Chapter 41
CHAPTER 41
L ondon, Winter 1940
Jack was waiting for Lizzie near the station when she left the new SOE HQ in Baker Street.
‘How do you do that?’ Lizzie asked, jumping when he fell into step beside her.
‘Do what?’
‘You always appear as if out of thin air.’
Jack smirked. ‘Tradecraft, darling. Tradecraft.’
‘I swear I never see you coming,’ Lizzie laughed.
‘But know that I’m never far away,’ he said, suddenly serious.
‘My raven—always watching over me.’
‘Your raven has come to ask you to join him for a drink at the Ritz.’
‘I’ve never been to the Ritz,’ Lizzie said, peering up at him, her coat collar buffering the icy November wind.
‘I guessed that might be the case, given that ever since you arrived in London you’ve either had your head in translations, or been training for, shall we say, unusual activities?’
‘When do you want to go?’
‘How about right now? There’s no time like the present, Seagrove.’
Lizzie’s senses whirled. ‘A proper date this evening?’
‘A proper date,’ Jack said. ‘Not like the one you thought I’d been on with Charlie’s plant at the stately home.’
Lizzie looked embarrassed. ‘Will you ever let me forget that?’
‘Let’s call it even for my atrocious behaviour on the day we first met.’
‘You’ve got a deal,’ Lizzie said. She thought about the dress she’d chosen for work that morning. ‘I’m not dressed for the Ritz.’
‘From where I’m standing, you look as stunning as you always do. Trust me, no fancy evening dress could ever outshine you.’
Lizzie glowed despite the chill in the air. ‘You can’t even see my dress beneath my coat.’
‘It doesn’t matter. You are breathtaking, whatever you wear.’
‘In that case, I accept your invitation.’
‘That’s my girl.’ Jack reached for Lizzie’s hand and steered her into the station. ‘Let’s jump on the next train to Green Park. That’ll take us right to Piccadilly.’
Lizzie bubbled with excitement. It took quite a bit of manoeuvring for them to be alone, what with long hours at work and keeping their relationship under the radar.
Evie was still the only one in London who knew there was anything between them, and she was sworn to secrecy. Lizzie told her it was important not to tell anyone because of their work. She had given her sister no more details to fuel her fertile romantic imagination.
Lizzie and Jack moved out of the way of the oncoming swarm of Londoners searching for their trains. Jack whisked Lizzie into a dark, secluded alcove and swept her into his arms. They kissed hungrily, making the most of the rare solitude.
Jack groaned, ‘God, I’ve missed you.’
‘I’ve missed you too.’ Lizzie’s breath snagged in her throat as she ran her hands over his shoulders, and he clasped her waist, still holding her close. Their heads were locked together like lovers who knew they would soon be separated again.
The train rolled into the dimly lit station and Jack reached for Lizzie’s hand as they boarded. Their bodies were pressed against each other on the busy train, and they gazed into each other’s eyes, drinking each other up.
No one knew they were madly in love, except perhaps Pierre and Camille, and that’s how they planned to keep it. They had discussed their situation many times and finally agreed it was the only viable option. For the duration of the war, they would work together and keep things simple.
Not revealing her undercover activities and her feelings for Jack was difficult for Lizzie sometimes, but she wouldn’t jeopardise what they were doing. There was too much at stake. Their work was vital, and they couldn’t risk complicating things with Val.
Lizzie was learning how to pretend she lived an ordinary wartime life whilst doing extraordinary things. Jack was already experienced in the world of special agents, but she still had so much to learn.
The forbidden nature of their relationship was addictive. They never knew quite when they could snatch a moment alone together. It was intoxicating, and only heightened the intensity of their feelings for each other.
Lizzie visited Jack as often as she could, at his office in the flat, where he interviewed her for the first assignment. It was a convenient love nest, where they shared romantic interludes. She remembered the time they were nearly caught when Drake turned up unexpectedly and Lizzie had to hide in the kitchen.
When she emerged after her former boss left, Jack said Drake had asked after her again. Lizzie missed her boss and would have liked to have popped into the War Office to see him, but it would only create curiosity amongst the staff about why she’d left so suddenly.
‘Please give him my best when you see him next,’ Lizzie said. ‘Is he well?’
‘He is. Although I’m certain he’d have me whipped if he knew what we were up to.’
‘As in jumping into bed every chance we get?’ Lizzie said, throwing him a coy look.
‘Exactly. I’m never giving you up, Lizzie, even if someone finds out.’
‘I should hope so. I have no intention of giving you up either.’
‘When this blasted war is over, we’ll take a romantic trip to Reims, just the two of us. Would you like that?’ Jack said.
‘I’d love it. You know I love being with you wherever we are, but a trip to France when all this madness is over sounds especially brilliant.’
‘We’ll stay in a hotel in the city, not in the barn or the secret room at the farm,’ Jack said. ‘And beautiful France will be free again. It seems like a dream now, but that day will come.’
‘And we won’t have to parachute in at night by moonlight!’ Lizzie laughed as they walked into the Ritz .
They were escorted to a table and ordered cocktails.
‘Isn’t it wonderful here?’ he said. ‘Like another world. If it weren’t for the soldiers on leave, you wouldn’t know there was a war on.’
Lizzie stared in awe at the glitz and glamour all around her. ‘It’s really something. I’ve heard stories about how the wealthy have flocked to live here, rather than keep their homes in the Blitz. They think it’s safer in a hotel like this.’
‘They’re probably right. Can’t say I blame them. People call it Blitz at the Ritz, you know. Let’s hope there are no air raids whilst we’re here,’ Jack said.
The band struck up a lively tune and people piled onto the dance floor.
‘Dance with me?’ Jack said, rising from the table and holding out his hand.
Lizzie took it, and they joined the throngs of dancers.
‘You’re rather good at this,’ Jack shouted over the loud music.
‘Evie and I practiced at home to pass the time when we first arrived in London,’ Lizzie replied as they moved at lightning speed to the popular wartime swing dance that had taken dance floors by storm.
Jack twirled her around until she was breathless.
‘You’re not bad yourself,’ Lizzie said.
After a while, the music slowed, and Lizzie’s heart swelled with love for Jack when he pulled her closer and whispered in her ear. ‘I love you, Lizzie Beaumont. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me.’
‘I love you, Jack King. And to think, if it weren’t for the war, we never would have met.’
The future was uncertain, but whatever it brought, Lizzie knew they would face it together.