And it was thanks to a chance remark of her sister-in-law’s that Marie came to a realization that was to change her life.

“You should stay in Paris, you know,” she told Marie one day. “You have your family here, and you could have a pleasant life just like mine.”

It was perfectly true, Marie thought. She could find plenty to interest her in Paris for the next thirty or forty years, become a grandmother no doubt, devote herself to some good causes perhaps, and in the end die quietly, in Paris or in Fontainebleau. She could do all that and count herself a very lucky woman.

But rather to her own surprise, she realized it wasn’t what she wanted. She needed something more. She just didn’t know what that something might be.

She was chatting with Marc in the office one afternoon in May, when he’d remarked what a blow it had been to close down Joséphine. “It was the right thing to do. It was draining money,” he said. “But I wish in a way we’d held on until the war was over, because I think it could be a viable business now.” He laughed. “The lease was taken up by an insurance business, but they’ve just moved on, so it’s available at this moment. I haven’t got the energy to start it again, though, and young Jules couldn’t possibly do it, and wouldn’t want to.”

And then, almost before she knew what she was saying, Marie had asked: “So why don’t I do it?”

Marc had looked at her in astonishment.

“My dear Marie, you’ve never been in commerce.”

“No, but I’ve been learning a bit recently. You could help me.”

“You’re also a woman.”

“The widow Clicquot ran her champagne business for decades and made Veuve Clicquot the most famous label in the world. Chanel is a single woman. She seems to be doing all right. I’m in her store almost every week.”

Marc laughed.

“It’s not a boutique,” he said. “It’s huge.”

“I wouldn’t take the whole space. Just the Art Nouveau part that you designed.”

“I’m flattered.” He smiled. “I suggest, my dear sister, that you sleep on the idea. You may have been in the sun too long today. When you wake up in the morning, no doubt you will have regained your sanity.”

“No,” she said. She suddenly saw everything very clearly. “This is my plan. I am going to devote my time entirely to Aunt Éloïse as long as she’s alive. But if she says she’s going to die in August, then she probably will. After that, if the lease is still available, I want you to get it for me.”

“I’ve never seen you like this,” he said.

“Well, you have now,” she answered. “Joséphine is going to be reborn.”