Bang bang bang. A waiter was dusting off his tin tray. A small flock of sparrows alighted at his feet to peck among the gravel for fresh crumbs. A deep sadness swept over me. Célia and Peter had a life together. They had stood up in front of fifty people and given their hearts to each other, come what may. Peter would never have sneaked a girl off to a flat, and neither would James. He wouldn’t sneak anyone anywhere.

Sébastien wasn’t a bad man but my God, he didn’t love me. And I didn’t love him. I couldn’t even mention him by name, because . . . because I was ashamed. It was as simple as that. I was ashamed of my conduct. I closed my eyes, and tears scalded the inside of my eyelids.

“Yvette, I’ve upset you.” James’s voice was gentle. “I’m sorry, I was being nosy. It’s clear that I’ve completely forgotten how to talk to people.”

I opened my eyes wide to stop the tears falling, tried to laugh. “No, no. I’m being silly, I . . .”

“You don’t have to explain. Forget I said anything.”

More croquet players had arrived. They weren’t doing it properly, just hitting the balls around the course. The air was full of the clack of mallets, of braying laughter. James was looking at me, watchful and concerned. I would remember this afternoon for a long time, I realized. Just as I had remembered the air raid and the day after. They were precious, these hours and minutes we had spent together. I would treasure them, holding them as tightly as he had held my hand.

We would sit there for a few moments longer. The sun would move a little lower, and then James would leave. I might never see him again.

The thought nearly choked me.

Slowly I sat up straight, took a deep breath. “James, are you hungry, by any chance?”

He grinned. “Starving.”

“Shall we go to my aunt Monique’s flat?” I said, pushing my chair back. “We can buy something filling on the way. Célia will join us. You’ve got time, haven’t you?”

“I’m meeting someone at the Osborne House Club at nine. That’s where I’m staying.”

I smiled at him. “Well then, you have no excuse.”

—