looked back up with the remnant of past hurts in her eyes as the carefree mask slipped back in place. “Not so much running away, but finding a place that appreciates the wealthy and their superior place in the world. The Great War upended the social ranks, but the Führer is striving to put them back in their proper places. With my connections back home and the new ones I’m making here as the social secretary of Paris, I have everything to gain from the situation.”
Kat dug her fingernails into the front of the bench to keep from smacking Ellie across the face. Did she not hear how utterly ridiculous she sounded? Her sweet little sister had become the most fashionable mouthpiece of propaganda for her Nazi lover. “When did this interest in politics pick up? The last comments I heard you make about government were that they needed better-looking ambassadors.”
Ellie laughed and jumped to her feet. “You’re right. Politics really aren’t my cup. But it’ll infuriate Father, won’t it?”
“You don’t actually believe all that nonsense, do you?”
“I haven’t thought much about it one way or the other. Not like Eric and his friends, who talk of almost nothing else but their dumb little war games. It’s as if they don’t realize there are more interesting topics to discuss.”
Kat fought to keep her tone even, light, lest she muck up the whole opportunity of turning her sister before given a chance to start. “In case you haven’t realized, there is a war on. Events are happening that we can’t turn a blind eye to. Find something you truly believe in instead of latching on to the fashionable sentiments surrounding you.”
Ellie dismissed her words with a wave of her hand. “Things aren’t so doom and gloom. Yes, it’s sad to lose a battle, but the Germans have been peaceful occupiers. They’re setting up to restore glory and honor to those under their leadership. Why, in yesterday’s paper—”
“Not according to the headlines in England. They report the opposite.”
“Oh, Kat. Lighten up. This is a party, after all. You sound too much like Father sometimes. I’d hate to have to run away from you too.”
Kat bit her tongue. Cold as he was, their father didn’t deserve such childish cruelty. He’d been set to come for her himself until Kat had convinced him that Ellie was less likely to run from her. It had taken months to switch the carefully constructed plans to feature her instead of him. Reprimanding Ellie further would only put her in a bad mood, and tonight she needed every ounce of sisterly support if she and Barrett held any hope to pull off this charade.
Barrett. He was probably prowling outside the door wondering why powdering her nose was taking so long.
“Well, now that we have our beaus, how about we go enjoy this exhibit yours has put together?” Kat plastered a dazzling smile on her face and stood as she grabbed her bag.
Bubbling like a loosened bottle, Ellie looped her arm through Kat’s. “What a foursome we’ll make out on the town.”
Pushing out of the perfumed dimness of the ladies’ room, they stepped back out to the brightly lit gallery filled with boozing German officers and their cigarette-puffing mistresses. In order to put food on the table and keep a decent shelter over their heads, many of the women of France had shed their dreams of innocence and draped themselves over the arms of the enemy. Looking past their painted faces and shrill laughter, Kat wondered if a few extra rations were worth such a price of degradation.
She glanced down at Ellie’s arm hooked through hers, and a sliver of shame struck her heart. In order to keep their heads above water, many of the women here most likely held the same mask she herself wore. She had no right to judge when it came to the sacrifices one made for the people one loved.
Shaking off her dour thoughts, Kat scanned the gray uniforms and fox furs and spotted her date standing next to the fully stocked bar. He was talking to three well-oiled officers and a woman who kept adjusting the diamond choker around her neck.
Barrett cut quite the striking figure in his immaculately tailored black jacket and trousers that hinted at the power of lean muscles beneath. A crisp white shirt showed his tanned skin glowing with outdoor health. He’d combed his chestnut hair to the side, but left the ends unfashionably natural to wave behind his