Page 38 of The Last Library of Paris

‘You seem to be getting on well with the new vice-consul,’ I said to Penny as we filed papers together.

‘He’s quite funny,’ she said. ‘He’s definitely got the gift of the gab, that’s for sure.’

‘Did he say anything about what he’s doing here?’

She looked at me curiously. ‘He’s the vice-consul.’

‘Right,’ I said. ‘I just wasn’t sure what that involved.’

Penny shrugged. ‘Lots of lunches and trips to the golf course, as far as I can tell.’

I chuckled.

‘He’s young enough to be fighting,’ Penny went on. ‘That’s what I keep thinking. Digby and most of the other chaps here, they’re too old, aren’t they? But Valentine is young enough to have joined up.’

‘You’re not impressed?’

She wrinkled her nose. ‘Your brother died,’ she said bluntly. ‘And my brother is a prisoner of war. And Valentine is playing a lot of golf.’

I put my hand on her arm. ‘Keeping the Portuguese onside is an important job,’ I said. ‘We need Valentine to charm the right people.’

‘I suppose.’

I nudged her. ‘And he is handsome.’

‘I hadn’t noticed.’ She pulled open a drawer of the filing cabinet.

‘He’s charming you.’

‘He’s trying. Though I have no idea why.’

I laughed, because Penny knew everyone and everything that was happening in the embassy. And, of course, she was very pretty and lots of fun, which perhaps Valentine was more interested in.

I wasn’t sure.

Thinking about her knowing everyone, though, made me remember Steven.

I handed her some files and said: ‘There’s a chap from upstairs. I can’t remember his name. Thin face, tall, I think he might be called Steven …’

‘I know who you mean,’ said Penny. ‘Steven Parrish. He’s worked here for years.’

‘What’s he like?’

‘Why?’

I chose my words carefully because Penny was, as I’d told Digby, terribly indiscreet. ‘He’s interested in a friend of mine.’

Penny leaned against the filing cabinet. ‘He’s nice to look at, I suppose, if you like tall, lanky men.’ The tone in her voice suggested she didn’t. ‘But he takes himself very seriously.’

‘Earnest?’

‘More superior,’ Penny said. ‘Like he’s treating us to his presence for now, but he’s destined for better things.’

That made me uneasy. ‘Might tell her to steer clear, then.’

‘I would.’ Penny grimaced. ‘Chances are if he’s interested in her, it’s because he thinks she’s got something he wants.’

I raised an eyebrow and Penny giggled. ‘Not like that,’ she said. ‘He just strikes me as the type of bloke who doesn’t do anything unless there’s something in it for him.’