Chapter 35
L izzie had fallen into a comfortable rhythm with the family, despite the unusual circumstances, and that morning she helped her aunt prepare toast and they enjoyed a rare treat of freshly laid eggs.
In the middle of breakfast, there was a knock at the front door, and they all froze, ever wary of someone discovering Lizzie’s identity. Giselle went to the door and returned smiling with relief, clutching an enormous bunch of roses that she presented to Lizzie.
‘Well, don’t keep us in suspense,’ Sophie said. ‘What does the card say?’
Lizzie removed the card from the envelope and read the note aloud, her cheeks hot.
Beautiful roses for the most beautiful Rose.
In endless admiration,
Yours,
Heinrich
‘He’s actually got the audacity to woo you openly like this,’ Sophie exclaimed. ‘I can’t believe the gall of that monster!’
Lizzie saw the expressions on the faces around the table. Uncle Charles looked bemused, and Aunt Giselle’s relief had been replaced with pure terror.
‘Perhaps you shouldn’t accompany me to the meeting today,’ Charles said. ‘We’re on very dangerous ground here, and it won’t do to encourage a man like that.’
Giselle interjected, ‘I agree. If he discovers you are not who you say you are, the repercussions will be calamitous.’
Lizzie remained outwardly calm, but her emotions raged. ‘I’m sorry I’ve put you all in this position. I will leave as soon as possible. It’s unfortunate he’s taken a liking to me, but we couldn’t have foreseen it.’
Sophie whispered, ‘We can’t afford the spotlight being shone on us, what with the Judith situation.’
Lizzie squeezed Sophie’s hand. ‘I know, and the safest way for us all to come out of this unscathed is for me to distract him by indulging his attentions so I may finish what I came to do.’
‘And then what?’ Charles asked, sounding mystified, as if the reality that his niece was some kind of master spy was too much for him to digest.
‘Then I’ll leave him a note saying I was called back to Paris on an emergency, and he will be sorry for a day or two but far too wrapped up in his schemes to give me much thought once I’m gone.’
‘I hope you’re right,’ Sophie said. ‘He is awfully enamoured with you judging by the flowers and the card, and he doesn’t seem the type to give up easily.’
Tension hung in the air as they got ready to leave the house in pursuit of their various endeavours.
On the way to the meeting, when they were out of earshot of the walled city, Lizzie asked Charles if he’d heard any more about the plans for Jersey. The other day, he had seen a report about two thousand labourers needed for construction work on the island.
Charles said, ‘It seems they may be going ahead with a major coastal defence battery in Jersey, and the construction will be coordinated with Brittany. I feel sick to the stomach.’
The prospect of Jersey being used as a key fortified piece of the Atlantic Wall to keep out the Allies made her feel sick too. The irony was too much to bear. They were working with the Nazis to stop the Allies invading, and their island and even their home were being drawn into the web.
Much to Lizzie’s relief, Heinrich Adler wasn’t present at the meeting, and one of his junior officers took the lead.
They were a small group made up of local engineers, surveyors, construction workers and contractors, and they listened carefully as the officer outlined the latest position of the massive engineering project.
All of them would benefit substantially by securing steady work, and she could understand why they were keen to be hired for the long term, despite the potential repercussions. Whatever their feelings about the occupation, they had mouths to feed.
Refuse to work with the Nazis and face the consequences.
When the officer referred to the fortification of the Channel Islands, Lizzie held her breath and listened closely. There was nothing specific she could take back to the SOE, but it was clear they planned to make all the islands impregnable.
The soldier pinned up a large surveyor’s sketch of Cité d'Aleth and talked through the preliminary plans for turning it into a subterranean complex. She’d heard some of it from Heinrich, but now she could commit the layout to memory.
She wished she could take a photo with her mini camera, but it was out of the question, and her uncle’s equipment was far too big to set up for this purpose.
They were forbidden from taking German materials off the grounds, so it would come down to her memory.
Another soldier switched the sketch over, and Lizzie’s stomach dropped as she saw they were looking at a drawing of Portelet Bay.
Her Portelet Bay.
Uncle Charles’s head was in his notebook, and she nudged him discreetly and saw his eyes reflect the same shock that reverberated through her.
It was true then.
After a brief overview, the soldier removed the sketch and continued briefing them about overall plans for the Brittany coast and what would be expected of them to prepare the groundwork.
Charles had left the building with his colleagues, and Lizzie emerged from the toilets and was about to join him. Heinrich appeared from a side door and blocked her way as he towered over her in the now empty grand entrance.
His smile was genuine, and Lizzie smiled back as if she was pleased to see him. ‘There you are, Rose,’ he said. ‘I trust it was a useful briefing.’
Lizzie said that the plans were coming along fast. ‘I was interested to see the sketch of Jersey and curious to know more. How can a small island play such an integral part in the construction?’
Heinrich beamed, once more taking her interest as a compliment and basking in her attention.
‘Did you like the roses?’ he asked, side-stepping the question.
‘They are beautiful. Thank you so much,’ she said.
‘And that brings me to my invitation.’
Lizzie looked up at the SS officer, wondering how she had got herself into this awful jam. If Jack knew, he would order her to abort the mission immediately, so it was just as well she hadn’t been able to get to the farmhouse to send an update.
‘I have a wonderful surprise for you,’ Heinrich said, the swastika band catching the light as he moved his hands. ‘We will take a private cruise, and I will show you the landmarks you are so interested in.’
Lizzie was mortified at the thought of taking a cruise with him, but this was an opportunity she couldn’t refuse, even if she could refuse without risking his wrath.
She searched frantically for the right words and fought to keep her emotions under a tight rein. ‘Perhaps Charles can join us as my knowledge is limited, but his will be of great use to you.’
Heinrich bent over her shoulder and spoke softly in her ear, his breath on her collarbone and his cologne overwhelming her senses. ‘I want you all to myself, Rose. Please say you’ll do me the honour of joining me, and we will enjoy a sunset cruise.’
Lizzie didn’t dare imagine what the family would say when they learnt of Heinrich’s latest grand gesture. Perhaps it would be for the best if she didn’t tell them. Sophie’s indignation was already at boiling point, and her aunt was understandably fearful of the consequences for all the family.
Lizzie simpered and touched her hair as if being under the spotlight of Heinrich’s adoration was a delight. ‘How thoughtful of you to arrange such a wonderful outing for us.’
‘Excellent, I will make the final arrangements for this afternoon and pick you up at 6 p.m.’
Lizzie gazed up at him as he stood close enough to touch. ‘I appreciate that, but given the circumstances, may I request that you don’t come to the house? You know how the locals can be.’
Heinrich furrowed his brow as he digested her words, and adrenaline pumped through her body as she waited for his response. Would he insist on collecting her from the house? If he did, it was as good as publicly labelling her as his mistress, and he knew that.
Lizzie would be gone soon, but the family would have to face the consequences of being branded as collaborators. Charles had explained to her that he was already under scrutiny and getting nasty looks from some because he had agreed to work on the construction project.
Heinrich pulled himself to his full height. ‘Very well. We will do as you wish. When I said I meant to make sure you will want for nothing, that includes having my complete protection so I will not endanger your good reputation.’
They arranged a more secluded meeting point, and she agreed she would see him at 6 p.m.
‘I must get back to the house if I’m to be ready on time,’ she said, glancing at her watch. ‘There is work to do.’
Heinrich nodded, and she saw the flames of excitement in his eyes.
God help her. She had gained a new protector.
The Golden Eagle.