27
A while later, Nancy lay in Hans’ arms, their bodies entwined in a mess of sheets on his bed.
‘Who taught you how to do all that?’ she asked.
‘If I told you, you wouldn’t believe me,’ he said. ‘I don’t want to know who taught you either.’
‘That sounds fair.’
‘Ich liebe dich, Nancy,’ Hans murmured in her ear as he ran his fingers through her hair.
‘Ich liebe dich auch, Hans,’ she replied.
She felt his body tense. Why would he object to her saying she loved him when he’d said the same to her?
‘Did I pronounce that incorrectly?’ Nancy asked, pulling away from him so she could see his face properly.
‘No, you said it perfectly. It’s just that …’ He hesitated. ‘It’s nothing. Forget I said anything.’ He stroked her face, looking intently into her eyes. ‘I truly love you, Nancy. Always remember that.’
‘I’m glad you changed your mind about us,’ she said.
‘So am I. It doesn’t matter what happens next. We’ll always have Paris.’
It was Nancy’s turn to flinch. ‘Don’t say that.’
‘Why not?’
‘It’s a famous line from Casablanca. Humphrey Bogart says it to Ingrid Bergman when they say goodbye forever.’
‘It might have meant that in their story but not in ours.’
‘I hope you’re right.’
‘I’m sure I am.’ He kissed her gently on the neck and began working his way down her body.
‘I think I can work out where you’ve been all night,’ Olivia said as Nancy walked into their flat the following morning.
‘I just came up to get a change of clothes. Hans and I are going out for breakfast.’
Olivia put down her cup of coffee. ‘And what are you and the lovely Hans planning to do after that?’
Nancy raised her eyebrows.
Olivia looked bemused. ‘I thought you said you weren’t going to get involved with him. “No point when I’m sailing away in a few weeks”, I seem to recall you saying?’
‘I know, but it all got a bit intense yesterday.’
Olivia went back to her breakfast. ‘It did sound that way.’
‘How do you know that? I thought you were stopping at Pierre’s?’
‘We had an argument. I came back early.’
‘How early?’
‘About ten o’clock.’
‘Oh.’ Nancy blushed. ‘I’d have been quieter if I’d known.’
‘The noise you were making downstairs, I could probably have heard you from Pierre’s.’
‘We got carried away.’ Nancy sat down at the table opposite her. ‘He told me he loved me.’
Olivia stopped buttering her croissant. ‘And that was enough to convince you to part with your knickers?’
Nancy grinned. ‘I’d already abandoned them at that point.’
‘It sounded like it was worth abandoning them. He knows what he’s doing then.’
‘Definitely. Better even than Billy. And he can dance.’
‘Lucky you.’ Olivia sucked the butter off her fingers.
‘You’re not going back to Pierre again, are you? I don’t understand why you put up with him. What if he gets you pregnant, and you’re stuck with him?’
‘But he’s got that rugged look that I can’t resist, and he makes me laugh. He gets so downcast when I dump him, I feel guilty if I don’t take him back.’
‘You can’t keep a man because he will look fantastic in the wedding photos, and he’ll inherit a chateau when you’re 50.’
‘And a vineyard. Don’t forget the vineyard.’
Nancy rolled her eyes. ‘I’m sure there are plenty of eligible men in France who already have their own vineyard. Why settle for one who’s waiting for Daddy to pop his clogs before you can get your hands on the vintage Chardonnay.’
‘You don’t get Chardonnay in the Loire Valley.’
‘I apologise for my ignorance of viticulture, but you know exactly what I mean.’
‘We’re supposed to be discussing you and Hans. I presume now he’s declared his undying love for you, you’re officially a couple now?’
‘I think we might be,’ Nancy smiled.