Page 65 of Whispers At Dawn
They had survived another day in enemy territory.
CHAPTER 32
At breakfast, they were all weary from lack of sleep. Suzanne appeared, and none of them mentioned the strange events of the night before. It was a stormy morning, and they took breakfast inside rather than on the terrace.
‘Isn’t this weather unusual for summer?’ Lizzie asked, stifling a yawn.
‘The winds are blowing in off the Pyrenees,’ Luc replied. ‘It’ll probably calm down this afternoon.’
The mention of the Pyrenees reminded Lizzie of the airmen and when they could leave for St. Girons. The sooner the better, she reasoned as she bit into her toast covered in a delicious smearing of home-made strawberry jam. Every day the airmen stayed on the grounds would endanger all the residents of the château further.
Luc slit his correspondence open after finishing his meal and groaned as he read.
Suzanne had already left the room and none of the other staff were present.
‘Is something wrong?’ Lizzie asked.
‘I’m afraid so.’ Luc removed his reading glasses, and swung them in his hand as he looked at Lizzie. He lay the glasses down on the table and pinched his nose, his brow furrowed.
‘You are tired, Luc,’ Lizzie said. ‘Perhaps you should rest this morning, and we can take over any duties you had planned.’
‘That is thoughtful of you,’ Luc said, ‘and I may indeed do as you suggest. It seems we are going to have an unpleasant evening.’
Jack glanced up from his newspaper. He kept an eye on the classified section in case one of his agents was trying to get a message to him. ‘Why, what’s happening this evening?’
‘The commissaire just informed me we must host the dinner for the visiting Gestapo officer he threatened us with when he was here.’
‘And if you refuse?’ Jack queried.
Luc shook his head. ‘I don’t think it’s wise to refuse the head of the local police and his Gestapo sidekick, do you?’
Jack sighed and rested the newspaper to one side. ‘You make a good point.’
‘What time are they coming?’ Lizzie asked.
‘Eight sharp. He says it doesn’t do to keep the Germans waiting.’
‘Goodness, it seems rather rude, bossing you around like that,’ Lizzie said.
‘You’re right, my dear, it does. My childhood friend is taking advantage of our relationship and sees the château as an extension of his own hospitality for his Nazi gang.’
Lizzie said, ‘Must we all be here, or is it sufficient for you two to dine with them, do you think? I fear I’ll make another pigeon faux pas and risk exposing us.’
Luc retrieved the letter and read aloud to Lizzie. ‘We look forward to dining with you and your charming relatives. Ienjoyed their company so much last time, and Herr Walter Von Schneider is looking forward to making their acquaintance.’
Lizzie sucked in her breath. ‘How will we make it through dinner with a Gestapo thug whilst we have two British airmen hidden in the cellars? Do you think your friend suspects us?’
‘No, my dear. My guess is the commissaire is looking to impress his visitor, that’s all. As long as we all stay calm, everything will be fine,’ Luc said, sounding more confident than his expression portrayed.
‘Talking of the airmen, we’d better see how they are doing,’ Jack said.
Luc replied, ‘I told the crew to work on the other side, so you don’t run into them.’
‘I hate to ask, but can we trust Suzanne?’
Luc nodded. ‘I’d trust her with my life. I spoke to her before breakfast and told her there are things it’s better she doesn’t know for her own safety, but to assist you with anything you need.’
‘And did she seem happy with that?’
