*

Later that afternoon Agathe walked across the fields to the little house in the lane behind Le Coq d’Argent. Madame Leclerc opened the door and led her inside.

‘How is she?’ Agathe asked.

‘Exhausted,’ replied the midwife. ‘And I’m not surprised. We were lucky not to lose her as well as the child.’

‘Thank God for that,’ Agathe said. ‘And thanks to you. You are a very skilful woman, madame.’

‘I have seen most things,’ sighed Madame Leclerc. ‘But she’s taken it hard, as you’d imagine – the last part of her husband gone for ever.’

Agathe was faced at that moment with an almost overwhelming temptation to tell this compassionate woman the truth, but realising that to do so would put both her and Annette’s futures in jeopardy, she stifled the impulse and said, ‘You are very understanding, madame. May I see my niece now?’

‘Of course,’ came the reply. ‘I’ll take you up. She may be asleep; she was earlier, and if so, let us not wake her. Sleep is the great healer and is what she needs. We have to make sure she has plenty of rest and there is no chance of infection.’

Agathe followed her up the stairs to a bedroom at the back. The thin curtains were drawn against the sun, leaving the room in a pale twilight. Annette was awake, lying in bed, her face pale, dark circles under eyes that were red with weeping. Agathe hurried to her bedside and took her hand in her own.

‘My dearest girl,’ murmured Agathe, ‘I’m so sorry.’

‘Léon,’ she whispered. ‘His name was Léon.’

Chapter 17

The ballroom at Montmichel was flooded with light, its mirrored walls reflecting the brilliance of the four large chandeliers that hung from its lofty ceiling. Monsieur and Madame Barrineau were standing at the double doors, opened wide to welcome their guests, and beside them stood the newly married couple. Clarice wore a ballgown of cream silk embroidered with gold thread, its scooped neckline edged with tiny rosebuds, leaving her shoulders bare, her arms in opera-length gloves. She radiated happiness as she stood beautiful and proud at her husband’s side, her fingers resting lightly on his arm.