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Standing in front of a bench opposite Chez la Mère Sylvie with Danny, I strained my neck to investigate the large windows on the second floor, framed with red shutters and flowers. But the windows were closed. Tourists shoved me as they made their way across the square and studied the paintings on display. Moving on tiptoes, hand flat to shield my eyes from the sunshine, I peered above the bistro again but still did not see any sign of Bella or anyone else. Tourists surrounded me and an elbow prodded my arm, forcing me to sit down on the bench next to Danny and with my hip pressed up against his. I moved along the seat and plonked my bag between us. A flicker of heat danced mischievously around my body, so I sat up straight.

Danny shoved his phone in his pocket and considered the windows above the restaurant. ‘Maisie, are you sure those are apartments on the second floor because I’m not convinced.’

‘They must be apartments; they were described clearly in the blog post.’ I tapped the screen to open up the relevant page on my aunt’s blog. ‘Yes, it definitely says the apartment is above Chez la Mère Sylvie in Place du Tertre.’

He scratched the back of his head as he read the posts from my aunt’s blog.

Leaving him to read the posts and resisting the temptation to smooth down a tuft of hair on top of his head, I joined the tide of tourists until I was tapped on the shoulder.

With a large professional camera in front of his face, Danny instructed me to glance at the bistro again and snapped a shot.

‘No, Danny, please. I feel silly.’

‘Don’t be daft, Maisie. You’re beautiful. Why not post some photos on your Aunt Ada’s blog? Sleuthing in Paris: Mademoiselle Marple Ditches the Brogues.’

Laughing, I moved my hand behind my head and said, ‘Strike a pose.’ Now a group of Japanese tourists stood before me and waited. ‘Hey, you could organise murder mystery tours with Mademoiselle Caron. Well, if I can find her.’

He snapped a photo of me pointing at him and then disappeared to one of the artists’ stalls, returning with a red beret for me and a black one for him.

‘No! Now you’re just dressing me up like a souvenir doll. You’re worse than Amelia.’ Pulling the hat on, I sat under an artist’s red umbrella.

The artist’s smock had more paint on it than one of Monet’s paintings, and a pocket bulging with paints was tattered. He gripped my shoulder when I tried to stand up.

‘ Non merci. ’ My legs were getting ready to run, and now I was grateful of my recent fitness regime. I did not want to pay a fortune for a painting when I was already on a budget. ‘Let’s get out of here.’

Danny approached, and then leaned forwards placing his lips to my ear. ‘You look fabulous. Let’s get a painting.’ Wagging his finger Danny went on, ‘Don’t you dare run because I’m faster than you.’

‘I can’t argue with that.’ I loved him referring to me as looking fabulous .

Using a thick pencil, the artist sketched an outline within seconds. ‘ Pour vous ,’ he said, moving his hat for me to see his face.

‘Robert, is that you? Oh, that’s wonderful.’ As I watched the movement of people in the square and caught the colours on the canvasses, I knew I had to commit this moment to my memory. ‘I thought you worked in your studio.’

‘I do, I do. I had to wait years for this spot when I was a poor student. Coming here is my day off. I love the atmosphere and I get inspiration for the bigger canvases. Since Sylvie passed, it has been my social life when I am not running my creative retreat.’

A man with a long grey beard, deep creases in his face and red cheeks patted Robert on the shoulder, growled a few words and walked back to his stall. ‘ à bient?t, Henri .’

When Robert smiled at me, sunlight rested on the lines that had been etched into his skin over time. Sadness evident yesterday had been washed away overnight. ‘Maisie, you’re causing quite a sensation as a Frenchwoman. So pleased you listened to my advice and are wearing some confidence.’ He winked at me.

Henri returned with a bag of food in one hand and a bottle of wine in the other. ‘ Pour le déjeuner .’ He dropped his goodies under the table and rubbed his belly with glee.

‘ Merci, Henri ,’ Robert said, but he looked ahead as if his thoughts were elsewhere. He checked his phone. After some frantic scrolling, he clapped his hands. ‘Come with me. I know the exact place for you two to have delicious coffee. Best coffee in Paris.’

We followed him through the crowd in the square as he waved and called to people, until he stood outside a patisserie with a faded black and gold sign. The specialist confectioners had a confident presence amongst its neighbours, and the window showcased a display of tiny colourful cakes; each one decorated like a work of art. Small round tables on the pavement were crammed with customers chatting and laughing.

With my face pressed up against the window, I said, ‘I’m supposed to be searching for Aunt Ada and Bella.’

Robert held up his hand. ‘I insist! You must immerse yourself in Paris. Good sleuths need to be patient, Maisie. Sit down and I’ll order the best coffee in the area and my favourite cake. Anyway, the coffee will wake you up.’

Sitting at the table, I luxuriated in the sensation of sunshine on my face, knowing this moment would remain with me. The square was now packed with people viewing the stalls, waiting for their portraits, and taking in the sights. Robert returned with two tiny round cakes adorned with chocolate work that resembled a sculpture. A waiter followed Robert with two espressos perched on a tiny tray above his shoulder. Sweet aroma of coffee drifted towards me, and my mouth watered.

‘Move closer together and I’ll take a photo,’ said Robert.

Danny leaned towards me, and I felt his hand rest gently on my waist. Our heads touched and my memory appeared to capture this moment at the same time as the camera.

Danny’s gaze lingered on me for a moment, suggesting he was also uploading the experience and saving it too.

Holding up my tiny cup I said, ‘Cheers!’ Because that is what I would have done if having coffee with Grant. Another fizz of excitement made me a little giddy, so I fidgeted in my chair.

‘Wow!’ said Danny. ‘I must add this bistro to my Paris adventure for the executive escapes. I’d always dismissed it because it looked a little tired.’ I watched a serious expression move across his face.

Waiting for Danny to google the bistro, I figured he had been assessing this moment for his travel blog, and all my hope floated away. Shielding my eyes from the sun with a hand, I scrutinised the square for Bella. The crowd swallowed up Robert as he returned to his stall. I reflected on how a whim had brought me to this wonderful place and it was not too bad to be impulsive sometimes. The sunshine was also making Danny appear rather attractive and I hoped it wasn’t a rose-tinted filter caused by the city of love.

‘Excuse me a moment.’ Danny tapped away on his phone, but his usual amiable expression seemed twisted with frustration. ‘Bloody hell! Laura is talking about selling her half of the business again. She’s so impulsive. I don’t want to ask my parents again if I can help it.’

I enjoyed the sunshine caressing my arms and face, placing the sunglasses over my eyes to stop me from looking at the fascinating colours in Danny’s eyes that resembled the effect on marble. Maybe the fact he was not giving me all his attention was making me crave it more. ‘You could sell the whole business,’ I suggested, then dug a fork into the chocolate cake.

‘Yes, I’d like to make a clean break in one sense but if I sell it then I sell everything I’ve built up.’ He paused to think. ‘I’d have to come back to France and sort everything, but I prefer Yorkshire at the moment.’ He searched my face for a response. ‘I’ve got good neighbours - very good neighbours.’ He grinned at me, and his cheeks coloured a little. ‘And I’m becoming very fond of one neighbour, in particular.’ He nudged my foot with his under the table.

Smoothing my hair as I took in the comment and grinned. ‘That’s nice. I’ve missed you in Heatherbridge, you know. I had to finish all the decorating myself. And I could have done with your advice before I started jogging. I pulled muscles I didn’t know I had.’

Now there was a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. ‘Why were you jogging?’

‘I wanted to experience the great outdoors and get fit, but I had the wrong footwear. Maybe you should come back coach me?’

He threw back his head and laughed, and I loved the way he responded to me. ‘Well, I do like a challenge.’ His phone rang again. ‘Excuse me, I need to take this.’ I spotted Laura calling on his phone. This time he walked over to the bench opposite the coffee shop, occasionally waving at me.

Stranded amongst the happy couples on neighbouring tables, I remembered Danny’s hands resting gently on the small of my back. His expression was softer now as he chatted. Listening, always listening and nodding. I had never had a partner with that level of calm, even my best friend, Grant, had more opinions than anything else. And Matt rushed around without any time to listen. The only time Matt stayed still was when he was frantically pushing buttons on the joystick to play computer games.

After I finished the smooth heavenly cake, I stood up, turned away from him and fixed my gaze on the windows with the red shutters above the bistro on the other side of the square. This was the place described as Bella’s apartment in Aunt Ada’s blog and it was circled on her annotated map of Paris. There was still no sign of life. A waiter passed me, so I pointed upstairs and asked, ‘Does anyone live there?’

The waiter shrugged and dashed towards a French woman who was holding Euros in the air.

Focused on the apartment again, I hoped to catch a glimpse of a woman with a notebook and cigarette, sitting outside. Crowds of people flowed and blocked my view. Nothing.

Danny stood in front of me. ‘I’m still not convinced the bistro with the red shutters has an apartment above it.’ Though he smiled, he looked stressed. ‘Shall we go to the Sacré Coeur Cathedral? I need to walk and cool down. Laura was distressed on the phone and my head is pounding now. She doesn’t want to lose the apartment in my parents’ hotel now we’ve split up.’ He rubbed his temples as if to soothe the stress. ‘I need a clean break from Laura, and I wish I could buy her half of the business.’

Watching him suffer was like seeing black clouds threatening a sunny day. ‘Maybe you should swallow your pride and talk to your parents about a loan for the business.’

‘I’d have to rent out Oak Cottage and come back to France to pay off the loan, but it is a possibility.’

I remembered how lonely I had been without him next door. ‘I’d hate it if you left.’ I heard the strain in my voice.

We faced each other, ignoring the busy city around us.

Searching for words to fill the silence, I said, ‘It wouldn’t be the same without you next door.’

He stepped closer to me. ‘Thanks,’ he said, gently moving a curl stuck to my cheek. ‘I love the way you speak from the heart. It’s good to know you’d miss me whereas Laura would just miss my apartment and the lifestyle in France. Come on, time for an adventure. Let’s see if we can find your aunt or the author, Bella. I need a distraction.’ He gave me a playful shove, but the image of Laura flashed in my head.

*

We strode through the square, weaving through the stalls and past the tourists who sauntered with their ice creams. Waiters stood outside bistros and restaurants, holding the menus like a shield until we approached. Danny avoided eye contact and ignored the comments from the painters touting for business, but crowds of tourists seemed to drag me along with them from time to time, so I halted again to look at the square, searching all the faces of women for Bella.

‘You can stay here in the square if you wish,’ said Danny.

‘No, no, it’s fine.’ I was just about to walk on when I saw an oil painting of the square. Trees were in blossom, but the rain had polished up the cobbles. The figure of a woman with a cropped, black bob and long black coat captured my attention. Huddled beneath her red umbrella, she glanced up at Chez le Mère Sylvie. ‘Look, Danny, she looks like the description of Bella.’

He held up another painting on a stall opposite that was almost identical.

On reaching the steps to Sacré Coeur Cathedral, I considered the distinctive white stone. The domed building sat on top of the hill like a cake decoration with grass either side of stone steps. Buoyed by the hope I would find Aunt Ada or Bella in the cathedral, I ran up the steps as fast as I could manage.

‘Slow down. Pace yourself,’ called Danny.

My legs burned before I reached the halfway point, and I gasped for breath and had to sit down.

Danny sat beside me. ‘You need to warm up before attempting exercise. Here, have some water and we’ll rest for a minute.’

‘It’s just I’m sure Ada is in there.’ Tears formed in my eyes.

He wiped my tears with a tissue he removed from his pocket. ‘You won’t settle until you know where she is, will you?’ He drew me closer to him.

Resting my head on his comforting arm around my shoulder, I said, ‘She is presumed dead. I just don’t believe she has gone.’

A softness flooded his eyes, hinting he was not quite convinced all would be well.

‘And if she isn’t alive then I still have to finish her search to find Bella.’ My shoulders slumped because I did not want to face this possibility. ‘I haven’t dedicated my time to searching for my aunt. I’ve been distracted with Paris and...’ I could not say and you, but it was hovering above me like one of the pigeons flapping and complaining on the roof of the cathedral.

‘Ada loved life and would expect you to get distracted by Paris.’

How did he always know what to say?

‘Come on, let’s go.’ My legs ached. ‘Ouch,’ I chuckled. ‘I’ve overdone it and my legs are aching. I’m such a wimp. We might get there by this evening at this rate.’

‘Wait there.’ He stood on the step below and bent his knees. ‘Hop on, Maisie. Your carriage awaits and you shall go to the cathedral.’

‘I’m heavy and your skinny legs will buckle under my weight. I don’t want to be responsible for a murder on the steps of a famous cathedral.’

Sticking out his bottom and holding his hand out either side of his legs, he said, ‘Hop on. I’m stronger than I look.’

When I leapt onto his back and put my arms around his neck, I was conscious not to clasp him too tightly with my legs. ‘Let’s go.’

He sprinted up to the top, held my legs behind my knees and dropped me gently at the top of the steps. ‘You’d be as light as a feather if you hadn’t just eaten the cake.’

‘Hey,’ I declared, hitting him on his shoulder.

Rows and rows of wooden pews greeted me in Sacré Coeur. Light flooded in from the ceiling and the gold details shone directly into my eyes, as we sauntered down the aisle.

‘You look left, and I’ll look right,’ I suggested to Danny. ‘Fingers crossed we see my aunt.’

When we were both looking at the same row, Danny whispered, ‘The other right, Maisie.’

I studied the people seated, hoping to find an elegant woman dressed in fifties clothing and possibly a polka-dot skirt and matching scarf. An image of Aunt Ada popped into my mind but there was no sign of either of them. It was useless. ‘Bella isn’t here and neither is …’ I choked on my words. ‘Sorry, Danny, I think it’s a wild goose chase.’

‘Let’s at least wait here for a little while. You’ve come all this way now and don’t look so glum.’

‘Maybe I’m just chasing a childish dream of a happy ending.’

‘Don’t lose your optimism, Maisie. Come on.’ First, he beckoned me and then patted me on the back. ‘I know where we can have a picnic and then plan the next part of the search.’ It was so good to have support from someone who understood.

When he led me by the hand, I was happy that my search was continuing. I liked him so much and had the same warm, comforting sensation I had from diving into a bowl of apple pie and tinned yellow custard.