by Lily Baxter
She dipped a flannel in a bowl of water and wrung it out. ‘I’ve seen worse. Did you get the antiseptic?’
Elsie placed the bottle on the floor beside her. ‘Is there anything else I can do?’
‘I think you’d better put Anouk in the picture before you do anything else.’
‘I will, but please call me if you need help.’
‘I will.’
It was a relief to leave the room and breathe air that was musty but uncontaminated by human suffering. Elsie went downstairs to Marianne’s room. She had barely crossed the threshold when Marianne turned her head to glare at her. ‘Why were you chatting to a German soldier? Are you out of your mind? Are you completely crazy? You know what Valentine said about fraternising with the enemy.’
Elsie slumped down on the bed. ‘If you’ll shut up for a moment I’ll tell you.’
‘All right, but it had better be good. I’ve just finished counting hundreds of dried peas, potatoes and cabbages, and I’m heartily sick of them. This stuff is driving me mad and there you were, out walking with a bloody Hun as if you were on a date.’
‘It wasn’t like that,’ Elsie said tiredly.
‘I’m listening.’ Marianne sat back in her chair, folding her arms. ‘This had better be good.’
‘The first night we were here I heard noises coming from the attics. Last night I went down to the kitchen and found a British Tommy sitting at the table.’
‘What?’ Marianne’s lips formed a circle of surprise.
‘Hendrick and Valentine are part of an escape route organised by La Dame Blanche. Jim Smith seems to be one of many they’ve helped, and he’s in a bad way. That’s why I went to the village. I had to get some antiseptic from the doctor.’
‘So this is a safe house. They’re taking a terrible risk.’
‘No more than having us here and passing weekly reports to a British agent.’
‘But that doesn’t explain why you were getting so pally with Fritz.’
‘He just appeared in front of me, and I had a bottle of carbolic acid clutched in my hand. Luckily he didn’t spot it or I’d have had some explaining to do.’
‘Didn’t this nice polite German want to know where you’d been?’
‘He didn’t ask. I know it’s irrational, but I felt quite sorry for him.’
‘Don’t waste your sympathy on the Boche. Just remember that they’re the ones who’ll man the firing squad if we’re caught spying on them.’
‘I know that, but Dieter is a human being. I can’t hate him simply because he’s on the wrong side. Anyway, I won’t see him again so it doesn’t matter.’
‘You might find that difficult,’ Marianne said, turning her attention to the street below. ‘The bastard is still hanging around out there.’ She leapt to her feet. ‘I’ll put a stop to his little game. He’s probably spotted you for an innocent and thinks you’re easy prey.’
‘What are you going to do?’
‘Take off your frock and give it to me. He’s only met you briefly, and I’m almost as good an actress as Felicia when I put my mind to it. I’ll go out there and put him straight.’
‘No, Marianne. It’s a huge risk and it’s really not necessary.’
‘Yes, it is. You’re too nice, Elsie. You don’t like hurting people, but I’m not so tender-hearted, especially when it’s a German. Take it off and give me your hair band.’
‘I’m not sure about this.’
‘But I am, and it’s the only way. These men are predators and he’s got his eye on you. I’ll sort him out once and for all.’
‘I can handle it on my own.’
Marianne cocked her head on one side, curling her lips in a cynical grin. ‘Oh, yes? Elsie darling, you have a heart the size of the Pacific Ocean. You felt really sorry for the chap. I know, because you’re as transparent as glass.’
‘I just saw him as someone who was far away from his home and family, but if you’re determined to speak to him you should clear it with Valentine first.’
‘Sometimes one has to take the initiative.’ Marianne held out her hand. ‘We’ll swap places for the first and last time, I promise.’
‘You will be careful, won’t you?’ Elsie said as she slipped off her frock and handed it to Marianne. ‘You won’t do anything rash.’
‘Don’t worry. I’ll be the soul of tact and diplomacy, but I’ll make certain he won’t bother you again.’
‘I’m really not sure about this,’ Elsie protested, but Marianne had already left the room. She ran to the window and looked out, hoping that Dieter might have gone, but to her dismay he was still there, leaning against a lamp post, smoking a cigarette. She waited, hardly daring to breathe. Her heart was pounding and she felt sick with apprehension as she saw Marianne emerge from the house and cross the street. It was like watching a film at the pictures in which she was the leading lady, only it was Marianne who had taken her role, and she was playing a dangerous game. Elsie was tempted to open the window and call her back, but she knew that would be a fatal mistake. She leaned forward in an attempt to get a better view.
Dieter had discarded his cigarette and he drew himself up to his full height. She was too far away to see the expression on his face, but they were standing close together; too close, Elsie thought, crossing her fingers and praying silently that Marianne would resist the temptation to claim yet another heart. Making men fall in love with her seemed to come naturally to Marianne. Elsie had seen it happen on too many occasions in London. She breathed a sigh of relief when the encounter seemed to come to an amicable conclusion. Dieter snapped to attention and bowed from the waist and Marianne blew him a kiss as she walked away.
Elsie ran from the room and tore downstairs to meet her in the entrance hall. ‘What did you say to him?’
Flushed and smiling, Marianne gave her a hug. ‘Don’t worry. He won’t bother you again.’
‘What did he say?’
‘He asked me if I would like to take a walk by the river. He offered to bring a picnic, and I was actually tempted to say yes. I wasn’t expecting that.’
‘But you didn’t.’
‘No, of course not, silly. I told him how strict Aunt Valentine was and that I was rarely allowed out, so it would be impossible for us to meet again, and he said that he was very sorry, but he understood perfectly.’ Marianne stripped off Elsie’s dress and tossed it to her. ‘I suppose he can’t help being a German, and he’s probably a nice enough chap, but I think he might be gentleman enough to leave you alone.’ She slipped on her own clothes, checking her appearance in the mirror with a satisfied smile, and patted her hair into place.
‘I hope you’re right. We’re in a dangerous situation here, Marianne.’
‘It’s exciting, isn’t it? I love this work.’
‘You said you hated it a few minutes ago.’
‘I was bored with counting vegetables, but things have taken a turn for the better. We’ve got a wounded soldier to hide, and a German officer to confuse and keep at bay.’
‘Don’t. You make it sound like a game, and it’s anything but.’
Marianne gave her a hug. ‘I know that, Elsie my love. But now we’re not simply stuck in a backwater waiting for the next train to pull into the station; we’re really in the middle of things.’ She walked purposefully to the window and looked out. ‘He’s gone.’ She slumped down on her chair. ‘Oh, well, I suppose that’s that.’
‘Marianne, don’t.’
‘Don’t what?’
‘Don’t give me that innocent look.’
‘Honestly, darling, I don’t know what you’re talking about.’
‘Yes, you do. You’re bored and you’d enjoy flirting with him just for the hell of it.’
‘Who me?’ Marianne pulled a face. ‘What nonsense you talk, Elsie. Do you really think I’d do anything so foolhardy and downright dangerous? That’s crazy talk.’
Chapter Fourteen
ELSIE WENT TO her room and lay on her bed, but she could not
sleep. She had seen the sparkle in Marianne’s eyes and she was uneasy. Eventually she got up and went to the bathroom. She ran the water, undressed and climbed into the cast iron tub, careful to avoid the rough patch where the enamel had worn away. She closed her eyes, shutting out the clinical white tiles, and imagined herself back in Felicia’s luxurious bathroom, where hot water gushed from gold-plated taps, and fluffy Egyptian cotton towels hung from a heated towel rail. She opened her eyes and sighed. The water was tepid and there was no soap. She stepped out of the bath onto bare linoleum and dried herself on a threadbare towel that felt like sandpaper on her skin. She had hoped a hot bath would make her sleepy but now she was refreshed and wide awake. She knew she could not rest until she had checked on the patient and she dressed quickly before making her way upstairs to the attics.
There was no sign of Valentine as she entered the room, but Jim opened his eyes and managed a weak smile. Elsie pulled up the chair and sat down. ‘How are you feeling?’
He ran his hand over his clean-shaven chin. ‘A lot better than I did, ta.’
‘I’m glad. I was worried about you.’
‘I’m tough, miss. I’ve come this far so I don’t think a scratch on me arm is going to stop me now.’
‘Can I get you anything?’
‘No, ta. The Belgian lady gave me some soup.’ He reached out his hand. ‘You was the one what helped me last night, wasn’t you?’
‘I didn’t do much, Jim.’
‘Just hearing an English voice helped me more than you’ll know. I knew I was getting close to home.’ He squeezed her fingers. ‘I dunno what you’re doing here, but good for you, miss.’ He closed his eyes.
Elsie withdrew her hand gently and pulled the sheet up to cover his naked chest. She stood up and tiptoed out of the room, wiping away tears. His heartfelt thanks had touched her deeply: she had done little enough, but simply being there and speaking to him in his own tongue had obviously helped. She closed the door quietly, and went downstairs to the kitchen.
Valentine was standing in front of the range, stirring the contents of a large saucepan, and its savoury aroma filled the room. ‘You should be asleep,’ she said sternly. ‘Wearing yourself out won’t help anyone and you might make mistakes.’
‘I went to check on Jim. He seems much better, thanks to you.’
Valentine frowned. ‘I’m afraid he’ll lose that arm, but I’ve done all I can. I just hope he’ll get back to England before gangrene sets in.’
‘But surely he’s not well enough to move on?’
‘It’s not up to me, Lotte. We do what we can for them, but it’s safer for all concerned if the chain remains unbroken.’
‘He’s so weak.’
‘The boy is in better shape than when he arrived last night. We can’t afford to get involved with individuals. We’re professionals and we have a job to do. You must remember that at all times.’
‘I’ll try, but it won’t be easy.’
Valentine replaced the lid on the pan. She smiled and waved the spoon at Elsie. ‘You’ll have to guard that tender heart of yours, my dear. You will have to grow a protective shell around it and try to be more like your friend. Anouk has the makings of a ruthless espionage agent.’
Elsie knew that was not true but there was no point in arguing. Valentine might think that Marianne was tough and heartless, but Elsie had seen the softer side of her friend, and she knew that her blasé attitude to life was just an act. She had a picture of Marianne and Dieter fixed in her mind and she was afraid. One day she knew that Marianne would fall deeply and irrevocably in love. Elsie prayed that it would not be the handsome young German who proved to be Marianne’s Nemesis.
When Elsie went to see Jim next day his bed was empty and had been stripped down to the flock-filled mattress. There was no sign that the room had been occupied recently. She felt quite ill at the thought of a sick man being moved from one safe house to the next, but it was not just his life that was at stake. They were all in danger. She laid her hand on the pillow and silently wished Jim Smith a safe passage home.
In the months that followed there was a steady trickle of British and French soldiers who came in the night, were fed and given a bed, and were gone as soon as darkness fell the following day. Valentine and Hendrick saw to their needs and Elsie was not involved with them on a personal level, apart from helping in the washhouse when Valentine was otherwise occupied. Their lice-ridden shirts and undergarments went into the copper, and Hendrick had the unenviable task of running a candle flame down the seams of the filthy tunics and trousers in an attempt to kill off the chats, as the soldiers called the lice. Elsie hated handling the verminous garments but she felt it was the least she could do for the poor devils who occupied the attic room. It was hard to imagine the dreadful conditions in the trenches and the privations the men had to endure, but at least they would travel on without suffering the torment inflicted by ravenous parasites.
The Somme offensive had begun on the first of July and news filtered through in November that it had at last come to an end, but the war raged on. The days were growing ever shorter, but Elsie had not ventured into the village since her encounter with Dieter. Valentine had offered to take her to market and she had refused politely, although she was running out of excuses. Marianne was always eager to go in her stead, even if it meant that she had to lose sleep, and Elsie was beginning to suspect that she had an ulterior motive: her worst fears were confirmed one evening when she was on duty watching the railway station. The continuing hostilities had meant that trains transporting troops and supplies to the front line were more frequent, and timetables were of little use.
She was seated at the desk in her room, staring out into the darkness. She rarely allowed herself the luxury of thinking about Henri, but the melancholy winter evening had evoked a feeling of loss and longing. The last soldier they had sheltered had been a Frenchman and she had found herself wishing that it was Henri they were helping on his way to neutral Holland and freedom. Guy was also in her thoughts and she made a point of asking the British soldiers who passed through their hands if they knew him, but so far without any success. She still suffered pangs of remorse when she remembered their last meeting, and the sight of him walking off and disappearing into the crowds in Piccadilly still haunted her dreams.
She was about to sip her rapidly cooling coffee when a movement below caught her eye. She leaned forward to get a clearer view and her heart lurched against her ribs. Marianne was supposed to be catching up on her sleep in readiness to take over the watch at midnight, but she was crossing the street, walking with a swing in her step as if she were going to a party. There was no reason for her to be out when everyone in the village was obeying the curfew, and she could be shot for disobeying the law or sent to a prison camp. Elsie was tempted to go after her, but even as she rose to her feet she saw a shadowy figure emerge from the station. She knew instinctively that it was Dieter who enveloped Marianne in a passionate embrace and drew her into the deep shadows. Elsie’s knees buckled and she sat down again. Her heart was racing and her palms were clammy with sweat. Marianne must have lost her mind to risk all their lives for a romance that was doomed from the start.
She sat, rigid with fear, waiting for the couple to reappear for what seemed like hours. Eventually they stepped out of the shadows, parting with one last kiss. ‘You fool, Marianne,’ Elsie cried angrily. ‘You idiot.’ She jumped to her feet and raced downstairs, waiting impatiently to confront Marianne as she entered the house. She dragged her into the dining room.
‘What the hell? What d’you think you’re doing, Elsie?’ Marianne demanded breathlessly. ‘You gave me the fright of my life.’
Elsie closed the door and leaned against it. ‘Don’t act the innocent. I saw you and him. I saw you, Marianne.’
‘It’s just a bit of harmless fun, darling. Heaven knows we get little enough of that.’
‘Harmless fun? Not only were you breaking the curfew, but you were consorting wi
th the enemy, and you were pretending to be me. I’ll be the one who goes before the firing squad if you’re caught, not you.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous.’ Marianne faced her with a defiant toss of her head. ‘You’re over-dramatising the whole thing. Dieter won’t betray us. He’s in love with me.’
‘And I suppose you’re madly in love with him.’
Marianne shrugged her shoulders. ‘Maybe, although I’m not sure I know what love is.’
‘You’re in love with the idea of being in love, Marianne. You’re bored with what we’re doing even though you know it will save lives. You’re a selfish, stupid girl and I’ve a good mind to tell Valentine.’
Marianne’s face was a pale oval as the lights from the station shone into the room. ‘You wouldn’t dare. She’d blame you as much as me.’
‘You’ll get us all killed. Don’t you care?’
‘I’m not having this conversation, Elsie. I’m going to my room, so move out of the way.’
‘I’m not letting you go until you promise not to see him again.’
Marianne’s defiant expression was replaced by a pleading look. ‘I know it’s dangerous and that I’m being foolish, but this could be the real thing, Elsie. It might be what I’ve been waiting for all my life, and if it is then nothing will keep us apart.’
‘Death will, Marianne. He’ll end up with a court martial and you’ll be shot along with the rest of us. A whole unit of La Dame Blanche will be at risk because you want thrills. You don’t love him – it’s all a game to you.’
‘I need a cigarette,’ Marianne said crossly. ‘Move out of the way, Elsie. I’ve got to get some sleep before I take over from you.’
‘I’m only letting you go because there’s a train due to arrive at any minute, but you’d better think about what I said. If you don’t tell the German that you’ve been deceiving him, I will.’
‘Go to hell.’ Marianne flung out of the room.
There were three troop trains in quick succession and it was closer to one o’clock in the morning when Marianne put in an appearance. Her hair was tangled and she had the crumpled look of someone who had fallen asleep fully dressed. ‘I’m sorry,’ she muttered. ‘I meant to relieve you at midnight but I fell asleep.’
