Everything about him made Adelaide’s heart race. The pistol he kept on him made her nervous, the way he looked at her made her feel beautiful, the way he held her made her shiver with anticipation.

“I think my sisters would like you,” Wolfgang said as he sat down on the grass and pulled her down with him.

“I doubt that very much,” she replied, landing beside him and not bothering to make a show of resisting when his arm went around her. “Why would they like a French girl?”

His laughter was soft. “Look at you,” he murmured. “You’re perfect. Soft blonde hair, blue eyes, and skin as creamy-pale as butter. You’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever set eyes on.”

“You’re just saying that so I’ll keep kissing you,” she teased, embarrassed by his compliments.

“Not true,” he said. “I’ve thought that from the moment I first saw you. I think I ended up in Le Paradis for a reason.”

She froze then, an image flashing through her head, feeling like she was back in her bedroom looking out, watching all those men falling to their death. Only she still couldn’t see Wolfgang, still couldn’t believe it had been him, even though she knew deep down that it must have been.

Adelaide scrambled to her feet and walked a few steps, catching her breath.

“What’s wrong? Was it something I said?” Wolfgang came after her, as attentive as ever, his hand warm on her arm, his voice low.

How could a man have such different sides to him? How was it possible for him to be so cruel, and also so kind?

“Nothing, I just—”

He smiled and stood in front of her, opening his arms. “Come here. We can just stand here a moment.”

She clung to him, her fingers clenching his jacket and her cheek to his chest, listening to the steady thump of his heart. Addy didn’t believe for a second that he’d hurt her, but she couldn’t shake the memory of those British soldiers, falling one by one.

“Is something on your mind?” he asked.

She forced the thoughts away, knowing she had to say something, anything, other than the truth. “Talking about your family before, it only reminds me that you could be gone soon.”

His chuckle was loud against her ear. “I’m not going anywhere anytime soon, certainly not back to Germany,” he said. “Perhaps closer to Paris, but I won’t be leaving France.”

She swallowed. “You sound so sure.”

“Adelaide, your prime minister resigned today, and he’s been replaced by Marshal Henri Pétain,” Wolfgang said. “The war in France is over, they’re probably signing the armistice as we speak. France has officially been conquered.”

Tears welled in her eyes. Her beloved France had actually fallen.