Chapter 60 #3
‘Morning, madame, morning mademoiselle. That’s a pretty bonnet,’ he said with a smile, giving a merry salute in the direction of the pram.
‘You’re getting a visitor today, madame.
A new colleague on the radio team, by the name of Emil Hoffman.
Mr Gray’s asked if you’d give him the grand tour when he arrives? ’
‘Yes, of course. But I will bring along Arielle too,’ Margot said in English. She knew she sounded halting when she spoke, but she was pleased she understood what the soldier had said to her. Emil Hoffman – was he a German, or perhaps Austrian or Swiss?
The soldier nodded and opened the library door for her. ‘I’ll send the gent along when he arrives.’
Margot went into the library and started work.
She’d tried to decorate it for Christmas, and the large fireplace looked festive with its fringe of holly and ivy that she’d draped on it.
Arielle had a playpen in the library, but Margot kept her balanced on her hip as she went over to the shelves.
A collection of Molière’s plays in beautiful leather binding was waiting for her, with Gray’s family crest stamped in gold leaf on the spine.
‘What will you be getting for Christmas?’ Margot asked the baby, who grinned at her in reply.
Despite the shortages she’d been able to squirrel away some small gifts, which she was looking forward to giving to Arielle.
Mr Gray had helped out there too, sending a little parcel of toys for Margot to share with her.
The little girl had charmed Margot’s new colleagues and the Christmas cards she received all bore Arielle’s name alongside hers.
One of the women working on the radios was Jewish, and she invited Margot to bring Arielle along so that, each evening, the little girl could see her lighting the Hanukkah candles and hear her sing traditional songs.
Each flame was a tiny light fighting against the darkness that was closing in on people like Arielle’s family in Europe.
Margot had seen that hatred with her own eyes and wanted to do what she could to ensure that Arielle would grow up knowing about her parents’ faith.
Margot carried Arielle over to the shelves. ‘Does Monsieur Goose like the books?’ she asked, as Arielle pressed the goose’s nose against the volumes. She kept the bear clutched in her arm. ‘Or maybe Herr Knuddel?’
Arielle chuckled, then let her head fall to rest on Margot’s shoulder.
She clutched the wedding rings Margot wore round her neck in her little fist. Now that Arielle was nearly six months old, Margot suspected it wouldn’t be long before she started to teethe.
She already took great pleasure in chewing the rubber teething rattle that Gray’s mother had given her.
She was growing up so fast, learning something new every week, it seemed, and Margot wished that her parents could watch her change and be proud of the little girl they’d brought into the world.
Margot didn’t know where Daniel was right now, but she knew that he was doing good work.
Every week new reports of Chevalier’s exploits came through on the radio, with tales of rescued prisoners, supply lines blown up, or downed Allies helped to safety.
And now and then came a message from Daniel for his little girl and the woman who was caring for her, sending love to the first and gratitude to the second.
Esther was never far away, Margot was sure, and she told Arielle of her parents and their faith, and of all that they had given up for her.
‘Your mum and dad are the bravest people I’ve ever known,’ Margot told her. ‘And one day, you’ll see your dad again.’ At least, Margot had to hope that she would. He was still a wanted man, living in constant danger.
Arielle blinked up at Margot and then, with a coo of contentment, beamed at her. As she did, Margot heard the soft sound of the library door opening beyond the bookshelves. This must be Mr Hoffman, the new man on the code team; whatever would he make of a baby in the ranks?
Margot turned, a polite smile on her face. Then she stared in surprise.
‘Theo!’ she gasped, before hurrying over the polished floor towards him.
It was the man she loved. A little thinner, perhaps, but it was definitely him.
‘Oh, where have you been?’ she said, holding the palm of her trembling hand to his cheek as she caught his gaze.
He didn’t reply but instead put his arm round Margot’s waist and drew her to him, snuggling Arielle too as he embraced her.
For a long moment they were silent, then Arielle gave a chuckle and presented her little goose to Theo for inspection.
‘Not Theo any more,’ he admitted, gazing at Margot. ‘Emil Hoffman of Switzerland now, thanks to Mr Gray.’ Then he pressed a soft kiss to Margot’s lips. ‘And here with you at last.’
‘Emil?’ Margot tried out the name. She’d have to get used to calling him that, but she decided it wouldn’t matter if she sometimes called him Theo when they were alone.
‘I love you so much. I’ve been so worried.
But you’ll love it here, I know you will.
It’s a happy place. And it’s even happier now you’re here too. ’
Theo beamed, then kissed Arielle’s forehead tenderly. The little girl smiled, clutching at the wedding rings once more.
‘I love you, Margot,’ Theo said. ‘Let’s never be parted again,’
Margot smiled at Theo. Or Emil. She would love him whatever he was called. ‘We’ll be together. Always,’ she said, and brought her lips to his in a tender kiss. She felt so safe in his arms.
As they broke from the kiss, she smiled up at him, her gaze running back and forth across the face that she loved so well and had thought she would never see again.
‘Arielle and I live in a cottage. It’s beautiful there, and we’ve even got a piano,’ Margot told him enthusiastically.
She’d been decorating for Christmas, with paperchains made from newspaper, and holly she’d picked in the grounds.
She admitted, ‘Although the piano’s broken.
I kept picturing you lifting the lid and getting it working again.
I kept imagining you’d find us and fill our little cottage with music. ’
Theo’s eyes sparkled as he said, ‘I have a room here in the house, we’ll be neighbours.
’ Then he touched his forehead gently to Margot’s.
‘But it’d be a crime to leave a piano unplayed, don’t you think?
’ He furrowed his brow, comically pretending that the decision was a difficult one.
‘It sounds as though I really ought to pay a visit to the cottage. A lot of visits.’
‘Visit us whenever you like,’ Margot replied. She stroked her fingertips through his hair, drinking in every moment of their unexpected closeness. Her heart was at last healed. ‘We’re so blessed to be brought back together; I won’t let you go ever again.’