Page 147 of The Last Library of Paris

‘It’s almost seven o’clock,’ she said. ‘Curfew’s over and we need to go to the station and get you a ticket.’

I sat up, wiping my bleary eyes. ‘I’m ready. Guy?’

But Guy shook his head.

‘I will stay with Alain,’ he said. ‘In Paris.’

I smiled at him. ‘I thought you might say that.’

Cassie looked worried. ‘But you’ll still come with us?’ she asked me. ‘You’ll come to Lisbon?’

‘I will,’ I said. I’d not been sure about it until that very minute. But I knew it was the right thing to do. ‘I need to give Marcus his books. And it’ll be good to see Bea again.’

‘She’ll be so glad to see you,’ said Lara.

I nodded. ‘Perhaps she can help me run the Soldiers’ Book Service from Lisbon instead.’

‘I think she’d love that,’ Cassie said.

We all said our goodbyes to the Resistance, shaking their hands and thanking them profusely. They shrugged off our gratitude.

The Brits all picked up their suitcases, making me chuckle, and headed for the door. I stood for a second with Guy, Sylvie and Alain in the living room.

‘I will miss you all,’ I said.

We all threaded our arms through each other’s and shared a slightly uncomfortable but emotional hug.

‘We will always be the Three Musketeers,’ said Sylvie, subtly wiping away a tear.

‘There are four of us,’ I said.

‘Pfft.’ She looked at Alain. ‘You are d’Artagnan. A late addition, but just as important.’

For a second I thought Alain was going to cry, but instead he just grinned. ‘More important,’ he said.

‘Au revoir,’ I said to them all, my own voice thick with tears. ‘Until we meet again.’

I went out into the hall, where the others were waiting.

‘Are we all set then?’ said Archie, looking at us all.

‘Right behind you,’ said Henry.

‘And me,’ said Lara.

Archie took Cassie’s hand and she smiled at him.

‘Let’s go,’ she said. ‘We’ve got a train to catch.’

Chapter 39

Cassie

Lisbon

Three months later

Frances’s letter had arrived that morning, but I’d saved it until now to read, when I was on my own, with a cup of tea and a pastel de nata.