She looked at him over the rim of her cup. “My sister’s husband betrayed her trust. He left her for another woman.”
“There’s no other woman in my life!” He blurted out the words.
Rosemary set down the empty cup and nodded. A small smile tugged at her lips. “If I suspected such a thing, I wouldn’t have stayed to talk.” He nodded, and she continued. “When I thought about Frederick, I realized it was in his character not to be true to my sister. He always thought of himself first and was never satisfied with life. You are different.”
In his line of work, patience was essential. Paul couldn’t think of a time when his patience was so hard won.
“The first time I saw you, you handed your hymnal to someone else and sang by memory. Such a little thing, really.” She shrugged. “But little things are telling. Like the way you listen respectfully to Valerie and the way you hold Mrs. Ainsley’s elbow to help her. When we pray together, I feel in my heart that we are one. I don’t doubt that you love me as I love you.”
Paul felt part of the burden lift. They’d make it through this.
“Your character is clear to me. I fell in love with a man who has integrity. Old memories shook me for a moment, but I asked God to help me seek the truth. The one thing I don’t understand is why you didn’t trust me. Love means trusting, Paul.”
He looked at her and let out a deep breath. “Love does trust, Rosemary. A man’s love for his woman also compels him to protect her. I’d hoped to shield you.”
“I understand your motive now.”
“I’m glad, sweetheart. I know this cut you deeply, and I can’t tell you how sorry I am. Now that you know I’m part of clandestine matters, I admit I kept a huge secret about myself from you.” The words stuck in his throat. “It’s only honorable for me to give you a chance to end our engagement.”
Chapter 9
Paul!” Tears sprang to her eyes. “Is that what you want?”
“No.” He shook his head. “I love you more than I can say. I just told you:
You can always be certain of that love. The only question is, is your love strong enough to survive the fact that I’ll still keep secrets from you? If you still want to be my wife, I’ll have to rely on your trust, because I’ll never be able to tell you certain things. There will be times you’ll get curious. What I want you to know, through it all, is that you can always be sure of my unwavering love for you.”
“I love you with all my heart, Paul, and I’m not a young girl. As a woman, I understand that the need for discretion must come ahead of my personal interest. You can’t keep from helping others—and that makes me love you all the more. Now that I know what’s behind your actions, it’s plain that you never hid who you are. You just concealed part of what your compassion compels you to do. I wouldn’t ask you to stop, and I’m not about to let go of the man I love. I want to help in every way I can. I’ll be the best wife to you that I can, with God’s help.”
“And I’ll be the best husband I can be to you, with His help.”
“Then you need to eat and keep up your strength.” Finally, she smiled and slipped an oatmeal cookie into his hands, and he knew things were going to work out well. “I have a hunch God’s going to keep us busy.”
“Yes, yes. Careful, now.” Paul directed the purser as Rosemary stood by his side at the dock.
“Wow.” She looked at the latest crate. “You managed quite a sizable transaction.”
He patted the crate. “It’s bound for the National Art Museum. They’ll be more than pleased.”
She nestled into his side, and he held her close. “I missed you,” he growled.
“Not as much as I missed you.” She laughed. “Valerie told me she was glad you were coming home. She said she’s sick of me moping around without you.”
“Moping, eh?” They walked alongside the cart containing his luggage and a few other smaller crates. The ship-to-shore phone allowed him to arrange with the museum to have a truck waiting. “And here I thought you were going to tell me all she wanted was my secret mashed potato recipe.”
“You are the only man of my acquaintance who even knows a recipe.”
“Keep it that way.” He squeezed her tight and dipped his head. “I’m dying for us to get alone so I can kiss you properly.”
Rosemary felt her face grow warm. “Me, too.”
“Six weeks ’til the wedding. Did you get your gown yet?”
“I’m not sure I need one. I thought maybe my Easter dress …”
“Since when did a bride need an excuse to have a new gown?”
“I’d rather use the money for a project.”
“Over my dead body. I brought back some Belgian lace.”
“Belgian lace!” She blinked at him in amazement. “How?” She smiled and recovered quickly. “How thoughtful of you!”
“Anything for my girl.” He saw to the truck being loaded, then took the keys to her car and drove behind the truck to the museum. “I’m sorry we’re tied up like this, but some shipments require immediate signatures.”
“What did you get?”
“There’s a collection of incredible little carved ivory and jade kimono toggles that are called netsuke; a small bronze sculpture of a ballerina by Degas; a very Rembrandtesque painting that I suspect might be by Willem Drost; the central portion of a gilded medieval altarpiece; a few etchings; and a handful of other paintings. The Correggio Madonna and Child is the pièce de résistance.”
“Are you serious? Paul, how can people stand to part with such treasures?”
“It’s heartbreaking. So many of them are trying to sell, though. They know the Nazis will take anything of interest. Selling is the better of the two choices.” He stopped. “The situation is already ugly. I want you to know I’m trying not to cheat anyone. I do my best to pay a fair price.”
“That went without saying.”
They stopped at an intersection. Paul leaned over and kissed her. “I want to haul you off to the church today.”
She laughed. “Valerie would throw a fit, and Mrs. Ainsley would have a conniption.”
He didn’t laugh at all. “I’m noticing you didn’t object.”
“Paul, we can’t do that.” She blushed. “I’m not about to have anyone think I had to hurry up to get married.”
The honk of the horn behind them cut short his laughter. “If we don’t get going here, the whole town is going to think that’s the case!”
He pulled into the back of the museum. “Sweetheart, it’s going to take me a couple of hours. I want you to go buy a wedding dress now. Come back to pick me up, and we’ll swing by to collect Valerie and go out for a bite to eat.”
“I’ll stay—” She stopped. “Okay. I’ll go. You can unpack and do whatever you have to.”
“But get your dress now.”
“Why are you so worried about my wedding dress?”
He traced his fingers down her cheek. “You deserve a beautiful dress.” He ran his thumb across her lips and added, “I like silk. I want you to wear silk.”
“Any particular color?”
“Not especially. But the government is about to put an embargo on silk. I don’t want you to get stuck without a choice.”
“I’m getting my first choice. I’m getting you.”
He groaned. “Are you sure I can’t just haul you off to the pastor’s house? His wife and a neighbor could be witnesses.”
“Go play with your paintings. I have a dress to buy.”
Valerie declined the invitation to go to dinner with them. She and “Grandma” Ainsley were “busy.” Paul escorted Rosemary out to the car and muttered, “The two of them are thick as thieves.”
“I know. I have a funny feeling they’re up to something.”
“If it were Valerie and her friends, I’d be worried. Mrs. Ainsley’s involvement is reassuring.”
Rosemary gave him an incredulous look. “Don’t be too sure of it. Mrs. Ainsley can be feisty.”
�
�That sweet old woman?”
She leaned close and whispered in his ear, “A spy ought to be more observant. Mrs. Ainsley is wearing nail polish these days.”
He hooted. “Well, that makes her a floozie, doesn’t it?”
They had a lovely dinner at Giovanni’s. Afterward, Paul wanted to take a walk. They meandered through the park, and to his relief, she didn’t pump him for any in-depth information about his trip. She asked general questions and didn’t pry if his answers were less than direct. He told her how her relatives were doing, but most of all, he spoke of how he had missed her and how he was glad to be back home.
“How long do you get to stay home now?”
“I told them we’re getting married. I figured I’d refrain from any more business trips until we come back from our honeymoon. If I do that, I’ll need to slip away right after we return.”
“I understand why.”
He nodded.
“I’m taking you suit shopping tomorrow. Your blue suit is shiny.”
“You’re sounding wifely already.”
“I’m out of practice. It’s been almost eight years since I was married.”
“I’m not worried in the least. You’re the most practical woman I’ve ever met. Speaking of practicalities, are there any of my furnishings that you want to bring on over?”
She grinned. “Now that you mention it, I love your oak hall tree. Wouldn’t it look great by the front door?”
“Yeah, it would.”
“My late husband used the small parlor beside the guest room as an office. We cleared everything out years ago. Would you like to bring over your desk, bookshelves, and picture of Christ?”
“That would be great!”
He took off his suit coat and slipped it around her shoulders. “You’re getting chilly.”
“Silly, isn’t it? It’s summer!”
“As long as you’re not getting sick.”
Rosemary turned and gave him a peck on the cheek. “I am sick—lovesick!”
The two of them sauntered all around the park, then drove back to Rosemary’s. When they walked up to the house, Valerie pulled open the door. “You’ve been gone a long time. Mom, I need to tell you something.”
“Okay, honey. Paul, would you please excuse me?”
Valerie shot her a wary look. “Could we go upstairs?”
Rosemary followed her daughter up the steps. What would be so urgent that her daughter would drag her away from Paul on their first evening back together? Valerie practically pushed her down the hall and into the master bedroom. Once inside, Rosemary fumbled with the switch.
When the lights went on, she let out a cry.
Chapter 10
Surprise!” Mrs. Ainsley crowed from over in the corner.
“Well, do you like it?” Paul slipped up behind Rosemary and wrapped his arms around her.
“It’s—it’s gorgeous!” She stared in disbelief at the antique bedroom set.
“I couldn’t resist it,” he confessed.
Valerie ran her hand across the front of the huge mirror-fronted oak armoire. “Have you ever seen anything so beautiful?”
Rosemary turned and slipped her arms around his waist. “How did you do this?”
“Valerie and Mrs. Ainsley helped. I called, and they agreed to be here to tell the deliverymen where to arrange everything.”
“We put the old set in that empty bedroom down the hall,” Mrs. Ainsley said. “It’s nice and solid, but this—well, this is something else entirely.”
“I knew they were up to something!” Rosemary poked Paul in the back. “You knew they were, too, and you didn’t let on.”
“Some secrets, sweetheart, are well worth keeping.”
He’d hoped he wouldn’t have to go back for a while. Bill had arranged for a courier to take another shipment of dolls. Everything was arranged. Then the phone rang.
“We need to get together for lunch,” Bill said.
He never called unless it was imperative. Paul straightened. “When are you free?”
“I just had a cancellation. Why don’t we meet in an hour?”
“I’ll be there.”
Just like that, he was gone. He’d only been home four days. Rosemary kept a positive attitude. She understood they’d live by a capricious schedule and he’d dash off on trips without much warning at times. She loved him; it was a concession she’d make. Compared to the dangers and sacrifices others made, it was nothing.
Two days after he’d pressed her to buy her wedding gown, the government announced a silk embargo. Things like that made her aware of the fact that he had his fingers on the pulse of what was happening in the world. With all of those things weighing on his mind, he’d still made sure she’d have a silk gown. That thought made her love him all the more. He understood the little things that made a difference.
She went to pick up the suit they’d ordered. “It’ll fit him perfectly. I guarantee it,” the tailor promised.
“I hope so. What about the ties?” She’d selected some ties the day they ordered the suit. One, in particular, would look perfect for the wedding. The blue in it matched the wool in the suit exactly, but the pale blue stripe in it was precisely the same shade as the silk gown she’d be wearing.
“You’re lucky I set them aside for you. Once they announced the embargo, folks have suddenly snapped up ties. Cost of wool’s starting to hike. I’ve ordered some extra bolts just in case.”
Rosemary studied the tailored lines of the suit jacket. “Why don’t I go ahead and order another suit for Paul now?”
“I have his measurements on file. It’d be ready in a week.”
“Wonderful.”
Rosemary went home and sat down at the sewing machine. As it was Saturday, Valerie was home. The Adventures of Ellery Queen played on the radio as they worked together.
The bobbin thread ran out. As the radio touted the excellence of Bromo Seltzer, Rosemary suddenly jolted. Paul knew about the price of wool. He made sure Mrs. Ainsley had a coat. He said he wouldn’t quibble about an extra penny or two per yard of fabric for the dolls….
“Valerie!”
Valerie stopped stuffing a doll and looked up.
“We need to go buy fabric!”
By the time they carried the third load of fabric to the upstairs bedroom that evening, Valerie gave her a disgruntled look. “How many little girls do you think there are in Denmark, anyway?”
Rosemary diverted her by laughing. “I know you hate to sew, but complaining isn’t going to make a difference.”
“One yard. One stinking little yard of twenty different materials. That’s weird enough, but you did that at—I lost count. How many stores did we end up going to?”
“Enough.” The empty chest of drawers came in handy. Rosemary quickly tucked yard after yard into the drawers and filled all five. She’d also bought three bolts of muslin.
The clerks at the store all chattered about quilts. Rosemary didn’t lie, but she hadn’t corrected their assumptions, either. Paul had insisted on buying tires for the car because supplies would be distributed differently. Well, she figured she’d learn from his example. On Monday, she’d go buy wool yarn for doll hair.
Days passed. The closet in the spare room overflowed with dolls. Rosemary tried to tuck the dolls into the closet without her daughter seeing the “finished” product because she’d been leaving the one seam open. Since Valerie hated to sew, it hadn’t been too hard to have her concentrate on sewing on button eyes and stuffing the dolls. Once, as they hugged good night, Valerie whispered, “I know something’s up.”
“We’re up. We should have been in bed about thirty minutes ago.”
Valerie gave her an indulgent smile. “Pleasant dreams, Mom.”
That night, Rosemary’s dreams were anything but pleasant.
“Ah, Captain von Rundstedt! I have a special package for you.” Paul plowed through the crate and pulled out a small box. “For your niece.”
“How very ki
nd of you.” The captain gave him a calculating look.
“Actually, I am in your debt. It was your idea.”
The captain opened the box. Inside was another doll. This one was flaxen-haired and dressed in a long dress. A small copy of Sleeping Beauty accompanied her. “Very clever.”
“The cleverness was yours, Captain,” Axel said. “It’s too difficult to import books right now, so I cannot carry this line, but Herr Lindhagen said he’d be happy to bring in one of each type when he can.”
“That box has a red cape for your Red Riding Hood,” Paul mentioned casually.
“My niece will be pleased.”
“Good.”
The captain looked around the warehouse. “I see you are still able to keep a fair business going, Herr Christiansen.”
“I’ve changed some of the items I carry. A good businessman is always flexible. I’m thinking of dealing with a South American firm. They can fruits, vegetables, and jam. It might be a lucrative venture.”
“Be sure such shipments do not end up on the black market.” The captain stared at him. “I would expect careful bookkeeping. Such things will not be tolerated.”
“Naturally.” Axel dipped his head in assent. “It occurred to me that certain products such as that might appeal to desirable persons.”
“Keep me informed if they become available. Heil Hitler.” The captain started to leave.
Paul cleared his throat. “Captain? Just one thing. I was asked by two families in Sweden to see if I might locate their grandchildren. Is there any assistance in such matters?”
“Give me their parents’ names. I can have an aide check on it.”
“Death notices were received. That is why the grandparents asked my assistance in finding the children. They’re from Flensburg.”
Rundstedt shook his head. “I cannot help you. It is not in my jurisdiction. It is a lost cause. Tracking orphans in a time of war is impossible.”
“A shame, to be sure,” Paul murmured.
“Indeed. Heil Hitler.”
After the captain left, Axel gave him an incredulous look. “Do I dare ask what that was about?”
A Sentimental Journey Romance Collection Page 25
