Page 85 of Summer of Fire
The French proprietor greeted Jack like an old friend and brought them wine and bread. There weren’t many options on the menu, but he recommended the ragoût. They tore into the hard bread as they waited and Lizzie tried to steady herself, but her heart beat too fast.
‘So,’ Jack said. ‘How have you been?’
‘Alright. I was worried about you, though, when you didn’t make it to the farm.’
‘It was a dangerous night all round,’ he said.
‘I mean, we were all worried about you.’
‘Of course. Pierre said you waited as long as you could, but he had to get you to the pickup point. He told me what happened with the general.’
Lizzie saw the concern in Jack’s expression and took a sipof wine as thoughts of the way she had murdered the German reared into her mind. She had closed them down and tried not to think about that awful night. It was only when she tried to sleep that they taunted her.
‘I’m sorry you had to go through that. You were amazing. He rumbled you, but you saved the operation. If you hadn’t eliminated him, the chances are we would all have been caught.’
Lizzie knew she’d saved herself from being arrested by the Gestapo, but she hadn’t realised that what she’d done had saved the others. Val had commended her quick wits, but they hadn’t talked about it any further.
‘I didn’t think of it like that,’ Lizzie said. ‘That makes me feel slightly better about doing such a terrible thing.’
‘No wonder everyone’s so impressed. Did Val mention you were the first female SOE agent to be dropped into France from England?’
Lizzie stared at him, stunned. ‘No, I didn’t know. Why didn’t you tell me? I thought I was just another one going in.’
Jack raked his hand through his hair. ‘I didn’t tell you because I needed you to feel invincible and knowing you were the first would only create more doubt.’
‘I see what you mean. It would have been a lot of pressure. I’m glad I didn’t know.’
‘And you pulled it off. You were the star of the show,’ Jack said. He touched her hand and there it was again. The familiar spark that was always between them with even the slightest of touches. His hand burned into her skin, and she longed to be close to him.
‘Thank you. I don’t feel like a star, though. I responded the best way I could and followed your training. It seemed like the only way out. But I can still see the look on his face after I poisoned him. It was awful,’ she said, shuddering.
Jack’s hand rested on hers, and the warmth of his skin comforted her. ‘The first one is always the hardest, but my God, you proved me wrong about not being ready for this work.’
Lizzie’s face warmed at his effusive praise, and she glowed. She had done something bad, but it was for a good reason. That’s what she kept telling herself. Otherwise, she would have gone mad thinking about the fact that she’d actually taken someone’s life.
Now Jack was back, and they were talking about it openly, the thoughts poured into her mind. She’d tried to lock them away and had only thought about Jack and the other Resistance members still in France.
‘Are the others alright? Pierre and Camille were so kind. I can’t bear the idea that something terrible could happen to them.’
‘They sent you their love and said they hope you are well. The regard is mutual—they were so impressed by how you handled yourself.’
‘They are such a lovely couple. I miss them.’
‘You might see them again sooner than you think,’ Jack said.
‘Oh yes, how so?’ Lizzie contemplated the possibility of going back to France after murdering the general.
‘Nothing planned yet, but there is lots to do. I’m sure Val will find a role for you soon. She sings your praises and wants your continued full-time involvement in F Section.’
Lizzie frowned. ‘What’s F Section?’
Jack laughed. ‘You are so new to this. You’ve already done so much, it’s easy to forget you don’t know the basics. It’s F for French—the French section of SOE. There are different sections, but our department handles France.’
‘I see,’ Lizzie said. ‘I wondered about that.’
‘Do you wish to continue with us, or have you had enough? No one will blame you if you want to opt out.’ He shook his head. ‘A part of me would like you to refuse, to be honest. It’s too bloody dangerous. I don’t mind admitting I was going out of my mind when you went to dinner with the general.’
Now Lizzie stroked his hand. ‘I was sorry to worry you right before you were about to enter the airfield.’
