One of the soldiers, a mustached and broad-shouldered sergeant, clasped Celeste’s arm and pulled her to his chest.
Bruno’s skin turned warm. He squeezed the handle of his leather case and quickened his pace.
“Non,” Celeste said, pressing her palms to the man’s tunic.
“Leave her alone,” Bruno ordered.
“Go to hell,” the sergeant said, his back to Bruno.
The second soldier, a corporal with a jagged scar on his lower lip, turned his head. His eyes locked on the insignias on Bruno’s uniform, and he slapped his comrade on the shoulder.
The sergeant released Celeste. He turned, and then snapped to attention. “I am sorry, sir. I wouldn’t have spoken to you like that if I had known you were an officer.”
Bruno approached the sergeant. An odor of sweat and beer permeated his nose.Drunken bastard.He fought away the urge to strike him. “She works for Germany.”
The sergeant’s eyes filled with fear.
“She billets officers,” Bruno said. “Perhaps you would like to explain to them why you are harassing a woman who cares for them.”
“I—I am sorry, sir.”
“I am not the person you should be apologizing to.”
“My apologies,fräulein. I meant you no harm.”
Celeste lowered her head.
“Return to your barrack,” Bruno ordered. “If I should see either of you on the streets of Lille again, you will be severely punished.”
The soldiers saluted and left.
“Merci, Herr Wahler,” Celeste said, looking at Bruno. “However, I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”
He nodded, feeling abashed by the soldiers’ conduct.
“Come inside,” she said. “Your room is prepared.”
Bruno followed her into the house and shut the door.
Her eyes gravitated to bloodstains on the sleeves of his jacket. “I’ll prepare you a bath,monsieur. The tub is in a room next to the kitchen. Leave your dirty uniform, and I’ll clean it.”
“Okay.”
“Will you be going out for dinner?”
“Nein.”
“I’ll prepare something to eat.”
“That will not be necessary,” he said.
“I’ll place something in the parlor, in the event you are hungry later.” She turned and headed toward the kitchen.
Bruno scaled the stairs, boards creaking under his boots, and entered his room, which contained a four-poster bed and a stand with a porcelain water bowl. While he waited for the tub to be filled, he removed a stack of Anna’s letters from his leather case, slumped in a chair, and read.
Bruno shifted in his seat.If she learns the truth about my duties and family’s role in supplying poison gas, her feelings for me will change.He hoped that by the time he was awarded his two-week leave, he’d find a solution to the dilemma.
Bruno rubbed stubble on his chin, pondering how different Anna and Norbie’s relationship was to that of his own family.
