Henry lifted her chin and kissed her gently. ‘Time to go.’
The feelings she had for him, the feelings that overwhelmed her on the night of the dance, came flooding back. She closed her eyes. ‘I don’t want to go. I love you, Henry, please don’t send me away.’ Ena stepped back. She looked into his face. ‘Let me stay with you tonight.’
‘There is nothing in the world that I would love more, but--’
‘But what? Give me one good reason why two people who want to be together shouldn’t be.’
‘I can’t think of one, I can think of several, and they’re all dangerous.’ Henry held her at arm’s length. ‘Are you sure?’
‘Yes. I’ve never been more sure about anything. Can we get a room here?’
’I’m booked in for tonight. I’ll check it’s okay if you stay. If it is, I’ll go out to Horace’s driver and ask him to come back at nine in the morning. He won’t like it that you’re staying. Horace won’t either, but since I don’t work for him anymore, it will be you who will have to face his wrath the next time you see him.’ Henry kissed Ena and left.
It felt like an age until Henry returned. ‘I thought you’d run out on me,’ Ena said.
‘Never.’ Holding Ena’s hand, Henry led her out of the snug and along the corridor to a narrow staircase. ‘The servants’ stairs,’ he whispered. ‘Hope you don’t mind, but you never know who’s knocking about in the public area.’
They soon arrived at Henry’s room. He took a key from his trousers pocket and unlocked the door. Turning to Ena, he put his finger to his lips and made the quietest shhhh sound before slowly pushing open the door and disappearing inside. Ena waited on the landing until Henry emerged some minutes later and beckoned her in. Closing the door quietly, he locked it behind her.
‘Is this what it’s going to be like for you from now on, Henry? Always on your guard. Checking every room, wherever you go?’
‘Pretty much,’ he said. Taking Ena by the hand, he sat her on the bed. ‘I work for MI5,’ he said, sitting next to her. ‘I always have.’
‘I thought you worked for Commander Dalton at Bletchley Park.’
‘I did. The work they do at Bletchley Park is vital to us winning the war. I’m pleased I was able to contribute in a small way. But all the time I worked there, I answered to military intelligence. I was recruited by MI5 at university. The minute I realised Walter Voight was trying to turn me, I got in touch with them. Now, of course, Walter thinks he did turn me.’
Henry took Ena’s hands in his. ‘While I’m working undercover, on the run with Walter Voight, I will be in constant danger.’ Ena’s eyes began to smart and she bit her lip. ‘I’m not telling you this to frighten you, Ena, I’m telling you because for me to survive, I need to concentrate on the job a hundred percent. And I won’t be able to do that if I’m worrying about you. So for my sake, as well as your own, when you leave here tomorrow you must forget about me.’
Ena looked into Henry’s eyes, her own brimming with tears. ‘That’s tomorrow,’ she said, and lifted her face to his. Henry kissed her tenderly on the lips. Ena responded by kissing him back, hungrily. ‘I’m chilled to the bone,’ she whispered. ‘Take me to bed, Henry, and make love to me.’
Henry held Ena away from him, his handsome face full of concern. ‘Are you sure?’
‘Yes. It’s what I’ve wanted since the first time I saw you at Bletchley, the day my work was stolen. I didn’t know it then – my head was full of drugs. But when I was leaving and you called my name I felt something stir inside me that I have never felt before. At the time I confused it with the crush I had on you when I was a child. But I knew after the dance that what I felt for you was love. I feel it now. I’m in love with you, Henry.’
‘But I can’t be with you, Ena. Not tomorrow, or the next day, not even next year--’
‘I know. I accept that. So why do you want to deny me your love tonight?’
‘I don’t,’ he said, and without taking his eyes off her, Henry took off his clothes. Then he pulled her to her feet and undressed her. Together they threw back the bedclothes and climbed into the bed. Shivering – not from the cold, but from the excitement of being made love to for the first time – Ena snuggled up to Henry. He pulled the blankets up around her shoulders and held her until she relaxed. Then he made love to her slowly and gently, guiding her, and helping her to enjoy him as much as he was enjoying her.
Afterwards, glowing from their lovemaking, safe in Henry’s arms, Ena said, ‘I shall wait for you, Henry. The war can’t go on forever. One day it will end and--’
‘I don’t want you to wait for me, Ena.’ Henry eased himself up until he was half sitting and lent on his elbow. Looking into her face, he said, ‘I want you to forget about me.’
‘How can I forget about you? I love you, Henry. What am I supposed to do, forget tonight ever happened?’
‘Yes. Because to survive the next however many years, I must forget about tonight. Damn it, Ena, if Walter Voight finds out I work for MI5, he’ll go after anyone connected to me.
