Page 56 of Whispers At Dawn
They tidied their picnic remnants away in the basket and sipped another glass of wine. Even in the shade, Lizzie could feel the intense heat on her skin.
‘We’d better get down to business,’ she said.
You are a hard taskmaster,’ Jack sighed, shaking his head.
‘I promised to help Suzanne make jam later this afternoon. She works so hard, and I like to give her a hand.’
‘You have quite the sweetest nature, darling. It’s just one of the many, many things I adore about you.’
Jack never failed to build her up, and if she’d had any doubts about herself before they met, his constant admiration had chased away the shadows.
‘Thank you for always believing in me,’ Lizzie said, a wave of sentimentality overwhelming her.
Jack’s eyes shone as he held her tightly to him and for several moments, neither of them spoke. The feeling between them was more powerful than any words could ever be.
When they pulled away, Jack asked what she thought they should do about the airmen. ‘Shall we tell Luc or not?’
They ran through the pros and cons. If Luc knew, he was better equipped to help them hide the airmen, and he would be prepared in case anything went wrong.
On the other hand, if they didn’t tell him, he wouldn’t be compromised. If their operation was exposed, and the airmen discovered, Luc could genuinely claim he knew nothing about it and that might go some considerable way with his friend, the commissaire.
Jack picked a blade of grass and trailed it across his chin as he peered into the distance, seeking the answer.
‘What does your gut say?’ he asked, eventually.
Lizzie stayed quiet for a moment. She had learnt to listen to her gut under Jack’s mentoring. At first, she had thought it a strange thing to do, but she had trusted him, and it had never led her wrong.
‘My instincts say we should tell him. He deserves to know the risks we’re taking in his home.’
‘I’m inclined to agree, but what if he refuses to let us do it?’
‘Do you think that’s likely?’
Jack shook his head. ‘No, but it’s a possibility. This château and the vineyards have been in the family for generations. He may not be willing to risk everything for two British airmen, especially when he’s so friendly with the commissaire. It’s a lot to ask.’
‘Well, we’d have to get Lev to take them somewhere else. If we weren’t staying at the château, we would still be involved in helping them. People find a way when they have no choice.’
‘Now, who’s showing their wisdom?’ Jack said, impressed.
‘It’s true though, isn’t it? Under pressure, I’ve done things I would never have imagined I could do. Imminent capture by the enemy has an incredible way of focusing the mind and making you come up with alternatives.’
They discussed it a bit more, and concluded they would tell Luc that evening after dinner, so he could give them his blessing to shelter the airmen, or they would arrange a different safe house.
After dinner, as usual, they went out to the terrace. Lizzie joined them most evenings and drank a tipple of Armagnac, which she’d come to appreciate. She liked to gaze out over the valley and watch the sun set on the horizon, but tonight she was tense, knowing the next moments could mean everything was about to change. If Luc didn’t support their mission, they would have to figure out a place to move to where they could hide the airmen. To be effective, they needed a base they could use as a safe house.
They had planned that Jack would tell Luc, and the men stood looking over the wall, smoking. Lizzie heard their muttered exchange but couldn’t make out what they were saying.
Then Luc turned to face her and smiled. ‘It seems you two are even more resourceful than I realised.’
They didn’t say anymore. The staff were likely to arrive at any moment to clear away the dessert dishes, and they were all aware of what was at stake. The fewer people in their tightly knit circle, the safer they would all be.
As if on cue, Suzanne appeared to ask if they would like anything else, and Lizzie thanked her for the delicious apple pie. When she left, silence fell over the terrace as if they all knew this was a turning point and there was no going back.
Jack winked at Lizzie to confirm all was well. Lizzie exhaled slowly, the tension gradually leaving her body.
Luc poured them another round, and they went inside to sit at the table. He pulled out an atlas and pointed to the Pyrenees region.
‘Where do you plan to smuggle them out?’ he asked.
