“Whenever I fancy putting on a pretty dress.” She cringed inwardly at such a deliberately superficial reply but it earned the reaction she had hoped for.

He scoffed with obvious disparagement but his scorn didn’t stop his questions. “And you sing each time you come?” he pressed.

Uneasily, Estelle blinked and put a hand to her chest, hating how she could feel her pulse pounding beneath her fingers. She toyed with the emerald necklace that rested against her skin. “Well, not every time. Whenever I’m asked.”

Schwarz’s eyes had followed the movement of her hand, and he was openly sneering now. “By whom?”

“Why are you asking me so many questions?” She let petulance creep into her tone.

“Because it’s my duty.”

“It’s not your duty to harass beautiful women, Scharführer Schwarz.” A new voice cut into the conversation, saving her from a reply.

Estelle turned to find a Luftwaffe officer standing behind her, holding two glasses of champagne. He wasn’t looking at Estelle. Instead, he was glaring at the sergeant.

“Colonel Meyer.” The sergeant took a half step back.

“I can’t imagine that you were doing anything other than complimenting Mademoiselle Allard on her captivating performance.” The colonel put the glasses of champagne on the polished mahogany surface of the bar. His movements were casual but the edge to his voice was anything but. “The Luftwaffe is, after all, quite selective about who we let in to this establishment. Do you understand, Scharführer Schwarz?”

Schwarz took another half step back, his jaw clenched. “Of course.”

“Excellent. You are dismissed.”

The sergeant gave Estelle one last hard look and spun, stalking away.

“Heavens, what an unpleasant man,” Estelle breathed. Her heart was only beginning to slow.

“Apologies, Mademoiselle. Please pay him no mind. The Gestapo can be a disagreeable lot, Scharführer Schwarz more so than others.” He snorted derisively. “Ambitious bastard, never pleased with anything.”

That information did not reassure Estelle at all. Instead, her unease intensified.

“If he made you feel uncomfortable in any way, I can have a further word with him—”

“Oh, no, that is not necessary,” Estelle hastened to assure him. To draw additional attention to herself from the Gestapo was the last thing she wanted. “Please do not trouble yourself. In fact, I was just getting ready to leave.”

“Leave? You can’t possibly.” He pushed one of the champagne glasses toward her. “You must sing for us again later this evening. None of us knew we had such a songbird in our midst. The Reichsmarschall was particularly taken with you the other night.”

“I’m flattered.” Estelle hoped she sounded sincere. “But I’m afraid I must depart. Curfew comes early.”

“Nonsense,” the smooth-talking Meyer scoffed, brushing at the immaculate sleeve of his uniform. “You are welcome to stay at the hotel. Spend the night as my guest, and I will see you to your home tomorrow morning.”