She heard Mrs Pel open the door, and say with real pleasure, ‘Well, Mr Andre, this is a surprise. But I’m afraid the family are out.’
‘Mademoiselle Virginie also?’ The query was sharp.
‘All of them,’ said Mrs Pel stoutly.
There was a silence, then he said quietly, ‘Oui, je comprends.’ He paused again. ‘À demain, I have to return to France, Marguerite. Perhaps you would convey my regrets to Madame Charlton for my failure to take my leave of her.’ He added drily, ‘Although I am sure she will not find it a hardship.’
‘Well, I shall miss you, Monsieur Andre. I’m glad to know your mother found the happiness she deserved.’ It was Mrs Pel’s turn to pause. ‘Is there any message you’d like me to pass on—to anyone?’
‘Thank you, but no. At the moment, all I can say is—au revoir.’
He seemed suddenly to be speaking more loudly but maybe that was Ginny’s imagination.
‘But please believe,’ he went on, ‘that I shall be back. And soon.’
From her hiding place, Ginny heard the front door close and Mrs Pel’s footsteps returning to the kitchen.
As she straightened, she realised she was trembling again. Knowing that he hadn’t been fooled for a moment. That everything he’d said had been aimed straight at her.
‘But when you do return, Monsieur Duchard,’ she whispered under her breath, ‘you’ll find me long gone. And that’s a promise.’
CHAPTER SIX
ALTHOUGH MOVING ON was her avowed intention, Ginny hadn’t expected Fate to take her quite so literally.
She’d spent a miserable night, almost afraid to go to sleep in case her dreams brought an even more vivid reminder of the afternoon’s unbelievable stupidity.
She was fretting, too, over what had happened to Barney. Her mother had categorically denied having any hand in his disappearance while Cilla said merely that the man who’d collected him was ‘ordinary’ with a name she couldn’t remember.
She was tired and depressed when she arrived at work. Twenty minutes later, she was jobless.
‘Iris is quite insistent,’ Miss Finn said wearily. ‘She says you’ve proved yourself unreliable by walking out in the middle of a busy day without permission and failing to return.
‘I said I was sure there was some explanation, but I’m afraid she doesn’t want to know.’
‘I’ve just given her the excuse she wanted.’ Ginny bent her head. ‘And I can’t explain either.’
Miss Finn sighed and handed her an envelope. ‘You’ve got two weeks’ wages in lieu of notice and I’ve written you a reference.’ She paused. ‘Although this might be a good time to consider a change of direction.’
‘Yes,’ Ginny agreed soberly. ‘I—I’d already decided that.’
But in my own time, she thought ruefully, as she departed.
Lost in thought, she was waiting to cross the street when a hand fell on her arm and, to her horror, she found Andre looking grimly down at her.
‘Ou vas tu?’ he demanded. ‘I was coming to the café to find you.’
She wrenched free. ‘Well, you’d have been unlucky because I’ve just been fired. And I don’t want to be found, so you go your way and I’ll go mine.’
His mouth hardened. ‘Now you are being ridiculous. There are things that must be said and running away will solve nothing. Now will you walk with me, or must I carry you?’
‘Lay one hand on me,’ Ginny said hoarsely, ‘and I’ll scream blue murder.’
‘Over a lovers’ quarrel? Because that is what I shall say—and be believed.’
‘What makes you think so?’
He said softly, ‘You have a small crimson mark below your left breast received, I think, at birth. Do you wish the world to know that I kissed it yesterday? Non? Alors, come with me now.’
He took her hand firmly in his and led her up the street to the Rose and Crown.
She hung back. Her voice shook a little. ‘I—I’m not going back there.’
‘Qu’as tu?’ He stared at her, then gave a short laugh. ‘Mon Dieu, you think I have time for such things? We are going to talk.’
He took her into the hotel’s deserted dining room and, when a surprised waitress appeared, ordered coffee.
Once they’d been served and were alone again, he said abruptly, ‘Why did you not tell me you were a virgin? It was something I needed to know. And do not deny it,’ he added swiftly. ‘You bled a little.’
Ginny’s colour mounted. ‘I didn’t realise. Anyway, it doesn’t matter.’