by Kate Breslin
You can do this, Mabry. Frowning in concentration, he bent forward and laid one end of the strap against the back of his collar, then used his stump to hold it in place. Looping around the other end of the tie with his good hand, he fastened the two ends.
Colin went to the mirror to check his handiwork. “Not too badly done, Lieutenant.” He grinned as he inspected the fit. A little loose, but it would certainly work.
Once he fitted the harness and his prosthetic back in place, sweat beaded along his brow. Next he braced himself for the shoes, but he laughed in relief to see they were slip-on ankle boots. Colin didn’t even care if the elastic-sided boots fit perfectly, so long as he could avoid tying shoelaces.
Seated on the bed, he stared at his shod feet and admitted a grudging gratitude toward Petit. Colin hadn’t forgiven the American for the stunt he’d pulled the first night, but at least the man had made a concession with the clothes.
Colin was reaching for the white staff coat when the telephone rang.
All earlier exhaustion fled, and his heart raced as he waited. Silence followed, and he knew it was Petit’s signal.
Colin checked his watch. Madame Outis must have decided to order her lunch earlier than usual.
He was waiting by the elevator when Petit arrived with the cart.
“Take this up to room 403. And don’t waste time. Monsieur Outis has the connecting room, and there is no guarantee how long he’ll be away. I’ll wait for you downstairs in the lobby.”
Colin nodded, relieved to learn Kepler had separate quarters, especially if Jewel was the woman with him. His adrenaline surged as he exchanged places with Petit. In a matter of minutes, he would see her. . . .
“Good luck, partner.”
The elevator boy closed the doors, and the birdcage began ascending to the next floor. Once Colin exited, he pushed the cart along the hall and paused at the appointed door.
Staring at the brass-plated numbers, he wondered what he would say to her. Would Jewel even recognize him? Colin had been much thinner when they first met, but working his uncle’s farm had replenished the weight he’d lost during active duty at the front.
He glanced at his prosthetic. There was that alteration as well.
He rapped on the door before he could change his mind. “Service d’étage.”
The moments seemed to drag before the door opened to reveal a slender woman dressed in mourning. Colin judged her to be a few inches taller than Johanna—the right height for Jewel, if his memory was correct.
She also wore the black veil and hat Petit had mentioned.
“Your lunch, madame.”
He heard a soft gasp behind the veil as her gloved hand reached for the edge of the door. A moment passed before she stepped back to allow him entrance, waving him toward a dark wood table near the window.
Colin rolled the cart to where she’d indicated, and with a quick movement, he used his left arm to support the tray as he slid the covered dish onto the table.
When he turned, he found her standing beside the closed door. Her gloved hand clutched the doorknob as she watched him, her chest rising and falling rapidly. “Colin?”
Her whispered recognition filled him with relief and a measure of triumph. She did remember him. “Yes, Jewel, it’s me.”
His heart thumped loudly as he took a step toward her, straining to see her face behind the heavy black gauze. His attention dropped to the silver ring hanging from a chain around her neck. It was the same one he’d seen on her finger a year ago—the dove ring similar to Johanna’s. He looked up at her. “I came back.”
“You kept your promise.” Emotion thickened her voice, and the veil moved with the shake of her head. “I still cannot believe you are here. How . . . how did you find me?”
He smiled. “It’s quite a story.” Taking another step in her direction, he saw her stiffen. Colin paused, heat flooding his face as he glanced at his prosthetic. He had changed much from the man she once knew. Perhaps too much.
He held his place, ignoring his wounded pride. “Jewel . . . my dear . . . I must tell you how happy and relieved I am to see you. After the battle at Cambrai, I thought you had died, along with most of your village.”
“Death might have been better.”
He heard her sad whisper, and seeing her slender frame draped in mourning filled him with fresh regret. Despite his own fond memories of their time together, Jewel had been forced to survive alone for months in occupied France. No doubt she had changed as well.
He cleared his throat. “I sorely regret . . . not taking you with me when I had the opportunity, but there was so much danger—”
“The danger was everywhere, Colin.”
Of course. He hesitated, then added, “I’m very sorry about your aunt’s death.”
“I still grieve for her, as you can see.” Jewel’s agonized whisper floated to him. “She was my only family there, and it was so difficult after she was gone.”
“It pains me to know how you must have suffered.” Remorse edged his voice. “But, Jewel, you still have family.” His heart sped. “You asked me how I found you. It was through your sister, Johanna. She told me you were alive and needed my help.”
“Sister . . . ?” Jewel’s slender frame teetered near the door, looking ready to topple over.
Colin rushed to take her hand and steady her. “I know it is a shock.”
“How can that be?” She turned to him, her voice a hoarse whisper. “I have no sister!”
He led her over to sit on the bed. “After your mother died, your father . . . had another daughter.”
“My father . . . did he know about her?” Her voice was faint as she raised her head to him.
“Yes, I understand he went to visit her once, when she was very small.”
“He saw her?” Jewel gripped the bedpost and rose to her feet. “He knew I had a sister, yet he never told me?” The fury in her voice startled him. “He left me to go and fight, knowing he might never come back. And still he kept her from me!”
“I’m sorry.” Colin ached for her but didn’t know what else to say.
Then, as if the anger had drained her, she suddenly collapsed back onto the bed. “He never even said her name. Nor did my aunt, if she knew.” She began to cry softly. “All that t-time I was alone. . . .”
Her shoulders shook as she leaned against the bedpost. Colin knelt down beside her and again tried to offer comfort. “I cannot imagine how difficult this must be for you, my dear. Johanna didn’t know about you either until recently.”
“Johanna.” Jewel sniffled and retrieved a black lace handkerchief from inside her cuff, dabbing it beneath the veil. “Tell me about her. How old is she? How d-do you know her?”
“Your sister is two years younger, and I met her when she wrote to me, asking that I come to Paris and begin searching for you. She knew you needed help.”
“How did she find out about me?”
He smiled. “She discovered your diary in the remains of the cellar where you once hid me. We both came here to find you.”
“My diary.” Her voice held wonder. Abruptly she turned to him. “Both of you? She is here, too?”
He nodded. “In this very hotel.”
“Where?” Her breath hitched behind the veil. “I want to meet her!”
Jewel started to rise from the bed before her attention turned toward the connecting door to her room. “Non, I . . . I must wait.”
Colin’s gaze narrowed. “Why?”
“Monsieur Outis will return soon. I should be here.”
Colin rose to stand over her. “Why are you still with Monsieur . . . with Kepler?”
Her head jerked up at the question, and she was still for a moment. “He . . . he brought me safely out of Havrincourt, before the battle. He saved my life.”
Her words triggered in Colin another stab of guilt. It should have been him. “But why do you remain in his company? The man is an enemy of France.”
Her gloved hands kno
tted together in her lap. “He promised to take me to my father—”
“When, Jewel?” Colin cut her off. “When will he keep his promise? You left Havrincourt months ago. How do you know the man is even telling the truth?”
More tears rose in her voice as she turned from him. “Colin, please don’t say that.”
“My dear, I do not mean to upset you.” He touched her lightly on the shoulder, and she flinched. Withdrawing his hand, he fought back the hurt. “Jewel, come with me now. Let us take you to Paris.”
She said nothing, her body hunched over as though defeated.
“I made you a promise, and I intend to keep it.” Again he crouched beside her and put his hand over hers. He was glad she didn’t pull away. “I feel like I failed you before, but I’m here now. I want to take care of you, Jewel.”
She straightened to face him. “It is enough that you have come for me, mon noble chevalier.”
My noble knight. Wistfulness filled him, recalling the name she’d bestowed on him while tending his wounds at Havrincourt.
“But now, Colin, I release you from your promise. You must forget about me.”
Her words rocked him back on his heels. “Forget?” He stared at her. Could she so easily dismiss the love and grief she’d written about in her diary? Her kiss . . .
Again he caught her eyeing the connecting door. An ugly suspicion lurking in the back of his mind rushed forward. “Are you and Kepler . . . a couple?”
Her attention swung back to him. “Yes! Yes, we are in love. Colin, I’m sorry. Now you must go, before he finds you here.”
“I don’t believe you. You seem frightened of him.” His voice gentled as he reached for her veil. “Show me your face, Jewel. I want to see the truth of your feelings.”
She drew back from him. “Non, please!”
“Why are you hiding from me?” Humiliation finally bullied its way forward, slashing at his tattered confidence as he knelt before her. Was he a wretch, then, that she wanted him completely gone from her life? Another thought struck, and his muscles tensed. “Has he hurt you?”
“Of course not!” Her voice sounded agitated. “You do not understand, Colin, I am trying to save you. Monsieur Outis . . . Kepler . . . he could return at any moment!”
“I’m not afraid of him.” Determined, Colin reached for the veil once more. He heard her shivering breath as he inched up the black gauze covering her face. His first glimpse was of the smooth olive skin at her throat, then the soft wisps of golden hair he remembered so well. Her delicately rounded jaw came into view next, and he was about to unveil the edge of her mouth when a soft clicking noise sounded behind him. A lock turning . . .
“Non!” Jewel thrust his hand away, breaking the chain from around her neck.
“What is going on here?”
Colin turned to face the harsh male voice behind him. Werner Kepler stood on the threshold of the connecting room, arms crossed and feet spread apart. He glared between them. “Why is he on the floor?”
Colin quickly rose to his feet, mind racing. “I brought madame her meal and . . .”
“And he helped me to find this.”
Jewel rose too, holding up the silver ring with the chain. “It broke, and I thought I had lost it. You know how important the ring is to me.”
Colin ducked his head and returned to the table, laying out the linen napkin and the silver. He removed the dish cover and set it aside before pushing the cart toward the door.
“What else was he doing?”
Kepler glared at Jewel.
“Please do not be angry, mon coeur. I was hungry and ordered lunch and this . . . this waiter helped me to find my ring.”
Kepler ignored her as he turned his full attention on Colin. Relaxing his arms, he approached, and Colin kept his head lowered, fearing the man would recognize him from Le Bibent.
“I have not seen you at this hotel before. When did you hire on? And why do they employ someone with that kind of injury?”
Colin was mere inches from him. He glanced up to see the man staring at his prosthetic. “Many wounded have returned from the war, monsieur. We must all work to feed ourselves. And I still have the use of this.”
He held up his good hand for Kepler to see—so close in fact, Colin was tempted to lunge for the man’s throat.
Petit’s warning came back in a rush, and he lowered his hand to the cart. “Now, if there will be nothing else, I will go. Enjoy the rest of your day, madame and monsieur, and thank you for staying with us at Hôtel Blanc.”
Colin didn’t dare look at Jewel again as he left the room. His pulse was still racing as he reached the elevator, anger and shame thrashing at what remained of his dignity.
How could he go up against the likes of Kepler? He glared at his offending appendage. At least his wooden hand might have thrown a good first punch and given the man another scar to damage his looks.
Mon coeur. My heart. Jewel had spoken those words to Kepler. Was it of her own free will . . . or did the Boche spy demand such endearments? She had said she loved the man, but Colin sensed she was lying. He’d heard her fear; for the most part, he imagined Kepler was its source.
But what if Jewel feared him? Colin remembered the way she had stiffened when he started to approach her, and then when he touched her shoulder.
Perhaps she just got a good look at you, Mabry, and chose the easiest way out.
Arriving on the ground floor, he tried to shake off the thought as he exited the elevator. Petit was waiting for him in the lobby and nodded to indicate a service door several feet beyond the restaurant entrance. Colin took the lead in pushing the cart, and while the American held the door, both men entered the sizable kitchen.
“In here.” Petit opened a second door, a pantry with shelves stacked full of root vegetables and dry grains. He turned on the overhead light and shut the door.
Colin’s chest tightened in the small space, and he gripped the cart.
“What happened upstairs?”
“Kepler walked in on us—what do you think? Why weren’t you watching him?”
Petit frowned. “Monsieur Outis gave our man the slip. He must have suspected something, because he hightailed it right back here. Are you all right? Did he recognize you?”
“I’m fine and no, I don’t think he suspects me from the restaurant. If Kepler had doubts, Jewel took care to alleviate them.” Colin’s jaw clenched, thinking of the broken necklace. She saved you in there, Mabry.
“Jewel?” Petit’s gaze narrowed. “So you saw her? You were able to identify her?”
Colin began to nod, then hesitated. “I’m certain it must be her.”
Petit’s mouth flattened. “Exactly what does that mean, Lieutenant?”
He shifted. “Well, I didn’t actually see her. Jewel’s face, I mean. I was about to lift the veil when Kepler barged in.”
Petit sighed. “So you can’t be sure.”
“It was her, I tell you! She knew me, and we spoke about things in the past, things only Jewel would know. Then she told me to leave before Kepler returned, but of course it was too late for that. She won’t admit it, but I think she’s afraid of him.” Or of me. The knot of failure tightened his insides.
“Did she mention any injuries?”
Colin shook his head. “I asked if she was hurt, and she said no.” Still, Petit’s question gave him pause. Was that the reason she’d been so reluctant to let him see her? Had she lied to him, thinking to save him from Kepler with the broken chain?
He thought of his fist, so close to Kepler’s face. His chance to prove to Jewel he could defend her. And instead you backed down, Lieutenant.
Petit blew out a breath. “So, it sounds like we’re back to square one. Anything else you can tell me?”
Only that Kepler saved her before I did, and she says she loves him. Colin scowled. He wasn’t about to share that information with Petit. Aside from incurring more damage to his pride, he didn’t want the American condemning Jewel as K
epler’s accomplice. “No, nothing else.”
Petit seemed to appraise him. “Too bad you didn’t get a look at her face. A positive identification would have been invaluable.”
“Give me more time with her.” Colin’s demand sounded more like a plea, but he didn’t care. His honor was at stake. He had to know without a doubt that Jewel was being truthful about her relationship with Kepler and not speaking out of fear. Otherwise, he was leaving her in as much danger this time as in Havrincourt. Perhaps more, when he considered the Boche spy’s stalling over taking her to see her father.
Colin didn’t want to consider the fact Jewel simply didn’t want him.
“I don’t know, Lieutenant.” Petit shook his head. “I went out on a limb for you today. Maybe it’s best we end this now.”
Colin gazed at him, incredulous. “Are you suggesting I walk away and leave her here?”
“I told you before—there’s much at stake you know nothing about. Your taking chances like you did today only jeopardizes things for the rest of us.”
A sinking feeling settled over him, and he knew Petit was right. Yet every instinct in Colin rebelled at the idea of abandoning Jewel. True, he hadn’t seen her face, but he’d sensed her fear and her hopelessness. She was being made a pawn in a game where Kepler and Petit were the players.
He couldn’t walk away. Even if Jewel had rejected him for his appearance, Johanna was counting on him. “I’m staying. Get me another chance to see Jewel.”
The American eyed him with a pensive look for a few moments. “I’ll need to check with my superiors,” he said at last. “Meanwhile, you keep a low profile. Monsieur Outis has seen you now, so you must continue to pose as part of the restaurant staff. Keep the cart with you, and if you’re seen coming or going, anyone will think you’re delivering room service. Oh, and inform Mrs. Mabry, so she knows what’s going on.”
Colin nodded. “When will you let me know something?”
“By morning.”
As Petit left, Colin decided to go and brief Johanna on his meeting with Jewel. Grabbing an empty tray and cover from the kitchen, he loaded the cart and took the elevator upstairs.