Page 11 of Summer of Fire
Lizzie had never met a man like Jack. There had been little opportunity to meet what she thought of asreal menin Jersey. She’d dated a few boys, but they were most definitely not men yet. Most of the members of her circle knew one another since they were children, and on the rare occasion she met someone new, they generally shared a mutual acquaintance.
That was island life for you, and most social events she attended took place in St. Brelade’s, the parish where she had gone to school and lived all her life. It was a tight-knit community and rarely did anyone new enter it.
London was a whole different prospect. That was what she liked about sitting on the bus, people watching. Thesheer number of faces she would never see again on the streets fascinated her, and she loved to imagine where they might go and what their life was like.
It made her sad now to think about Jersey boys, many much younger than her brother, who were forced by the harsh reality of war to grow into real men before their time.
‘A penny for your thoughts,’ Jack said, and Lizzie jumped.
‘London life is all so foreign to me. I was just thinking how unusual it was back home in Jersey to meet anyone new.’
‘It must be strange growing up on a tiny island,’ he said, his eyes still searing into hers. ‘I’ve never been to the Channel Islands. Now the blasted Boche have them, I regret it.’
Lizzie thought he had a way of seeing right through her, and she felt herself flush beneath his intense gaze.
‘Yes, it is different. I see that now, although it all seemed quite normal to me before moving to London.’
‘London is the best city in the world,’ he said, as though it were a proven fact. ‘But let me get to the point, Elizabeth, so I don’t take up any more of your day.’
‘Please do,’ she said, her heart hammering like it was clapping in her ears.
‘I have something to ask of you. It is dangerous and as I alluded to yesterday, it could get you killed. But we need your help. Your country needs your help. Drake believes you are the right woman for the job, which is why he brought you to see me yesterday. My question for you today is, will you help us?’
Lizzie swallowed and knots tangled in her stomach. ‘What does it entail that is so dangerous?’
‘In a nutshell, we would drop you into Northern France, in Nazi-occupied territory, hence the danger. You would need to try to meet with a member of the local Resistance to collect some vital intelligence. The assignment itselfshouldn’t be too dangerous, but going in at all is obviously a colossal risk.’
A thrill ran through her as she stared at him. ‘Tell me more.’
But she already knew what her answer would be.
CHAPTER 6
Jack asked Lizzie to go to his office after work. They walked back up the winding stairs and he turned into Drake’s room. Ten minutes later, Jack emerged, but she avoided catching his eye. Turning her head slightly, she watched his broad shoulders retreat through the door.
If only she were older and more sophisticated, she wouldn’t feel so awkward around him. Lizzie was bursting with excitement and could barely concentrate on her translations for the rest of the day. The clock hands crawled towards 5 p.m. which was the earliest she could leave without attracting attention. At one minute past the hour, she stood up, tidied her papers, and slipped into her jacket. Just as she was about to go, Drake emerged from his office, and made a beeline for her.
‘Everything alright, Lizzie?’
‘Yes, sir. Everything’s fine.’
‘Leaving early today?’
She didn’t know how much she was permitted to tell her boss after the stark warning from Jack regarding talkingabout their plans. Drake picked up on her reticence and said, ‘I take it you’re going to see Jack?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘I’m pleased to hear it. Are you alright to make your own way there, or would you like a driver to take you?’
‘No, thank you. I’ll be fine,’ she replied. ‘I’ll take the bus and walk from there. It’s not that far, is it?’
‘No, not far at all. I noticed you get your bearings quickly, which is a good thing. Have a fruitful evening and I’ll see you in the morning.’
‘Yes sir,’ she said.
‘I don’t suppose you’re ever going to stop calling me sir, so I may as well save my breath,’ he said, smiling good humouredly.
Lizzie jumped on a bus just as it was pulling away from Horse Guards Parade. She didn’t bother sitting down and instead clung onto a pole, studying people’s faces as they jumped on and off each time the bus lurched and ground to a noisy halt. She touched her hat and checked her handbag was firmly on her shoulder. Lizzie’s parents had warned her to keep her wits about her in London. ‘There are thieves and chancers on every corner,’ her mother said, ‘even more so now in wartime.’
