“This isn’t the same as learning Kung Fu in Hong Kong, or learning several languages when young women are only supposed to learn French or Italian,” he said, leaning against his desk and crossing his arms over his chest. “This is something much more dangerous, Evelyn. I should never have put you in the position you found yourself in yesterday.”
“Nonsense!” she said impatiently. “It had to be done, didn’t it? Well, who else was there to do it? It may not have been pretty, and I’m sure a more experienced courier would have had equal success with far less dramatics, but I got the job done. You have the information Karl risked his life to get out, and I learned several valuable lessons. More than anything, I learned just what, exactly, is at stake should Hitler be allowed to continue on his present course.”
“And how do you feel about what you learned?” Bill asked, pinning her with a searching look. “How do you feel about the SS and their tactics? And the concentration camps?”
“I was rather shaken yesterday, to be honest,” she said slowly. “It was a bit of a shock to hear about life in Nazi Germany, and then to witness it myself with Herr Voss and his friend. I had a hard time sleeping last night.”
“That doesn’t surprise me in the least.”
“This morning, though, I think I gained some clarity,” she continued, raising her eyes to his. “I feel almost as if my eyes have been opened, or a curtain has been pulled back and I’ve glimpsed what lies behind it. At home, in England, we only have a tiny piece of the picture. Yesterday, I saw a much larger portion of what is really happening. It makes me realize just how dire it is that we stop Hitler before he goes any further.”
“I fear that might not happen,” Bill said slowly. “This information that Karl passed on, and that of others like him, is painting a clear picture, but it is one that’s not popular in Whitehall at the moment. There are many that dismiss it out of hand. But, at the same time, there are others who recognize the value of the information. If it does come to war, those are the people we will need.”
Evelyn looked at him quizzically. He was almost talking to himself, yet she got the distinct impression that he was fully aware of what he was saying, and to whom.
“You mean if appeasement fails, and we go to war, some will already be prepared?”
He glanced at her and went back to his chair.
“Yes. We can only hope that it will be enough. As it stands now, we’re woefully inadequate for the job ahead.” He sat back and looked at her for a long moment. “Do you know what your father does?” he asked suddenly.
Evelyn raised her eyebrows, startled. “Of course. He works in a diplomatic capacity. Now, more than ever, his particular tact is desperately needed, or so Stephen says.”
“Stephen? Oh yes. Stephen Mansbridge. I’d forgotten he’s a close family friend. He’s got quite a future ahead of him in the diplomatic service himself.” Bill crossed his legs. “He’s right about one thing: your father is invaluable at the moment. He’s keeping a very precarious balance between London and the rest of Europe. However, it’s becoming more and more difficult.”
“I gathered as much. He’s been traveling more and more frequently. I know my mother is worried.”
“Perhaps for good cause. It isn’t just Hitler and Nazi Germany, but also the Italians. The Russians are causing their fair share of problems too. We need information from everywhere, and we don’t have enough people to gather it.”
“But surely the Intelligence Service…” Evelyn’s voice trailed off at the look on his face.
“We’ve only just started to get more funding, and that was very grudgingly granted. It’s not nearly enough.”
Evelyn sucked in her breath. “That’s why Josephine is working in your network,” she said in a low voice. “You’ve been recruiting nationals.”
“Yes. We need every pair of eyes and ears that we can get. Heaven help us if Paris ever finds out.” Bill pinched the bridge of his nose. “But none of this is your concern. What is your concern is where we go from here.”
“What do you mean?”
Bill lowered his hand and his eyes met hers.
“You have a choice to make, my dear. And it’s not one that you can make lightly. In fact, I urge you to give it the greatest of thought. You see, not only have you been identified by the German SD, but you’ve also been rather closely involved with a member of French Army Intelligence. As far as both are concerned, you’re now working for MI6.”
Evelyn stared at him. “What?”
“While the story you gave Herr Voss was enough to get you out of the city and Karl back into Germany, it will not hold up long. Perhaps a day or two at most. Once it falls apart and he realizes that you are not Maggie Richardson, the only conclusion he can draw is the truth.” He raised a hand when she opened her mouth to speak. “However, we can arrange for that particular story to be air tight. It will take some doing, of course, and we’ll have to work quickly, but it can be done. If we do that, your cover will remain intact. You will continue to be Maggie Richardson on the Continent and Herr Voss will be none the wiser.”
“But, I don’t understand,” Evelyn said. “Why?”
“You said it yourself the other day at lunch. More must be done to discover what is really happening, not only in Germany but also in Italy, Russia, Poland, and even France. We need information above
