“What in blazes are you talking about? You, yourself, told me everything about Elise. There’s no mystery. She was married. He died. She had his child. That happened to thousands of girls during the war.”
“Oh, Sloan.” Anne put her head in her hands and shook it back and forth. “I should have told you everything. I simply thought there was no need to hurt you unnecessarily. But, I see now that I was mistaken.”
“What the devil do you mean? Please, Anne. Stop this. You’re frightening me.”
“Sloan. Elise wasn’t married. Ever. She doesn’t even know who Chloe’s father is. She – she – she slept with Nazis. More than one. She doesn’t even know which one made her pregnant.”
“That’s a bloody lie! Why would you say something like that? It isn’t true. I don’t believe you.”
“It is true, Sloan. That’s why she left France. She could have been in serious trouble for collabouration. Especially when she found out she was going to have a baby and wasn’t married. She wasn’t even engaged. There was no one in her life. Well, no one in her life she would have wanted to claim as the father. It’s even worse than that. When she left France, she ran to Brighton. Do you know where she was living in Brighton?”
“No. I assumed a boarding house of some kind. I know she became very fond of a French émigré there, who took care of her when she was pregnant with Chloe.”
“Sloan, it wasn’t a boarding house, and the French émigré is a Madam. The name of the establishment is Maison de Violette. It’s a brothel. I even went there myself, to be certain I wasn’t mistaken. I spoke with two women – Lana and Adele. They both work there. Both knew Elise. They were there when Elise came, and when Chloe was born. That’s when she made the decision to change her name to de Baier and put on a wedding ring, so people would think she was a widow. Her friend, Giselle, was a prostitute, too. She was very successful in Paris before moving to Brighton. They decided to leave the profession after Chloe was born, cooked up a pack of lies, and moved to Thornton-on-Sea, where they could begin a new life. It certainly worked for Giselle. She managed to capture Ted Cabot. A move to America ensured that no one would ever know about her previous life. Now, apparently, it’s about to work for Elise.”
“This can’t be true. I know Elise. Nothing you’re saying sounds like her. How is it that you know all of this?”
“One afternoon we drank some wine together. I suppose it loosened her tongue. Giselle wasn’t home. It was just the two of us, and we chatted about many things. I’m sure it was hard for her to have to live with such secrets. It was probably a relief to unburden herself to me. Naturally, I promised never to tell a soul but, under the circumstances, I don’t feel I can hold to such a promise. I can’t stand by and watch her make a fool of you.”
Sloan put his head in his hands. “Oh God, Anne. Oh God. If what you’re telling me is true, Elise is not who I believed she was. She’s a liar. Worse still, she’s – she’s – oh God – I can’t even say the word.”
“She’s a whore, Sloan. A cunning, manipulative whore.”
“Does her brother know? I’ve made an arrangement to go into business with him. He’s a terrific chap. I can’t believe he’d be complicit in something like this.”
“I don’t know, Sloan. All I can say is that I find it hard to believe, as close as they are, that he doesn’t know the truth. Certainly he must know about Chloe – that Elise doesn’t even know who her father is.”
“Anne! She’s asked me to adopt Chloe - told me how much she needs a father. I bought it all. What am I going to do?”
“I can’t tell you what to do. I feel like part of this is my fault.”
“Anne, why did you tell me I shouldn’t try to talk to Elise about her past? You had to have known all of this.”
“I did know. But I felt sorry for her. As I said, I never thought it would get to this point. I didn’t want to expose her. It wasn’t my business, if she was trying to begin anew. Why should I ruin her life? I wouldn’t have said anything if she hadn’t carried her interest in you this far. I never thought she would. I thought you’d return form the war, spend time with her and, after a bit, come to your senses. I thought you’d realise that she simply wasn’t right for you. I couldn’t imagine that she would ever agree to marriage without telling you everything.”
“In fairness to Elise, she did try to convince me that we should discuss her past. But, I believed that you had told me her entire everything. So, I said that there was no need to go back over the pain she’d been through. I don’t know what she would have told me. I thought I knew the whole truth. I’ve learned a valuable lesson. One should never become interested in a person whom they haven’t known for a long time. Better still, one should know the other’s family – everything. It’s easy nowadays for people to lie about who they are. The war has disrupted and displaced so many people. It used to be that one grew up in one’s own village and knew everybody. Strangers were viewed a bit cautiously. But the war caused so much movement. Decent people welcomed strangers and felt badly for what they’d been through. That made it easy for people like Giselle and Elise to invent new lives. I wonder if I ever would have known this, if you hadn’t found it out.”
“It’s hard to know, isn’t it? I only know that I couldn’t be still in the face of wedding plans. I’m afraid you would have found out, after you were married. Perhaps, after she’d protected the marriage with a child or two of yours. Anyway, I couldn’t picture you married to someone with that sort of gruesome past.”
“Anne, I don’t know how to thank you. I owe you a huge apology. It seems my judgment isn’t as keen as I thought it was. I have to reconcile this muddle with Elise. I’m heartbroken, Anne. I loved her. Really loved her. You know, I can even understand how a young girl could make bad decisions – especially one without a mother to guide her. But, to sleep with Nazi’s! And lie about everything to me. I can never forgive that. Never.” He put his head back into his hands.
“I’m sorry, Sloan. I wouldn’t have hurt you intentionally. I think, under the circumstances, we should forget about lunch. I doubt you feel much like eating. I know I’ve lost my appetite. My only advice is that you don’t let her manipulate you with more lies. She knows you love her. I’m sure she’ll use your love to try to convince you that none of this is true. Of course, she’ll say that I’m lying, or try to clean it up, by giving some sort of false explanation. If you don’t believe me, go to Brighton yourself. Talk to Lana and Adele.”
“I believe you, Anne. You’d have no reason to make something like this up. No sane person could invent this. It’s too incredible. But don’t worry. I’ll remember what you said. She’ll not get another chance to hoodwink me. I’m going to see her right now, and get it over with. I suppose she’ll ring you. I don’t intend to use your name, but she’ll undoubtedly know where I learned the truth. What are you going to say if she calls? I hate to put you in the middle of this.”
“I’ll just hang up, Sloan. She hasn’t any right to be angry with me. All I’ve done is try to protect a friend.”
“You’re absolutely correct. Right, then. Thank you again, Anne. I’m off to her cottage. After that, I’ll go back to Highcroft Hall. I feel like hell. I just want to have it out and go home.”
“I understand. I won’t bother you. Ring me when you feel up to it.”
Sloan left the bistro and got into his auto. Looking at his watch, he checked to make certain Chloe wouldn’t be home. Poor girl. He had no desire to hurt her any more than she already would be, when she learned she wasn’t going to have a Daddy, or a pony.
CHAPTER TWENTY
He decided he’d drive to the cottage and tell her what he knew. He wasn’t about to give any warning. She didn’t deserve any. He thought about the quaint, little place where she and Giselle had chosen to live. No Regrets. He laughed aloud as he drove. That really said it all, didn’t it? If they were at all ashamed of what they’d done in the past, they’d have torn that sign down. But to leav
e it up! It was like announcing to the entire village that Elise and Giselle weren’t a bit ashamed of the degrading life they’d led. He imagined the two of them, sitting in their cottage, laughing at the way they were making fools of the good people who’d accepted their lies. Damn her soul, he thought.
He pulled up in front and got out of the car. She was in the garden. He was beyond furious, but controlled his anger so they didn’t have a row outside in the open. He’d have to go inside with her, where they could have privacy. She glanced up when she heard the door slam. She was clipping the last of the summer roses. There was a large bouquet in her hand. His heart ached. She stood there in the sunlight, golden hair streaming down her back, dressed in a sweet, pink and lavender pinafore. She was the epitome of innocence and purity. How different reality was from the vision. She smiled a sweet smile and waved to him.
“Hello, Sloan. I didn’t expect to see you today. What a happy surprise. I’ve just finished clipping the last rose of summer. I always feel a little sad when that’s done. No more blooms until next spring. But, by then I’ll be living at Highcroft Hall. I’ll have to come back and teach Josef how to care for all of the flowers.”
Sloan nodded his head. “Can we go into the house, Elise? I have something I need to speak with you about.”
She looked curiously at him. “Of course, Sloan. Is something the matter? Is everything all right with your parents?”
“Everything is fine with them,” he answered shortly.
He opened the front door for her, and they stepped inside. She stopped in the kitchen and filled a vase with water, so the roses wouldn’t die. After she’d tended to that, they went into the parlour. Sitting down on the sofa, she motioned for him to make himself comfortable. He choose to stand. That confused her even more, and she sensed his anger.
“What is it, Sloan? You seem upset.”
“Yes. You might say that,” he answered. “I now know that you aren’t the person I thought you were. To begin with, I’ve learned that you had intimate relations with not one, nor even two Nazi soldiers. One of them is Chloe’s father. My God, Elise. You don’t even know which of them that is. You were never married. You made it all up. Even your name is invented. Does Maison de Violette in Brighton sound familiar to you? I understand you were very popular there, you and your dear friend Giselle. She’s certainly taken Ted for a ride. Who would think a seasoned prostitute could win a Boston banker’s son? She must be very good at what she does. To think, I might have had you for a few pounds, instead of a wedding ring.”
Elise was stunned. She felt nauseous, and her face turned ashen. “Where did you get these accusations? Did these come from Anne? You have to let me explain. You don’t understand anything.”
“Oh I understand only too well. Don’t think you’re going to persuade me to listen to more lies. You’re a whore, Elise. A whore! I’m disgusted. I can’t believe I ever considered marrying you. Your portrait would have hung in the gallery at Highcroft Hall, next to all of the lovely ladies who are my ancestors. You aren’t fit to be in their company. How could you ever have thought you’d get away with this? When did you dream up this scheme? Probably the minute I left the farmhouse. You saw a good thing and went after it. You must have been thrilled when you moved here, only to discover that I was a bigger catch than you knew. You’d attracted a Viscount. That set up Giselle to get her hooks into Ted. Women like you are very good at knowing how to read men. You knew what I was looking for. I’d been stupid enough to spell it out for you. My God! I even broke my engagement to Anne because of you. Anne! One of the loveliest ladies in the land – all of the things you aren’t. Well bred, honest, decent. You should be ashamed of yourself. Damn you. Damn you, Elise.”
Tears were running down her cheeks. No one in her life had ever spoken to her in such a manner. She tried again to make him understand. “No. No. You’re wrong about all of this. Please, please listen to me. Sloan. Our entire life hangs in the balance. Won’t you at least give me a chance to be heard?”
“Answer this, Elise. Is it true that Chloe’s father is a Nazi and that you don’t know for certain who he is?”
“Yes.... But... Please... There’s more... “
“I know there’s more. Not just one Nazi, but many. You admit that’s true. What more do I need to know? Was there more than one?”
“Yes... Yes... But... Sloan... You’re not letting me speak...”
“No. I’m not. If you don’t think that’s all I need to know, you’re daft. There’s nothing I want to hear from your lying mouth. Why don’t you get out of this town? Go to America with your friend Giselle. Perhaps you can accomplish more with a naïve American.”
Suddenly Elise stood and began to shout. “I do not have to sit here and be abused in my own home. I was wrong to think that you were different. You’re not. You haven’t the slightest notion of what you’re talking about, and you’re being unbearably cruel. I don’t have to justify myself to you. You know nothing about Ted and Giselle. Ted makes ten of you any day. Now get out of my house. This is the last time I’ll ever let any man into my house who only has the intention of hurting me. Get out!”
Sloan was amazed that Elise had the nerve to act as if she were the one who’d been wronged. But, it was obvious the conversation was over. She took off her engagement ring and threw it at him. “Take your stupid ring and leave,” she shouted.
He stooped and picked up the ring. “I might as well throw it in the rubbish. After it’s been on your hand, it’s not fit for any decent woman’s finger.”
She ran over and slapped him across the face. “Get out! Get out! I hate you!”
“Don’t worry, Elise. I’m going,” he replied. With that, he walked out of the door, slamming it behind him.
Elise slumped down on the sofa. For a moment she didn’t even cry. The shock was overwhelming. Then she let out a howl, and tears fell for hours.
***
Josef returned home shortly after Sloan had left. He’d been out looking for a building to buy or lease, where he could establish the restaurant. When he came into the cottage, he found Elise lying on the sofa, still crying hysterically.
“What the devil has happened? Who did this to you?”
She could scarcely speak. Finally, she managed to say Sloan’s name in between sobs.
“Sloan? What do you mean Sloan? Sloan loves you. He would never hurt you. Has something happened to him? Oh God no, Elise. Don’t tell me that.”
“No. No. Nothing has happened to Sloan,” she hiccoughed. “He’s hateful, disgusting, and a pig. I never want to see him again. Never!”
Josef laughed. “So you’ve had a lover’s quarrel, eh? It was bound to happen. Too much stress, you know.”
“No – you have no idea, Josef.” Elise sat upright and tried to talk.
“Then explain to me, dear sister. I’ve never seen you so upset. Tell me everything.”
He sat across from her. It took nearly an hour for her to tell him. She kept breaking into hysterical tears, and he had to wait until she pulled herself together before she could continue. When she finally finished, he was appalled. He was livid that Sloan hadn’t let her tell her side of things. He also wanted to go to Anne, and have it out with her.
“No. I already know what Anne is up to. I’ve figured it out. I believe she had this planned from the time she met me. She made certain to become my friend and managed to get me to reveal confidential things to her. Then she sat back, like a giant spider waiting to pounce. It worked. She got what she wanted. But, she isn’t the one I blame. Sloan had to listen to her. He had to believe what she said. Without even giving me the benefit of a doubt, he believed her. He isn’t the man I thought he was. I’ll never trust another man again.”
“Elise, never say never. I don’t believe you can have stopped loving Sloan so quickly. I understand your anger. I’m furious. I can’t even begin to imagine how you feel. It’s a good thing the English banned duels. I’d challenge him to one. Whether you lik
e it or not, I’m going to speak to him. He’s my partner in the restaurant agreement. I’ll gladly negate that contract, but not without telling him what I think of him. Someone needs to stand up for you. You’re my sister. I love you, and I’ve always protected you. I’ll always feel guilt for not having been there when those evil Nazis assaulted you. I’m not going to stand by and have you hurt like this. Someone needs to speak on your behalf. But, when all is said and done, I don’t believe you’ve stopped loving him. I’m just wondering what you’ll do if, after he learns what an arse he’s been, he comes to you and begs forgiveness?”
“Josef. He wouldn’t give me a chance to speak. It’s impossible to believe he accepted the horrible things Anne told him about me and never even questioned them. All he had to do was come to me, and ask for an explanation. I’ve been operating on the assumption that he already knew everything. He said he that he did – that Anne had told him all about my past, and he didn’t need to know more. Obviously she hadn’t told him much of anything – probably that my husband had been killed, and it was terribly painful – that I didn’t want to talk about it. She can’t have told him the truth, because it’s pretty clear now that he’s only just learned the truth – and still not the actual truth! She made it sound like I’d willingly been intimate with several – many – Nazis. In other words, that I was sleeping with them – having affairs, or whatever one would call such behavior. How could he believe such a thing? It would be impossible for me to forgive him. You didn’t hear the things he said and the scornful tone in his voice. He looked like I disgusted him.”
“I understand. I’m disgusted with him. I’m trying to put myself in his place, as another man. Naturally I’d be upset, if I heard such things about a woman I loved. But, I hope I’d be decent enough to listen to her side of the story.”
No Regrets: A Novel of Love and Lies in World War II England (The Thornton Trilogy Book 1) Page 19