herself to an eclair, “why did we come to France? Are we going to stay with you until things cool down?”
Julien patted his mouth delicately with a napkin, saying, “I do think it was wise for us to remove ourselves from harm’s way, but I have other reasons for bringing you to Paris. I think it’s imperative that we find the Diodati Bible that was mentioned in Lucy’s letter to John Milton.”
“But how are we to know where it is?” Calvin asked plaintively. “Paris is full of libraries, and that book could be long gone by now, or in someone’s private collection.”
“I’ve considered that possibility, but since I was the Head Librarian at the Bibliothèque Nationale, I am certainly in a very good position to find a hidden poem in a very old book, particularly if it turns out to be in my own library.”
After breakfast, all agreed it was time to find a much-needed change of clothes, as well as a means of getting to Paris. Natalie asked to strike out on her own for a while. After spending almost every minute with her brother and uncle for the last few week or two, she felt that some solitude was in order.
“Of course, cherie,” said Uncle Julien, handing her some euros. “But mind you keep your wits about you. I think we are safe for the time being, but we must remain alert, nevertheless.”
She nodded and agreed to meet back at the hotel in a couple of hours, assuring them she would watch out for herself.
As she strolled down the street, she noticed how relatively modern many of the buildings appeared. It seemed unusual for such an ancient and important port town. She remembered her history classes and realized it was because Calais had been heavily bombarded during World War II. She wandered into a small vintage clothing store and found a number of things to get her by in the coming days. There was really no way of knowing how long they’d be away from home, so she tried to be somewhat practical. She smiled, reflecting that her uncle would probably be a bit dismayed by some of her choices. Birthday and Christmas gifts from him invariably consisted of expensive designer clothes and jewelry, but she had always been what Julien deemed “experimental” in regards to her wardrobe. How appalled he had been during one of his visits, finding her wearing a very pricey Gucci jacket he had given her paired with Levis that he said “appeared to have been tortured with a hacksaw.”
After purchasing necessary undergarments and a warmer jacket, she decided to find a bookstore in hopes of learning more about the Diodati family. Spying a little shop across the street, she frittered away some time in the biography section. There were plenty of books on Milton, but nothing could be found on Lucy or Charles Diodati, and only one book on Giovanni. She did find a beautiful little volume of Merian’s illustrations and purchased it for Mckella. She thought Calvin also might be interested in Merian’s depiction of a pink-toed tarantula making a meal of a hummingbird. She checked to see if her own recently published book was on the shelves—it was—and headed back to the Hotel Metropol.
Calvin and Julien had spent a pleasant morning as well, replenishing their own wardrobes. Calvin had adopted a decidedly old-fashioned style of dress while attending Eton, and had not changed his look much since then. He preferred wool to denim, and tweed to t-shirts. He was often teased by his friends for his fustiness, but the look suited him, and nothing they said could convince him to appear anywhere in public without his favorite cardigan. Uncle Julien did insist that he buy a rather dashing fedora, and he wore it with great aplomb on the walk back to their hotel. His uncle had found everything he needed in one rather posh menswear establishment, and had made the proprietor of the shop a very happy man.
Upon returning to their temporary home at the hotel, they met Natalie in the lounge for lunch and to discuss their future plans. Julien ordered a Manhattan, and Natalie raised her eyebrow at him before shrugging and getting herself a Campari and soda. It was barely afternoon, but they’d had a trying couple of days, and tacitly decided they could use a stiff drink. Calvin usually ordered ale, but Julien’s urbanity must have rubbed off on him, because he broke tradition and ordered a martini. They settled comfortably in the lounge’s armchairs sipped idly at their drinks.
“How do you propose we get to Paris from here?”Calvin asked his uncle, at length.
“I could rent a car, I suppose, but I’m pretty certain they will require a credit card and identification, and I doubt a bribe will be appropriate in such a case.”
“I’m not so sure it’s a good idea to take the train either,” Natalie remarked. “I don’t have my passport.” She looked at her brother. “Do you?”she asked. He shook his head no.
Uncle Julien pulled a large wallet from his jacket. “Oh, don’t worry about all that. I’ve got any travel documents we might need with me. While we were still at Richard’s house, I saw your passports on Richard’s desk and took the liberty of pocketing them.”
Natalie and her brother looked at their uncle in amazement. “Surely you couldn’t have foreseen our need to flee the country?” she asked with incredulity.
“No, I did not imagine we’d be running from blackmailers,” he said, rubbing his chin, “but as I told you before, I felt something was amiss when we left Richard’s house the other morning. I retrieved both the manuscript and your passports. I took the necessary precautions one would expect in an emergency situation, and as it turns out, I was right!” he finished smugly.
Natalie smiled. “It’s our instincts protecting us again. Uncle Richard was right in telling us not to underestimate them.”
“Too bad his own instincts didn’t urge him to flee like we have done,” Calvin remarked bitterly. “He’d still be with us, if he had.”
“Richard was never one to run from a fight,” said Uncle Julien. “In fact, he relished a good brawl. It’s why he joined the Navy.” Julien shook his head sadly. “But I agree with you, Calvin. He should have protected himself better, even if it meant he had to go on the run. He shouldn’t have given his own life so little consideration.”
“Well, in any case,” Natalie added, “I don’t think we should be flashing around our passports any more than we need to. There must be a way to get to Paris without leaving a trail of official breadcrumbs.”
“I have an idea!” Calvin cried suddenly. “Couldn’t we pay someone to drive us there? That way we wouldn’t have to use any identification.”
“An excellent idea, my boy. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before, and I doubt we’ll have to pay if I call on my good friend Kieran Beaulieu, the man I spoke of last night. I’m almost certain he’ll be amenable to spending a day or two in Paris with us in exchange for a ride there.”
That settled, they returned to their suite to change. Julien called his friend and they were subsequently invited to dine with him and his wife. “He’ll pick us up here at 7:30,” he told his niece and nephew, after hanging up.
“What luck!” Calvin said cheerfully. “A home-cooked meal!” He rubbed his stomach in pleasant anticipation of gastronomic delights to come.
Natalie shook her head at her brother. “You’re always thinking with your belly,” she said playfully, and poked him.
~
At precisely seven-thirty, the front desk rang up to tell them a car was waiting for them in front of the hotel, and everyone descended the lift in their new finery. Uncle Julien examined Natalie’s outfit and smiled. “Cherie, your style is beginning to grow on me, though I think
