Excerpt from Marguerite by Marina Kemp, plus links to reviews, author biography & more

'Sorry?'

'I haven't seen you before. Where are you from?'

Marguerite paused. 'I'm working here,' she said.

'Working where?'

'In Saint-Sulpice.'

The woman narrowed her eyes, contemplating her. Then she smiled, a little wryly. 'You're JérÔme Lanvier's new nurse, am I right?'

'Yes.'

'I could tell instantly. You're from Paris?'

'Yes.'

'I knew that accent. Well, you must find it rather different here.'

'Not so different from other places I've worked.'

The woman reached a hand out to shake Marguerite's; she had long nails painted a dark, shiny aubergine. 'I'm Suki. Very good to meet you. How do you like Rossignol?'

'It's comfortable.'

'And Lanvier himself?'

'Fine.'

'That's good. And your name ... ?'

'Marguerite.'

'Well, as I said, it's good to meet you.' She smiled again. 'Enjoy your books, Marguerite.'

When she left the library, Marguerite stood for a moment to study the noticeboard on the wall outside, to delay the long walk home. A sign for a missing cat, a pamphlet listing a course of dance classes for the previous June, and a notice advertising a babysitter, with the phone number printed several times for people to tear off. Only two had been torn.

Excerpted from Marguerite by Marina Kemp. Copyright © 2020 by Marina Kemp. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.