Peeking Under the Covers

 Chapter 5 continued... The first time, she walked past the front door, not daring to enter. Then, ashamed of her hesitations, she returned, and quickly, to remove herself from the opportunity of reflection, she asked the dignified concierge about Madame de Vricourt. “Madame hasn’t come out yet,” he said, then directed her. “On the first floor.”  Suzy said a brief thank you. She blamed herself for the fact that her voice sounded weak. To give herself time to calm down, she slowly climbed the stairs, feeling a little numb from the shade and the warmth of the entrance hall after having left the outside cold. However little her feet touched the steps, she reached a high door too soon, the dark woodwork standing out against the lighter curtains against the wall. Her heart still beat so strong, and so much so that she could have counted the pulsations. Her cheeks burned.  I'm going to be ridiculously red , she angrily thought.  I never thought it was possible for me to be...

  Chapter 5 continued... Distracted and quite by chance, she raised her eyes to him, and suddenly an exclamation rose to her lips as she recognized Georges de Flers. She quickly stopped an indiscreet smile that would have spoken what she felt inside. An impulsive blush brightened her cheeks. His expression was one of pleasure mingled with surprise. Because she was alone, he seemed to ask himself if he was not mistaken in thinking he recognized her, but his hesitation lasted only a second. The luminous brown eyes that met his were indeed those of Suzy, whose brilliance he had so often admired at Le Castel. He gave a deep bow as he passed. She, always serious and dominated by the sense of her youthful dignity, replied with a little nod of the head and a somewhat proud grace. She had felt Georges's astonishment at not seeing her accompanied, and a painful feeling darkened for her the naïve pleasure she felt at this meeting. Above all, she was flattered by the enthusiasm he had shown i...

Chapter 5 For the first time in her life, Suzy was stepping out alone. At the threshold of the front door, she paused for a second, looking around her. A slight shudder of vague pleasure, mixed with a little anxiety, gave her cheeks a bright rosy glow. But then the idea that, in a few moments, she would enter a strange house for the first time to ask about giving lessons, quietly wounded her pride as a young girl who had, until now, been independent. She was also afraid of encountering one of Germaine's friends who could be found at Madame Arnay's on Thursdays ,  and who would be surprised to see her walking alone. As she was, at heart, a very determined individual, her hesitation was short. Becoming brave once more, Suzy abandoned the protective shelter of the entryway and entered the Rue de Prony, where a few passers-by were bustling about in a light fog. After all, it was she who had insisted that her mother, who was still ill, not expose herself to the dampness of such a pe...