‘Congratulations, cherie! I wondered what you had been doing in Paris all this time! But how long have you known him? How did you meet him? Come along, sit down and tell me everything.’ Smiling all over her face, Monique allowed Claudine to lead her to the sofa. ‘It’s a secret, remember?’ she said, still breathless from Claudine’s embrace. ‘You’re not to tell anyone about him until I say.’ ‘Of course I won’t. But aren’t you at least going to tell Solange and Louis?’ Monique shook her head. ‘No, I don’t think it’s fair to tell them I’m getting engaged to someone they don’t know, so we’re going to take it slowly, and arrange for them to meet at least once before we say anything. So promise you won’t breathe a word.’ ‘Cross my heart!’ Claudine smiled. Then clasping Monique’s hands she cried, ‘Oh, but look how your eyes are shining! Any fool could see you’re in love! And you haven’t even told me his name!’ ‘Karol Kalinowski,’ Monique answered, her face flushing with pleasure as she pronounced the name.
