Page 102 of The Last Library of Paris

‘I don’t know where you live,’ he said.

‘Oh.’ I felt a little silly. ‘It’s not far. This way.’

We walked in silence.

‘I’m fine to go alone,’ I said after a few minutes. ‘If you need to get to the embassy.’ I wasn’t being entirely honest. My legs were trembling and I felt quite light-headed. But I didn’t want to take up more of Archie’s time, when he could be helping Digby.

‘Cassie, at the risk of sounding terribly offensive, you look awful,’ said Archie. ‘I’ve never seen someone look so pale. I just need to know you’re home safely.’

I nodded quickly, before his kindness made me fall apart.

‘It’s down here,’ I said, as we reached the side street where my apartment was. ‘Right at the end.’

We turned into the road, which was quiet, away from the main part of the city. Suddenly, a couple of boys darted out of a cut-through to our left. They were chasing a ball and whooping, but the sudden sound made me shriek in fear.

The boys didn’t even notice but Archie caught me by the shoulders, and I was glad because my legs were shaking so violently, I wasn’t able to stand up properly.

‘They’re just playing,’ he said calmly. ‘Breathe, Cassie.’

He looked me in the eyes. ‘Follow my breathing,’ he said. ‘In, out. Good. Keep going.’

I tried to keep my breath regular, in and out, and eventually my racing heart began to slow.

‘Better?’ said Archie.

‘I think so.’

‘Do you have your door keys?’

I felt in my bag for them and held them up, noticing my hand was still shaking a little. Archie swiped them from my fingers.

‘I can open my own front door,’ I complained. But Archie didn’t reply. He put the key in the lock and opened the heavy, black-painted door, then shepherded me inside.

‘Which floor?’ he asked.

‘Right at the very top.’

‘The penthouse,’ he said.

I managed a small smile. ‘I like the view. But the lift is broken.’

‘Come on, then.’

Together we marched up the steep, narrow stairs, up and round, up and round again, until we reached the very top floor.

‘This is it,’ I said. There were two apartments on each of the other floors but mine was the only one at the top. I held my hand out for the keys, but Archie didn’t give them to me. Instead, he opened the door to my flat.

‘I just want to see you in safely for my own peace of mind,’ he said.

‘Fine.’ I nodded. ‘Come in.’

Inside, I put on a lamp, hung up my coat and took off my shoes.

‘I’ll get off,’ Archie said, hovering by the door. ‘If you’re all right?’

‘Would you like a drink?’ I said, surprising myself.

There was a pause and then Archie nodded. ‘Actually, I could do with one.’