Page 71 of Summer of Fire
‘But on that first day, it just all seemed wrong to me. Hannah had recently disappeared, and I was torturing myself over it. I was barely sleeping. Blamed myself for tasking her with that mission when I knew the chances were high she would be caught.’
‘But you recruit women all the time for dangerous work. What was different about me?’
‘How long have you got?’ he said, making her blush more fiercely at his over-the-top praise.
‘Let’s see,’ she said, looking at her watch. Then she sat bolt upright in bed. ‘Not long at all. I must leave for the job in thirty minutes, or I’ll be late.’
Jack groaned. ‘Where did the night go?’
‘I have to get ready. Can’t afford to be late today of all days.’
She moved to leap out of bed, but Jack caught her and imprisoned her in his arms, kissing her passionately. ‘Lizzie, whatever happens today. I want you to know you are amazing.’
‘You’re afraid we’re going to get killed, aren’t you?’ Lizzie said, her eyes solemn.
‘It’s a possibility. A very real one. What we’re doing is so daring, the Nazis wouldn’t even imagine it. Well, let’s hope they wouldn’t, or we’re stuffed before we start.’
‘Which is why we stand a good chance of pulling it off,’ she said when she pulled away from him reluctantly.
‘Who’s the mentor here? You’re so good at this, you’re going to surpass me soon.’
‘Don’t be silly,’ she said. ‘I’m absolutely terrified and don’t know what I’m doing.’
‘And that’s exactly why you’ll do well. Follow the plan as closely as you can, but if something changes, follow your instincts. You can always rely on them.’
She dressed in a hurry, and she felt his eyes on her every move. Her heart swelled with love, but she couldn’t allow her emotions to distract her. She flashed him a radiant smile as if they weren’t about to blow up a Luftwaffe base in Nazi-occupied France.
The thought flitted through her mind that before thissummer of fire, when everything changed, she had still been an innocent child. In the spring, the war felt unreal, like a mirage in the desert. Old Lizzie swam in the sea every morning and read books in her favourite window seat at Seagrove, overlooking the bay. Old Lizzie popped into her grandparents’ wing of the house for tea and scones and played cards with Pops in the evenings.
The pain stabbed at her when she thought of them and what they must be going through in Jersey without them.
‘I like your hair like that,’ Jack observed as she rolled her chestnut hair and gripped it into place around her face.
‘Thank you. This style is all the rage.’ Lizzie applied her red lipstick and turned to click the blade to show Jack. ‘Remember this little beauty?’
‘Ah, you still have it. Good. I hope you won’t need it. All going to plan, you’ll walk out of that office as if you’ve no connection whatsoever to the Resistance, and they won’t know what’s about to hit them.’
‘And if they suspect me?’
‘Don’t hesitate to use it,’ he said, his voice like cold steel. ‘Do whatever you need to do to escape. There is no room for mercy in war.’
Lizzie was about to leave the room, Jack close behind her, when he tapped her shoulder and twirled her around. ‘I loved last night,’ he whispered. His lips skimmed hers and his touch made her quiver.
‘Me too,’ she said, leaning into him. ‘I loved every minute.’
There was only time for a rushed coffee, and then Jack walked outside with Lizzie and retrieved Camille’s bicycle from the shed. ‘Here, hop on,’ he said, patting the seat.
Lizzie walked over to him and thought that although they would both walk into the devil’s lair today, she had never felt such a rush of happiness. They stared at each other, and she was certain she saw love in his eyes.
They hadn’t spoken of love, but you didn’t always need words. It showed in his every look and action as he tucked a pack of hastily made sandwiches into the bicycle basket.
‘Be safe, Seagrove. See you tonight, God willing. Remember, if I’m not back by ten, set off. Do not miss the plane. Go without me if I’m not back. I repeat, go without me and I will see you in London.’
Lizzie’s eyes welled up, and she swallowed hard. It wouldn’t do to fall apart now. She was already running late and would have to cycle like the wind to arrive on time. ‘I will,’ she said. ‘But please be there.’
‘I’ll move heaven and earth to be back with you, but I want you to promise you won’t stay here if I’m not.’ He pulled her into his arms, his look fierce. ‘Promise me, Lizzie.’
‘I promise,’ she said, holding back the tears.
