The French Promise Read Online Free Page A

He’d been sharing a welcome lunch with Commander Hoss and his wife at the villa while Rachel had been guiding the children through a complex duet. Hedwig interruptedtheir practice without warning. Rachel was all smiles.
    A short man in a smart dove-grey uniform entered between the German couple.
    ‘Darlings, this is Kriminaldirektor von Schleigel. He remarked on the pleasant music he could hear and has requested to watch you play.’
    Rachel shrank back to the wall while the children stood and welcomed their visitor obediently.
    ‘Good afternoon, fine Klaus and prettyIngebrigitt,’ he’d replied, but his small eyes seared a gaze towards Rachel.‘Good grief, Commander, do you allow the parasites into your private rooms?’
    Hoss was lighting a cigarette and paused before he replied casually, ‘She is the children’s music teacher. We’re keeping their lives as normal as possible. We take what we can in the wilderness of Poland.’
    ‘What is your name?’ von Schleigeladdressed Rachel directly.
    Rachel glanced at Frau Hoss. ‘Go ahead,’ Hedwig permitted.
    ‘Rachel, Herr von Schleigel,’ she answered, looking down.
    ‘All right, darlings, now play that piece you have been practising for us,’ Hedwig said, her tone bright. She directed their guest towards a comfy armchair.
    Von Schleigel accepted a cigarette and the lighter from his host, and as he lit up Rachel couldfeel his hatred as his gaze coolly assessed her. She didn’t once raise her eyes from the keyboard, instead tapping gently against the burnished walnut of the piano to count in her charges.
    The children managed to get through the piece with confidence. At its conclusion they both stood and bowed to the clapping trio in the audience.
    ‘Charming, charming indeed,’ von Schleigel said, stubbing outhis cigarette so he could clap properly. ‘How accomplished you both are.’
    ‘Rachel has made a difference,’ Ingebrigitt ventured and Rachel held her breath, wishing the child had not mentioned her again.
    ‘Is that so?’ the Gestapo man asked. ‘Tell me, what is your full name?’
    Rachel had kept her eyes downcast and it was only whenthe room fell silent that she realised the question had been directedat her. She looked up, the breath catching in her throat now. Hedwig nodded permission. Swallowing her fear she answered him, shocked that he’d be bothered. ‘Rachel Bonet, Herr von Schleigel.’ She hadn’t uttered her family name in a year.
    He looked immediately surprised. ‘Bonet, you say?’ Von Schleigel looked around at the adults.
    Frau Hoss shrugged.
    ‘Is something wrong?’ her husbandasked.
    ‘No, no,’ von Schleigel tittered. ‘It’s just amusing that the last case I worked on involved hunting down a troublesome Jew Resister called Bonet.’
    Rachel fixed her gaze on her wooden clogs and gripped her fingers.
    ‘How curious,’ she heard Hedwig remark, but in a tone lacking all interest. ‘Shall we take tea in the garden, Rudolf?’ she said over her shoulder as she swung around to the children.‘Thank you, darlings. You were splendid.’ Rachel heard the swish of Hedwig’s dress as she stood. ‘Come, Horst. Let’s not waste the welcome spring sun,’ she said. ‘And I should like to show you our garden. It is very pretty at this time of year. We should take a photo as well, don’t you think, my dear?’ she said to her husband.
    ‘As you wish,’ he’d remarked, entirely disinterested.
    Rachel didn’tneed to look at von Schleigel to know he still watched her.
    ‘Where are you from?’ he said, in French now.
    ‘The south, sir,’ she murmured.
    ‘Where in the south, girl?’ he whipped.
    ‘Provence. The Luberon.’
    He laughed and she didn’t believe she’d ever heard a more cruel sound.
    ‘The Bonets of Saignon?’
    She couldn’t help herself. Her eyes flashed up to see his vicious, pig-eyed stare thatwas full of loathing and yet laced with hunger. Her faltering look was her admission.
    ‘Tell me, your