Chapter 46
The pickup was seamless. Lizzie waited in a field near the Swiss border under cover of night and realised she had come full circle since her mission began. It seemed longer than only the previous month since she had been dropped outside Colmar and made her way to Berlin.
Barely ten minutes passed before she heard the familiar hum of the Lysander, the dear old friend that had rescued her from the gates of hell so many times in the past few years.
The plane swooped down and landed, and to her delight, Jack’s face appeared as he reached down to pull her up the ladder and safely into the cramped rear cockpit. The canopy had barely closed before the small aircraft was airborne again.
For a few minutes, they just held each other tightly without saying a word.
The emotions rolling through Lizzie were indescribable in their intensity, and when she raised her head to search his dark eyes; she saw he too was just as moved by their reunion.
Every time they said goodbye; they never knew if it would be the last. Each time they were reunited, it was like a gift, and she was giddy at the sight of him.
Lizzie settled into the hard seat, leaning against his large, comforting frame and held his hand as he asked about the mission. Shouting over the throb of the engine, she gave him a quick rundown of the main events and what they had learnt about the secret weapon programme.
‘The boffins will decipher the meaning of the formulas. We only understood the basics, but that was scary enough. If we don’t stop them developing the rockets, they will destroy us. It’s only a matter of time.’
‘You have pulled off another amazing feat,’ he said. ‘Well done, darling. You make your country and your fiancé very proud.’
Jack hadn’t been in Berlin since before the war, and he was curious to hear what it was like there now.
Then he asked about Hannah, saying it must have been tough for her to return after what happened to her family.
Lizzie told him how daring she had been when she visited her old apartment and nearly got caught.
Lizzie’s heart was strumming fast, and the tension built in her chest as she realised the moment had come when she must break the news to him about his brother’s death.
She tried several times but couldn’t find the right words until eventually he tilted her face with his hand and looked into her eyes.
‘Whatever it is, Seagrove, please tell me. I’d rather know the truth, no matter how difficult.’
Then Lizzie let it all spill out. She explained how Hannah had discovered Henry’s file and that he was confirmed dead after the crash landing.
He sat very still and fell silent whilst Lizzie let him process the news.
There was no easy way to hear that your brother had died at the hands of the Luftwaffe, and she could only imagine what a shock it was.
He knew Henry was missing in action but had clung onto the hope that he was alive and well in a prisoner-of-war camp somewhere in Germany.
The remaining hours of the flight passed in a cold, uncomfortable blur.
They were buffeted about as the aircraft lumbered through the dark skies.
The seats vibrated, and the abrasive sound of the engine flooded the freezing interior.
It was difficult to be heard without shouting, and Jack was stunned by the news, so they sat in silence, holding hands all the way.
Lizzie comforted him as best she could, and tiredness crept over her after the dangerous escape from Berlin.
The Rhine glittered below until Lizzie caught snatches of the French countryside in the pale moonlight as she looked out the small window.
It seemed a long time until they crossed the Channel and reached the English coast. Only then did the tension gradually drain from Lizzie.
They were never safe flying over France, and when they crossed into England, it was always a significant moment.
Jack squeezed her hand. ‘Welcome back to Blighty, darling. I can’t tell you how bloody good it is to have you home.’
The Lysander cut through the pretty English countryside like a ghost whilst Britain slept, and when they landed at RAF Tangmere on the south coast, Lizzie stretched her cold, aching limbs and welcomed the mug of tea from the cheerful duty officer.
Dawn was breaking over the Sussex field as they sipped the steaming tea in the hut, and a quiet sense of peace enveloped her.
Her latest wartime secret mission had cost her dearly, but she was home with Jack.
Back in London, things were much the same as Lizzie had left them, except for the unmistakable buzzing anticipation of Christmas just around the corner.
One evening after dinner, when Lizzie was at home, Evie and Juliet crafted decorations from leftover paper and fabric, and she joined them.
Soon they were giggling and having a jolly time, just like when they were children in Jersey.
‘May we have a Christmas tree this year, Pa?’ Evie called over to their father, who sat in his usual chair.
He lifted his head from his newspaper and shook his head. ‘There are dreadful timber shortages so I shouldn’t think so, unfortunately, girls.’
Ma bustled in from the kitchen where she had been clearing up with Violet, who had become one of the family, and they all adored her. Lizzie was grateful her mother had company when they were all working, and things had turned out for the best, like they usually did.
Ma said, ‘I daresay we can cobble up some kind of small decorative tree from branches and greenery in the back garden if you girls want to help me.’
They all agreed that was a marvellous idea, and when Lizzie went to bed that night, she thought about their absent loved ones and included them in her prayers.
If only Nan and Pops and her brother Archie and Juliet’s fiancé, Oliver, could join them this Christmas.
It seemed like forever since they had all celebrated together, and she wished she had realised during their last family gathering just how special it was.
She had taken it for granted, and if the war had taught her one thing; it was that she would never take anything for granted again.
The Christmas season was festive even in wartime, but it was laced with sadness with so many households missing fathers, husbands and sons. Lizzie thought of Jack and his mother and knew it would be a particularly hard one for them.
After she arrived home, events had moved fast. Henry’s death had a profound effect on Jack. Following several visits with his heartbroken mother, one evening at the flat he asked Lizzie whether she minded if he let people know about their engagement.
For a second, she was stunned. It was the last thing she had expected him to say. They had grown so accustomed to living their secret lives, that she couldn’t imagine what it would be like to talk openly at work about their relationship.
‘No!’ she replied. ‘I don’t mind at all! In fact, there’s nothing I would love more than stopping skulking about like thieves in the night every time we want to see each other.’
‘That’s agreed then. I’m telling Val we’re coming out of the closet and announcing our engagement. We can tell her together if you like.’
Lizzie’s mouth opened slightly as she stared at Jack; such was the shock rippling through her at his sudden change of heart.
She had always been the one who struggled the most with keeping their love for each other a secret.
He handled it well, and she attributed it to the clandestine nature of how he had lived his life for so long.
Lizzie wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him hard on the lips. ‘Are you serious? Finally, I’ll be able to talk about my amazing fiancé!’
His handsome face was wreathed in smiles, and Lizzie was overjoyed to see him looking happy. It had been a tough few months, and she was worried about him.
‘Why the change of heart?’ she asked, curious.
‘Life’s too short to keep you a secret any longer, my darling. I was a fool to let it drag on for so long. We have nothing to hide and if Baker Street doesn’t like it, then they can bugger off. They’ll just have to get over it.’
A wicked smile spread across Lizzie’s mouth and her green eyes danced. ‘I love this new rebellious Captain Jack King!
‘I thought you might, but I wanted to check with you before I went running my mouth off to Val,’ he said.
‘We’ll have to tell my parents we’re engaged,’ Lizzie said, thinking aloud.
‘I’ll ask for your father’s blessing, of course.’
‘That won’t be a problem. They all think you’re quite the catch and tease me relentlessly about my “Handsome Captain.” It will be an enormous relief to tell them the truth at last. And I can finally wear my ring!’
It was arranged that Jack would join the family for a pre-Christmas afternoon tea.
Lizzie was excited and nervous all at once, now that the cat would finally be out of the bag about their relationship, and she went hot and cold just thinking about all the teasing that was to come, especially from mischievous Evie.
When Jack saw Lizzie home, he said, ‘This will be the last time I ever have to pretend I’m not walking you home and lurk around the corner.’
‘Thank goodness for that,’ she laughed, turning her face up for his goodnight kiss.
She slipped her diamond engagement ring off her finger and into her pocket before entering the house.
The following day, over a loud and boisterous afternoon tea, Lizzie showed off her beautiful ring, and Evie and Juliet cooed over the diamond and the setting of the stone.
‘It is perfect!’ Evie declared. ‘I might have one like that soon.’
‘Evie Beaumont!’ Ma said, ‘Whatever are you talking about? You’re not old enough to get married.’
‘We’ll see,’ she replied, as cheeky as ever, her red curls gleaming in the afternoon light.
When Jack excused himself that evening, Lizzie saw him to the door, and they kissed in a leisurely fashion, flirting on the doorstep like regular sweethearts. No more hiding their love for each other and no more pretending he was just her commanding officer and she, his subordinate.
Lizzie waved him goodbye, a lovesick grin on her face.
He turned to wave and promised he would call her tomorrow from his mother’s house, where he would spend Christmas Day.
They planned to tell her about their engagement together on Boxing Day.
Jack hoped it would give her something positive to focus on, and Dr Wood was invited for dinner too.
When Lizzie returned to the sitting room, the others were chatting about their engagement, and there was a warm buzz in the air.
‘I’m so happy for you, my darling girl, Pa said, kissing her on the cheek as he passed the table.
‘Thanks, Pa.’
‘We are all so happy,’ Ma said. ‘He’s a fine man. I must say I knew there was something special between you from the beginning. Didn’t I say as much, Reg?’
Pa laughed. ‘You did indeed. Nothing gets past you, my love. You could run MI5 single-handedly.’
Evie opened her mouth to speak, and Lizzie shot her a stern warning look across the bows. Her mouth closed abruptly but she winked mischievously.
Some secrets were best kept secret.
***