Chapter 14
Lizzie sipped the coffee and read the article, which explored the consequences for Switzerland of such a harsh decree. The conclusion was it would result in a dramatically increased number of French refugees arriving at the Swiss border.
Thoughts of the border brought little Liesel into her mind, and she wondered how she and the mischehe, the mixed Jewish family who had pledged to care for her as if she were her own, were getting on.
When Lizzie received her orders for Bern, she had immediately thought of the sweet little girl who had stolen her heart when she volunteered at the Berlin orphanage.
Val had read her mind in the eerie way she often did and warned her to stay away from the family, her voice stern. ‘You’ll only endanger them, Hildegard’s mother and yourself if you make contact. You know that, so don’t do it.’
Lizzie sighed and acknowledged that she did know that. ‘You’re right, of course, but it seems like fate that I’ll be there so soon after they escaped to Switzerland.’
Val said, ‘Drawing on the whimsical concept of fate may be useful at times if it motivates, but in this instance, I’m ordering you to put it out of your mind.’
Hildegard had let them know via their contacts in Switzerland that the family had arrived safely at her mother’s house.
That was several months ago now, and Lizzie was eager to know if they were still in Bern or had continued on their journey to put as much distance between themselves and the Nazis as they could.
In a way, she wished they were still in Bern so she might catch a glimpse of Liesel, but she also hoped they had escaped Europe and were beyond the reach of Hitler’s deadly Third Reich.
If the situation were different, she knew she would have asked Jack if they could adopt Liesel and bring her back to London, so taken was she with the little Jewish orphan girl.
Lizzie sighed. That had not been an option for too many reasons, and she had done the best she could in the circumstances.
At least Liesel was being raised by a Jewish woman, and she had a new sister for company.
If they kept their Jewish identities hidden, they would have a good chance of surviving the war, and perhaps Lizzie could visit Liesel in the future.
Lizzie returned to the office, and the afternoon passed quickly as she became absorbed in the translation work for Pemberton.
The following lunchtime she left the Legation and instead of walking to the café, she walked east along the main arcade in the Old Town towards the Nydegg Bridge.
Crossing the Aare on the far side of the peninsula, she then climbed the steep hill and entered the Rosengarten.
The rose garden was bare of blooms in the frigid winter season, but the views over the river and the city were said to be spectacular and worth the effort.
Fortunately, the dense sea of fog so characteristic of the Mittelland lowlands had lifted, and when she reached the upper terrace, the sweeping snow-sprinkled panoramic scene was as breathtaking as Tom had promised.
It was he who had arranged her rendezvous with her Berlin agent, and as she admired the view of the aquamarine river bend and the majestic cathedral, she caught sight of a familiar figure next to a pond ringed by stone sculptures.
Holding herself back from rushing to embrace the woman, which was her natural inclination, she instead caught her eye and with a discreet nod indicated for her to join her on the viewing terrace.
On the way, Lizzie had checked she wasn’t being followed and had circled the Old Town several times before turning towards the park, and once she entered, her eyes scanned the grounds repeatedly for anyone suspicious.
There were only a few people in sight in the cold park, and Lizzie waited on the terrace, her hands thrust deep in her pockets as she gazed out over the city.
Footsteps approached, and she turned her head briefly to see a tall woman limping towards the terrace.
Facing the view, so anyone watching couldn’t see they were in conversation, Lizzie greeted the new arrival whom she had recruited to be her Berlin-Bern courier and trusted agent.
Ties were forged fast in wartime, and Lizzie was relieved to see her looking well. ‘It’s good to see you.’
‘And you,’ Hildegard replied, gazing out at the view, modelling Lizzie’s example.
Lizzie moved her head slightly to check no one was within earshot, but the area remained deserted.
She saw a father in the distance, throwing a ball to his two small children who were bundled up in heavy coats and scarves against the chill.
Their excited giggles as they swooped for the ball and one of them took a tumble rang out.
The scene reminded her of Liesel, and her chest ached.
It was too dangerous to ask Hildegard to bring the little girl to see her.
It was dangerous enough just to meet the courier like this.
‘How are you?’ Lizzie asked, her breath fogging in the air.
‘Well, thank you.’
‘And the family?’ Lizzie asked, leaving Hildegard to interpret her meaning however she might.
‘My mother is well, and so are her visitors.’
Lizzie shifted her feet slightly to the left as if looking in a different direction, away from Hildegard.
As she glanced back, she saw a man hunched in an overcoat next to the pond.
He was a new arrival, and Lizzie’s senses immediately heightened.
They had warned her repeatedly at Baker Street that she would likely be under observation by Swiss counterintelligence, but so far, she’d not spotted anyone on her trail, despite her vigilant spycraft.
‘They are still in Bern, then?’
‘Yes, still here for now, at least.’
The less they both knew of the other’s plans the better, so Lizzie didn’t pry for further details.
‘We must be quick,’ Lizzie continued, her voice a murmur. ‘I wanted to take the opportunity to check in and make sure you are happy to continue the work.’
Hildegard moved her head. ‘I am. It gives me hope, and I have you to thank for that.’
The courageous woman’s words touched Lizzie, and emotion welled within her, but she brushed it away.
This was no time for sentiment. The meeting must be over within a few minutes.
Lizzie didn’t know if she would see her again whilst she was here, but that was the nature of the job.
Meeting endangered them both, and all who were connected to Hildegard.
‘It is we who must thank you. Your work has been invaluable, and we are grateful. If you need anything, please reach out to our mutual friend via the usual channel, and they will see that you get whatever you need.’
The agent said, ‘There is one thing I’d like to ask.’
‘Yes?’ Lizzie said.
Hildegard whispered just loud enough for Lizzie to hear. ‘Is it true Germany is losing badly, and the Allies have victory within their grasp?’
‘I believe so.’
‘How long?’
Lizzie sighed. ‘I don’t know. It seems we still have a considerable way to go, but there is reason to be optimistic.’
Hildegard said, ‘The mood of the people has shifted. The cracks are showing at home.’
‘And our friends?’ Lizzie referred to the Berliners she had become acquainted with when she was undercover.
‘Frau Fischer took the loss of her lodger hard, but they had no reason to suspect her. They interrogated her, but she had no information to reveal.’
‘Did she mention our connection?’
‘No, I don’t believe she did. There was no reason for her to suspect I was in any way involved because it was she who connected us in the first place.’
‘And the mother superior?’
‘She was questioned because of her link to the spies posing as war widows, but somehow she managed to convince them she had no knowledge of their true identity.’
Lizzie breathed, relief spiralling through every cell of her body. She’d blamed herself for endangering her contacts when the operation unravelled, and it was welcome news to hear they had made it through despite the difficulties.
‘One more thing,’ Lizzie said.
‘Anything,’ Hildegard replied.
‘Does she attend school?’
There was a brief pause, followed by a whisper. Lizzie strained to hear the words Primarschule Breitenrain. She committed the name of the primary school to memory and told Hildegard to leave first and to take care.
Lizzie turned to leave a few minutes later, and as she neared the exit of the Rosengarten, she looked back and noticed the man still lurking near the pond.
There were potential spies everywhere.
The man near the pond ground out a cigarette with his boot and nodded to the other agent who waited a few minutes before following the British woman out of the park.