The Pianist’s Wife

Chapter Nine

‘Amira,’ Gisele said, grabbing hold of her hand just as she turned, as if sensing she was about to flee. ‘I’d like you to meet Fred.’

Fred? She cautiously stepped forward when Gisele pushed her, hesitantly lifting her hand when he extended his, like a caged animal backed into a corner.

‘It’s a pleasure to meet you, Amira,’ he said, his palm soft against hers as he gently shook her hand.

‘You’re not Gestapo?’

Gisele made a noise beside her that sounded as if she were choking, but rather than appearing alarmed, Fred just shook his head.

‘I can assure you that I’m not Gestapo, or anything else like that.’

‘Not even a Wehrmacht soldier?’ she asked, studying him curiously as Gisele shut the door and locked it behind him. Amira was careful to keep a few steps away, still cautious about who exactly this man was.

‘Not even a Wehrmacht soldier,’ he confirmed. ‘I’m sorry to disappoint.’

‘Come and sit down,’ Gisele said, waving him into the kitchen and gesturing to one of the seats at the kitchen table. ‘I’ll pour you a drink.’

Amira was still unsure what was happening or why this Fred was here, and she felt uneasy sitting across from him. It was a relief to know her best friend hadn’t betrayed her, which for one horrible second she’d thought was the case, but it was most unsettling having a strange man in the kitchen with the children asleep upstairs.

‘You two, you’re not...’ She stumbled over the word. ‘You’re not lovers , are you?’

Gisele laughed and Fred shook his head, an amused smile playing across his lips.

‘Another thing I can assure you of is that we are most definitely not lovers.’

‘We met when I was studying at the College of Music,’ Gisele said. ‘Before I was engaged to Hans. And then would you believe that we crossed paths again when we were invited to a special orchestral evening a few months ago. He’s quite the favourite of Dr Goebbels and his friends.’

Amira tried not to recoil at the mention of Goebbels, and she couldn’t recall Gisele ever mentioning a friend named Fred. Gisele had only been at the college for a short time though, leaving abruptly before her wedding to Hans and putting an end to her desire to be a musician. Amira didn’t even know whether she played for pleasure anymore.

‘She was the most talented flautist at the college,’ Fred said. ‘And it’s been quite a privilege to get to know one another again.’

‘Gisele, what if Hans arrives home unexpectedly, or if one of your neighbours saw a man arrive at such a late hour?’ Amira asked, her heart beginning to race.

‘Hans will not be coming home, and if anyone asks, I shall say that Fred was calling on you.’

Amira’s cheeks heated. Now she felt uncomfortable for another reason, and she didn’t like that Gisele had put her in such a position.

‘How is it that you’ve managed to avoid serving?’ Amira asked. ‘It’s unusual to see a man of your age – well, a German man at least – not in uniform.’

‘Fred was spared because he’s a professional musician,’ Gisele explained, placing the bottle of brandy, along with three glasses, on the table. ‘He’s the most talented pianist I’ve ever had the pleasure of listening to. I couldn’t believe it when I saw Fred’s name in the programme after all these years, and I made a point of waiting for him after the show. It’s not often one knows a favourite musician of the SS, so I was quite pleased with myself.’

Amira wasn’t sure whether the prickle across her skin was from being unsettled, or because of the way Gisele spoke of the SS. Perhaps it was both.

‘I’m still not sure I understand why Fred is visiting your house at night.’

Fred’s smile was pleasant enough, and Amira found herself wondering why he would want to foster a friendship with a married woman, especially one married to an SS Hauptsturmführer, who she knew would be very unimpressed to find him sitting in his kitchen. Which led her back to her earlier assumption that something was happening between them.

‘Amira, I’m just going to come out and say it, because I can see that you’re becoming agitated and also because there’s no easy way to say this,’ Gisele said, before taking a large sip of her brandy.

Amira froze, terrified of what Gisele was about to say.

‘You see,’ Gisele said, ‘Fred is in the business of needing a wife, which is why I wanted you to meet.’

A wife? It wasn’t until she glanced at Fred and saw the almost embarrassed way he was staring back at her that she realised exactly what Gisele was trying to say.

‘Me?’ she gasped. ‘You thought that I might be interested in becoming this man’s wife? A man I’ve never even met before?’

‘Amira, please calm down,’ Gisele said. ‘I just need you to listen to what I have to say.’

‘Calm down? Maxi has barely been gone and you think that I would just forget about him and the promises I made to him? That I could simply fall out of love with him and marry someone else because you happen to know someone needing a wife? Imagine how that would break him when he came home, to think that I’d cared so little.’ Tears filled her eyes as she looked between Gisele and Fred. ‘No,’ she said. ‘Absolutely not. What’s wrong with you?’

‘Have you finished?’ Gisele asked, looking at her as if she were the one who was mad. ‘I’ve been praying every night for Maxi’s safe return on your behalf, but that doesn’t change the fact that Fred is in need of a wife, and you are very much in need of a German husband to keep you safe.’

‘But—’

‘I think it’s time for us both to admit that Maxi might not be coming home.’

The tiny hairs on Amira’s arms lifted at the same time as her heart started to pound. ‘Don’t say that! What happened to no news isn’t bad news?’

Gisele held her gaze. ‘I am doing my very best to protect you and stay positive, Amira, but we both know that we need to do everything we can to keep your very existence a secret. To keep you alive. And maybe that means we have to be realistic about Maxi.’ She paused. ‘I also want you to know that Fred understands your unique situation.’

‘Gisele,’ Amira said sharply, glancing at Fred.

‘I’ve told him,’ Gisele said. ‘You don’t have to hide who you are with Fred.’

Anger bubbled inside of Amira; her stare levelled on Gisele. She opened her mouth, about to reprimand her, to remind her that no one else other than her knew her secret, when Fred cleared his throat.

‘I’m not going to share your secret, Amira,’ he said in a quiet voice, ‘because you’re not the only one Gisele is keeping a secret for. I dare say mine is just as dangerous as yours.’

‘You have a Jewish parent, too?’ Amira asked, studying his face and trying to find any features that should have given him away to her. How would her marrying him possibly help her, then? If he had the same problem she did?

‘Fred isn’t Jewish, Amira,’ Gisele said softly. ‘He’s a homosexual.’

The word hung in the air between them. Homosexual? Had she heard Gisele correctly? She felt her cheeks colour, immediately uncomfortable because of what she’d just been told. She glanced away, not sure where to look. It seemed Gisele was even more open-minded than she’d realised.

‘You see, my need for a wife is as great as your need for a German husband to protect you,’ Fred said. ‘And I, like you, am in love with another. So it’s not your heart that I need you to give me, Amira, only your name on a marriage certificate beside mine.’

‘A marriage in name only, until the Allies win the war and liberate us from the Nazi Party, then you’ll both be free to do as you please,’ Gisele said. ‘Amira, it’s getting more precarious for you. The things that are happening, the dangers...’

Amira looked at her, still speechless. She found the concept almost impossible to grasp, but she was at least relieved that Gisele was still prepared to protect those she loved.

‘I know this is incredibly unconventional and will take some getting your head around, but I want you to consider it. Please.’

‘You want...’ Amira couldn’t even expel the words.

‘This is how we keep you safe, Amira. This is how we keep both of you safe.’

Amira turned her gaze to Fred, as Gisele leaned towards her with an expectant look on her face.

‘So, Amira, what do you say?’

‘I say,’ she said, through gritted teeth, ‘that you and I need a word in private.’