‘I understand that,’ Rupert said, ‘but what I wanted to discover was whether it’s possible for us to be married in the embassy. Under British law. I assume that we’d be on British soil there.’

‘Indeed you would,’ agreed David. ‘Well,’ he went on thoughtfully, ‘I suppose it might be possible to bring in an English priest to marry you there. It’s not something that would happen very often, but in special circumstances it might be arranged. You’d need a special licence, of course, but you could apply to the ambassador’s office for that. But you’d have to find her somewhere else to stay until it can all be arranged.’

‘I thought of her staying at one of the large hotels. She will have her maid with her, so it would be quite proper, but she would be easier to find. I’m afraid if he found her Barnier might well put pressure on her to return to him.’

‘If that’s the case,’ Christine Bertram said, ‘you’re welcome to bring her here, Sir Rupert. It is clear to me that you have to be married before she goes home to her family. She must return as a respectable married woman. That way her reputation will be safe and there could be no question of coercion into marriage with this Monsieur Barnier.’

‘It will have to be declared that there is no legal impediment to the marriage,’ pointed out David thoughtfully.

‘Just bring her here,’ his wife said. ‘We’ll look after her. She will live with us until one way or the other you can be married, at the embassy or at the local Mairie.’

‘What about her parents?’ asked David. ‘

‘They gave me their consent some months ago,’ replied Rupert.

‘Hmm,’ David grunted. ‘I wonder if that still stands!’

‘Well, I imagine that they will be only too pleased that she is legally married when she reappears,’ Christine Bertram said, ‘so that it scotches any scandal, and in the way of these things, the matter of her disappearance will soon be overtaken by some other excitement.’

‘When we get back to England it will never be known,’ stated Rupert. ‘I shall simply be bringing home the bride I married while I was in France.’

They discussed what they were going to do, and when their plans were made, Rupert thanked them for their hospitality and offers of help and returned to his hotel.

There was nothing more he could do until tomorrow, but at least they now had a plan, and if it worked, he and Hélène finally had a future.

Chapter 51

Rupert had an early breakfast and then walked to the market, where he found Annette.

‘Is Jeannot still with Hélène?’ he asked.

‘He said he’d wait till you came for her,’ Annette replied.

‘I’m going there now,’ Rupert told her. ‘And you must come with me. We have to maintain the proprieties.’

That made Annette laugh. ‘Isn’t it a bit late for that?’

‘No, it’s most important. I’ve arranged for her to stay with a friend of mine and his wife, and when we get to their home, Hélène must be seen to be accompanied by her maid. And it isn’t as if you haven’t been living with her in the apartment, is it?’