Page 35 of If You Were the Only Girl in the World
“She gave you no reason for her resignation?” Nate looked for any indication that Russell and Katrina had quarreled.
“None, Colonel. None.” He folded his pale hands atop his broad desk and gave him a thin-lipped smile. “One assumes she wished to return home before America declares war.”
“Did she say that?”
“She told me nothing of her reasoning, Colonel. I did not ask either. She wished only a reference she might use in the future. She said she wished to go immediately. That was two weeks ago. I gave her the requested recommendation and off she went at the end of her last shift last Friday morning.”
“Thank you, Doctor.” He stood and as the man did not extend his hand, neither did Nate.
What was there in the man’s behavior which alarmed him?
He emerged to the bright April day and hailed a taxi to go to Aurore’s.
Her office was closed. When she was in town to see patients, Aurore opened at ten and closed promptly at four. She stayed in a small flat near her mother’s and father’s grand abode on the Rue de Rivoli. He’d try that but doubted she’d stay away from work on a day in the City. He’d try to telephone down to the chateau, but when he had done the before, he had always encountered interruptions in the telephone lines.
* * *
The next afternoon, he arrived at the grand palais south of Paris that was the homeof Marianne and Remy. He charged up the wide stone steps to the front of the old palace. Someone must have seen him approaching on the pebbled drive in the goat cart he’d hired at the train station. The maid who answered the iron-filigree door fluttered a welcome. Astonished at an unexpected visitor, she took his hat and Army greatcoat, then hurried off with breathless French exclamations of shock and dismay at the work now to be done for one more guest.
Within minutes, she returned flustered as before but urging him in French to come, come. Madame says you are most welcome.
Marianne descended the grand marble staircase, her hair pins escaping her coif, her painter’s smock dabbed with ink every color of the rainbow. She’d been at work in her studio.
“Nate!” She held out her hands and he rushed forward to kiss both cheeks. “How wonderful to see you. A surprise.”
Which demanded of him an explanation that he gave. “I hope you’ll forgive me. I don’t mean to dismay you.”
“You don’t. In fact, I would have been very upset had you not come.”
His heart sank. She knew why he was here. Who he sought. “What’s the matter? Where is she?”
His aunt patted his hand. “Steady, my dear. Katrina is here. Has been for six days.”
“Since she left Paris, then?”
“Yes. She could not get a packet reservation across the Channel. Not until next month. Aurore told her to come. Remy and I insisted on it.”
“Is it true that she’s planning to go home? She can’t, Marianne. That is too dangerous.”
“I agree. And she knows it is.”
“I don’t understand. She was doing so well after I brought her here and introduced her to you.”
“My dear Nate, stop. Take a breath. She is in the music room at this time of day. I know she will be delighted to see you. Go now.” Marianne extended a hand toward the hall. “Please.”
He took the majestic long grey and green marbled hall at a clip, the chords of a gay show tune calling him onward.
The doors to the salon stood wide. Sunshine set the pale blue walls edged in gilt to dazzling color and warmth. He stood on the threshold and looked his fill at her.
She sat facing him, her hands to the keys. Her drab grey uniform he’d seen her in so often in Paris was now replaced with a peach frock that brightened her complexion to a healthy glow. The tender smile on her face as she enjoyed herself tore at the wall of fear in his heart. But he knew not how much more he’d need to quell the awful despair of losing her.
He advanced and the movement must have caught her eye. She quivered, surprised, and stared at him, her mouth dropping open.
He wanted to kiss her, consume her, keep her, but he couldn’t stop himself from asking after her. “Why are you here?”
She cast about. “I’m…I’m visiting.” A frown crossed her brow.
Alarmed at that, he took a step toward her. “But you’ve left your apartment, your position. What are you doing here?”
