I am searching for a book I read several years ago that had all of the above in its storyline. It was a love story between an artist and a woman who were traveling/hiding during the war in France and other areas. There is a specific scene in which they are making love and a german soldier comes and the artist lets him have the woman because he is a coward. The story also depicts how he hid his artwork by painting over murals on his apartment walls so that it wouldn't be destroyed. Another marked scene is when they are forced to part the artist pierces his lover in a "secret spot" so that she can still wear his ring yet not be detected as being married. She in turn carves her initial in his chest. In the end he dies in Italy I believe at a ripe old age. It is a very dark storyline but one that seems to haunt me to this day. I cannot remember the title or the author. Anyone familiar with it?
Im thinking the title had something about "Bees" in it. But I have used every search engine I can find and am not coming up with anything. UGGHHH...its really driving me crazy. Which is wierd because when I first read the book I was so angry with the main character that I resold it to a used book store. Now I want to read it again. At least to get the authors name for other novels.
I just thought of two other identifying issues in the story line. The woman wore a haunting orange/lemon scented perfume. She also had a favorite dress with a poppy print.
