his intention was that the separation would be lasting. It was the bitterest of blows.

Grace was worried about Philippe, too. She’d virtually accused him of making only a paltry attempt to find her father, when he’d gone out of his way to help her. There was absolutely no reason why he should expend any more effort.

On edge and fatigued, she stood waiting for him to arrive in front of the Jardin du Luxembourg’s elaborate wrought-iron gates. The long summer night meant a steady flow of Parisians from all walks of life passed her on their way to the famous fountains and gardens inside. She did her best to ignore the men among them who made muttered comments or cast overly appreciative glances in her direction.

Grace was thankful when at last Philippe appeared. He greeted her affectionately enough, but seemed unusually ill at ease.

‘Let’s go in and find a place to sit,’ he said. ‘Somewhere private.’

Philippe took her arm and for a few minutes they walked beneath the manicured rows of lime trees.

‘I think over there would be good,’ he said, pointing to a bench that stood in a secluded corner next to a white marble statue of a former Bourbon queen. As soon as they were seated he announced, ‘I know I have no right, but I want to ask you . . .’

Grace felt as if she had been struck by a thunderbolt. It sounded very much as if Philippe was intent on proposing. If circumstances had been different, she would have been overjoyed, but as it was, she was so unnerved that she clenched her hands with such force the nails bit into her palms. He must not ask her that. If he did, she would be forced to reveal she was married. Then Philippe would know that all the time they’d been together she’d been lying to him. True, he had never asked about her marital status, but it was only natural that he’d made assumptions. If omission was indeed a sin, then she was unquestionably guilty.

‘. . . to spy for France.’

‘To . . . What did you just say?’ Grace asked, dumbfounded.

‘I want to know if you will agree to spy for France.’

She felt simultaneously overwhelmed by enormous relief and crushing disappointment, although both emotions were rapidly replaced by shock.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.