Honeymoon in Paris: A Novella

company. Édouard, I will light the fire and put the coffee on.’
    ‘Coffee!’ he exclaimed, rubbing his hands. ‘So very good to see you, Mimi. I will come – sorry,
we
will come and see your new apartment soon. It sounds marvellous.’
    He was whistling as he came up the stairs.
    While Édouard shed his outer clothes, I poured him a cup of coffee and climbed back into bed. He put a plate between us, broke me off a piece of bread and handed it to me.
    ‘Did you lie with her?’ I didn’t look at him as I spoke.
    ‘Who?’
    ‘Mimi Einsbacher.’
    I have no idea why I asked him this; I had never done such a thing before.
    He gave a slight shake of his head, as if it were of no consequence. ‘I may have done.’ When I said nothing he opened an eye and looked at me gravely. ‘Sophie, you know I was not a priest before I met you.’
    ‘I do.’
    ‘I am just a man. And I was alone for a long time before we met.’
    ‘I know this too. I would not wish you to be any different from the way you are.’ I turned and kissed his shoulder lightly.
    He reached out and pulled me to him, letting out another great sigh of contentment. His breath was warm on my eyelids. He slid his fingers into my hair and tilted my head back so that I was looking at him. ‘My darling wife. You need only remember this: I never knew happiness until I knew you.’
    What should I care for Mimi and her ilk? I thought, as I dropped my bread and slid my leg across him, breathing in his scent, taking possession of him yet again. They were no threat to me.
    I almost convinced myself.
    Mimi Einsbacher just happened to be passing as we came out of the studio the following Wednesday (I was rushing to
la poste
to send a letter to my sister); it made sense for Édouard to have breakfast with her. What was the point in him eating alone? And then again, two days later. It was a cold November day, and Édouard was placing my good felt hat on my head as I pulled open the huge oak door that led onto rue Soufflot. I was laughing and batting away his hands. ‘You have it back to front! Édouard! Stop! I will look like a madwoman!’ His great hand rested on my shoulder where it met my neck. I loved the weight of it.
    ‘Why, good morning!’ Mimi was dressed in a mint green cape and fur stole. Her waist was pulled in so tightly that I suspected her lips were blue under the red stain. ‘What a happy surprise!’
    ‘Madame Einsbacher. How fortunate we are to see again you so soon.’ My hat felt suddenly skewed and ridiculous on my head.
    ‘Mimi! How delightful.’ Édouard released my shoulder, bent his head and kissed her gloved hand. I protested inwardly at the sight, and then chided myself: Don’t be childish. Édouard chose you, after all.
    ‘And where are you off to this brisk morning? Back to the post office?’ She held her bag neatly in front of her. It was crocodile skin.
    ‘I have an appointment in Montmartre with my dealer. My wife is off to buy us some food.’
    I turned the hat around on my head, wishing suddenly I had worn my black one. ‘Well, I might,’ I said. ‘If you behave yourself.’
    ‘See what I endure?’ Édouard leant forwards to kiss my cheek.
    ‘Goodness. She’s very hard on you, I am sure.’ Mimi’s smile was unreadable.
    Édouard wrapped his muffler around his neck, surveying the two of us for a moment. ‘You know, you two should get to know each other. It would be good for Sophie to have a friend here.’
    ‘I am not without friends, Édouard,’ I protested.
    ‘But all your shop friends are busy during the day. And they live over in the ninth. Mimi is someone you could meet for coffee when I’m busy. I hate to think of you alone.’
    ‘Really.’ I smiled at him. ‘I’m quite content in my own company.’
    ‘Oh, Édouard is quite right. You don’t want to be a drain on him, after all. And you are hardly familiar with his circle. Why don’t I accompany you? As a favour to Édouard. I’d be delighted.’
    Édouard beamed. ‘Marvellous!’ he said. ‘My two favourite ladies, taking a jaunt. I’ll wish you both good day then. Sophie,
chérie
, I’ll be home for dinner.’
    He turned and walked off in the direction of rue St Jacques.
    Mimi and I gazed at each other and, just for a moment, I thought I detected something glacial in her eyes.
    ‘How lovely,’ she said. ‘Shall we walk?’

Chapter Three
    2002
    They’d had the morning planned: a lazy start, breakfast at Café Hugo on place des