Page 8 of Shadows In Paris
‘That means a lot. I promise I won’t let either of you down,’ she said, glowing.
‘Letting us down is not my concern.’
‘Then what is? Apart from my inexperience…’ Lizzie prompted, always curious to better understand how Jack’s mind worked.
‘I’m more concerned about us not lettingyoudown. You in Paris with Hannah in the midst of a den of Nazis is going to be tough to stomach. I just wish there were some other way.’
‘But you agree this is for the best?’
‘That may be a bit of a stretch. Not sure I’d go so far as to say it’s for the best.’ He raised one eyebrow and smiled wryly. ‘But Hannah needs backup, and you are equipped to provide it, no matter how much I wish it were otherwise.’
‘Darling, you have trained me well,’ Lizzie said. ‘Please trust that we can do this. Together we can do this.’
The phone rang and Val asked Lizzie to come and help her with something in her office. Lizzie stood and ran her fingers through Jack’s glossy black hair.
He captured her hand and scattered a row of tender kisses onto her fingers. ‘Will I see you tonight?’
Lizzie eyes were full of regret. ‘I can’t tonight, darling. I promised to go to the pictures with Juliet and Evie. Ma might come too.’
‘Oh, that’s a fabulous idea.’
‘We’re doing our best to keep Juliet entertained. She gets so worried about Oliver,’ Lizzie said.
‘How lovely you are! Poor Juliet. It’s awful thinking of our loved ones battling the enemy in the skies. I try not to think too much about Henry, but it’s hard not to sometimes. My mother barely sleeps.’
Henry was Jack’s brother. It had been months since he had seen him, and Lizzie knew his mother worried a great deal about her son in the RAF. Just like her mother worried about Lizzie’s brother Archie who was fighting with the Royal Engineers.
‘It’s enough to drive us quite mad if we think too muchabout it. I try not to dwell on it, but a trip to the pictures is always a welcome distraction.’
‘Have a wonderful time and please take care,’ Jack said. ‘Get to the shelter if there’s a raid.’
‘I will,’ Lizzie promised, and they kissed one final time before they headed for the door.
Jack turned. ‘Tomorrow we’d better make plans for the logistics of the mission. We need to create a strong cover story for your family, for one thing.’
‘Shall I mention anything to them yet?’ Lizzie asked.
‘No, let’s get our story straight and you can lay the groundwork, then. We’ll run through it together.’
‘Did Val say when I need to go?’
Jack paused, and she heard him suck in his breath. ‘I believe it’s a full moon at the end of next week. We’ll pick the exact day and make our plan tomorrow.’
Lizzie let Jack’s hand go before they exited the room. Her palm felt cold without his touch.
‘I’ll see you in the morning. Seagrove?’ he said, stopping Lizzie in her tracks.
‘Raven?’ Her eyes were full of mischief.
‘You didn’t say what film you are going to see.’
‘You didn’t ask,’ she said, teasing him with a smile that lit up the whole corridor and took his breath away. ‘Gone With The Wind.’
‘How apt. Have fun, my darling,’ he whispered close to her ear. ‘Tell me all about it in the morning.’
CHAPTER 4
Most days Reginald Beaumont worked late at the War Office, but this afternoon the load on his desk had miraculously lightened, and his driver had dropped him at the house just in time for dinner with his family.
