by Dick Hardman
“I don’t believe it! That just cannot be right.” Peter had spotted Anna Gohl’s name on the wedding invitation.
“Come, come Peter, you know how things work, we have commitments and obligations that the ordinary man doesn’t. We just couldn’t function if we needed coupons and the like.”
“What! No, of course mother, how silly of me. Please forgive my outburst. Things are different in Europe where I have been working.”
She gave a satisfied smile at his apology.
What the hell was Anna playing at? She must have known she would be exposed by this utter madness. To top it all, she had chosen the very man who had frustrated other German agents’ attempts to sabotage the aircraft factory. She must know this would get back to Germany and they would be forced to kill her. Damn it, they might order him or one of Sundown’s people to end her life.
Peter had a soft spot for the girl, one of his team after all. She must have been forced into the situation or had seen an advantage for Germany. He would get her version of events before allowing any harm to come to her. Though, if she had defected she could expect no mercy from him. It was just as well that Andrzej had cleared the beacons from her lockup.
***
The shopping trip to Harrods was another thrilling outing for Cathy, they went by taxi this time as parking was always a nightmare there. The presents were bulky, large gift wrapped boxes for effect, but no real weight. Harrods would have delivered of course, but Cathy felt the need to have them with her. As she saw it, why bother with presents if you were just giving them away. Like this, she could savour the pleasure of having contact with them.
The wedding. 3rd January 1944
The pale wintery beams of sun shone through the gently swaying branches of the churchyard trees, as the Stone family crunched their way along the gravel path leading to the small country church. It was 10.00 o’clock, the ceremony would start very soon and they joined the last few guests to be seated.
Peter chose to sit on the aisle end of the pew so that Anna would see him and have time to compose herself, before he eventually approached to speak with her. He reasoned, if she were startled she might exclaim in German, or run, or some other giveaway affecting her as well as Peter. Of course it could also give her the opportunity to come up with a lie, but he was certain he would see through that.
The groom and best man were in place at the altar. Anna promptly walked down the aisle escorted by a family friend of Sir Matthew, to give her away.
As she passed, Peter looked up giving a friendly smile. She faltered momentarily, as she went rigid with surprise and fear. What was he doing here? This ordinary man of the shadows was dressed like a toff at her wedding. She had not associated his name on the wedding list with the Peter she knew. She always thought of him as Pieter Klein, the name he used on Alderney, otherwise he was just ‘Peter’ the spy.
Perhaps he had been sent to murder her. He made it plain enough that if he could not get a member of the team back safely, they could not be allowed to talk to the enemy. He would not kill her here, and risk capture, it would be when she was alone. Fortunately she would not be alone at her own wedding.
It was strange though, the man was super smart and yet he had chosen to sit where she would see him as she entered. He even smiled, not the sort of ‘got you’ smile from an assassin. He wanted to talk and he wanted her to see him, so she would not give either of them away.
“Oh thank god!” she murmured.
“I beg your pardon Anna! I thought that was my line,” joked Sir Matthew. “The risk for the groom is that the bride might not turn up.”
She realised she had walked halfway through the church thinking about Peter, and was standing right next to her future husband when she spoke.
“I am just so happy to be your wife Sir Matthew that is all. Please forgive me.” He laughed lightly and put it down to her nervousness. Anna’s elocution lessons were taking effect. She had put every effort into learning and he was abundantly proud of her.
***
The reception was held at Sir Matthews’s house and each guest was formally presented to their hosts. Their presents were brought in and placed on view, by the staff hired for the occasion.
The large dining hall was packed with people circulating and chatting, while sipping Champagne. There were other dining tables in adjacent rooms for guests lower down the pecking order, and they would sit there when the formal luncheon was served. The Stone family would be seated at the head table.
A man in his late 30s was looking at Peter and Cathy. Peter remembered him being announced as Mr Stanley Carter, when he arrived. As he had been noticed, the man drifted past other guests briefly swapping pleasantries, on his way to speak with Peter.
“What a simply fabulous day for Sir Matthew and Lady Anna. Don’t they make a simply delightful couple?
“Please allow me to introduce myself, Stan Carter at your service. In my small way, I hope I provide the country with endless hours of entertainment to ease the agony of this war.”
“We are delighted to make your acquaintance sir. Allow me to present my sister Lady Catherine Stone, and my humble self, Peter Stone.
“Are you an entertainer Stan, a singer or a musician perhaps?”
“Nothing as worthwhile as that. I only sing in my bath and couldn’t hold a note in a bucket. I can play a comb and tissue paper though.”
Cathy giggled, as she imagined large black, musical notes floating through the air and Stan chasing them with a large bucket. Everything in her world was so literal, which is why so little human activity made any sense to her.
“You laugh my Lady, but you have not heard my singing.” The man was obviously full of himself, and Champagne, and was trying to impress Cathy. An inexplicable and absurd thought crossed Peter’s mind, The Scarlet Pimpernel. Although Stan wore cologne, there was still the odd undertone of camphor and lavender. The voice rang a bell in Peter’s head, but in this context, he just couldn’t place it. Carter was just a typical wealthy member of high society.
“Is there a Mrs Carter with you?” Peter wondered how he had been invited on his own. Carter hadn’t introduced a lady companion.
“I am pleased to say that I am presently unencumbered. I take a keen interest in business and I have to say it makes me like Jack, a very dull boy.”
Peter decided he was uneasy with the man. The last thing he needed was to have him sniffing around Cathy. He could quite easily understand any man wanting to be in her company. She was so stunningly beautiful, they would put up with her odd behaviour. However, it would not be what she wanted and she would always get hurt.
Peter had wondered if she was capable of love and sexual desire. Would it change her if she found someone who sparked those emotions in her?
Now he had discovered love with Helga, after all the other women in his life, perhaps it was also a possibility for Cathy. How would he handle that? Would he be able to help her maintain a relationship, or would he be jealous and try to quash it? He concluded that he would be jealous and would hate to receive less than her full devotion.
“Please forgive me Mr Carter, but we see someone that wants to speak to us rather urgently. Perhaps we will meet again.”
“It is possible sir, quite possible. Please excuse me Lady Catherine, you are quite enchanting.”
They all moved on to talk with other guests.
Peter was making light conversation with some guests, Cathy clutching his arm and watching him intently, when suddenly she stiffened and started trembling. Sir Philip Stern and his wife had just been announced. Presumably he had been detained at work during the marriage ceremony, but was not too busy to pass up a fabulous lunch.
“What is the matter Cathy?” but Peter knew at once this was the man who had raped her.
“Please excuse me, Cathy has spilt Champagne on her dress and is quite upset. I need to deal with it.” The guests knew she was very odd, probably a bit simple, they thought. Frightful shame, she is such a beau
tiful girl.
Peter grabbed Cathy’s wrists to stop her rubbing her private place and chanting ‘Dirty! Dirty!’ He pulled her to face him, so she could not see Sir Philip.
“Calm down Cathy. In a few days, you will never ever see him again. That is a solemn promise and you know I always keep my promises to you, don’t you.”
She did not reply, but she was stable again now.
Peter felt a tap on his shoulder. He knew from the exquisite fragrance as she passed his pew, it was Anna. He turned to face her.
“Congratulations Lady Barker on your marriage it is an honour to meet you. Please may I introduce you to my sister, Lady Catherine Stone?”
Peter sensed a look of relief, and the tinge of jealousy vanished from her radiant face, as Anna realised she was under no threat from him or the stunning girl with him. Her memory of the passionate moment on the cliff in Alderney was still a good one. Although the love making was not as great or protracted as with Andrzej, it was the first in a long time and all the better for that.
“We need to talk Lady Barker, my sister will not give us away. Lady Catherine can keep a secret like the dead. What happened to you, you broke contact?”
“I was arrested by police and questioned by MI5. They were about to take me to the hangman when Matthew turned up. He told me some lie about staying under his protection. He then claimed he loved me and offered to marry me. I realised I can do more for our cause now than before.”
“Why couldn’t you let me know?”
“I was in his company night and day, he forbade me to use the telephone, I had no choice.”
“What do I tell our employer, you are marked as dead or a traitor, which amounts to the same thing?”
“I hear all kinds of high level conversations, I have eavesdropped on the telephone when he has been speaking from here.”
Peter sensed a lie. She would not risk the click on the line from an internal phone, when a security expert was talking secrets. Nonetheless, he had no wish to harm her, he was confident she would be useful soon enough.
“I will report the situation as it is and confirm you are still active for us. I am sure that will be acceptable, so don’t spoil your day with worries.”
“Thank you Peter, it has been reassuring speaking to you. Thank you too Lady Catherine, it has been a great pleasure meeting you.”
Anna glided gracefully away to acquaint herself with her next guest.
“How do you know this lady, Peter? She is a spy, isn’t she?”
“I happened to meet her while I was working abroad. She is Swiss and her husband died. It looks like things are going well for her at last.
“I also think she has been learning the correct behaviour in select society and has taken elocution lessons. She can speak with more flow now.”
“There are things you are not telling me Peter. Why is that?”
“The less you know, the less you need to keep secret. You must never say someone is a spy unless you have proof.”
“I do have proof.”
“What do you mean, you have proof?”
“You were surprised when you saw her name on the wedding invitation. You deliberately sat at the end of the church pew so she would see you. You smiled at her, though you appeared not to know her. She looked frightened under her veil when she saw you. She said ‘Oh thank god!’ after she thought about the situation, and then looked relieved. You still pretended you did not know her, but your conversation just now did not support that. You said I can keep secrets, and I can, so there was a secret to keep, about…”
“Stop! Stop! Cathy. Please, I beg of you, don’t say any more about it, you will get us all killed.”
“I won’t mention it to anyone. But Mr Carter is a spy, isn’t he?”
“What on earth makes you think that?”
“You are a spy. You are suspicious of him. You think you have met him before, I could see it in your manner. Lady Anna is a spy, you mix with spies and you believe you have mixed with him in that context. He is a spy, I know it.
“I won’t tell anyone. I miss working for MI5, they gave me lots of puzzles like that to solve. I could see the people as they were being interviewed, and I saw the lies and truth on their faces and in things they said. Now I am better, can I go back and work there again?”
Peter’s brain was reeling. This was the first insight he’d ever had of how her mind worked in the context of her time with MI5. She had never spoken of it with anyone, not even him. Perhaps she felt she could share her secrets with him, now he had opened up this Pandora’s Box of secrets.
“I think the war will be over very soon, they will have no need for your special skills. Can we change the subject and never speak of anything like this again?”
“Of course Peter, I would only tell you, no one else will ever know. I know what happens to such people, I am not stupid.”
Peter gave her a relieved smile.
Henryk calls. 5th January 1944
“Good morning Henryk, did you sleep well?” Alice had just brought him a fried breakfast to eat in bed.
“Yes thank you Alice. Getting your garden and house in order has taken all my energy. I wish I could do more to repay you for your kindness.”
“You know we have enjoyed your company, but you will have to leave soon, or people will start asking questions. I told the postman you were a relative who could spare a few days to help us sort out the house. As long as you vanish and don’t bring your troubles here, no one will ever know. I am sure your parents would do the same in similar circumstances. If our child had lived, perhaps someone would have taken him in.”
“He died of whooping cough didn’t he?”
“Yes, he was only five. So many years ago, but it feels like yesterday.” Alice’s mood had saddened and she absentmindedly offered him the newspaper. Then she shuffled away.
He ate the food and flicked through the paper while drinking the tea. The write-up in the social column caught his eye. That could have been him and Jane he thought, and enviously he read the column.
He choked when he saw the name, Anna Gohl. No, it was not possible, but what were the chances of someone with the same name marrying their boss, Sir Matthew Barker.
An idea formed in his mind, he had to see her and find out if she was in contact with Peter. He had ruled out going back to London and placing an advert in the newsagent’s shop, their emergency contact point, because his face would be uppermost in every policeman’s mind. He had been routinely photographed and fingerprinted at Camp 020, when they caught him.
Alice had cleaned up the smart clothes he wore when he met Jane at her flat. She had also acquired work clothes for him from someone in the village, so he was fitted out better than he had ever been. If David or Alice would shave his head, it would change his appearance substantially. Perhaps a spare pair of David’s horn rimmed spectacles would fit him. The old man had a broad face, so it was possible.
He quickly dressed and went down to speak with them in the kitchen. Alice was mixing the few meagre ingredients she could get hold of, for another cake. He would miss them as much as they would miss him, and it saddened him. Only his late parents had shown so much affection.
“David, Alice, I have just read something in the newspaper that forces me to go into London. Could one of you shave my head, and do you have a spare pair of spectacles David?
“A cunning disguise I suppose,” David responded, concern showing in his voice.
“Yes it is actually. If you could run me into the City, I could then make my way to the address I need to visit. That will be the last you will see of me and your lives can return to normal.”
Alice turned away and sobbed into her apron, and David pulled her close to comfort her.
Henryk was quite shocked! He thought they would be relieved and glad to see him move on.
“Will your visit take long?” asked David.
“An hour or so, if I don’t encounter any trouble. Why do you ask?”
; “I would rather wait, and then bring you home. Sorry, I mean bring you back here.”
“Oh! Please let him wait for you, the cake will be ready for tea tonight,” Alice begged, as though the cake would be enough to change the course of the war.
“I would like that, being brought back, and your wonderful cake, of course.” Henryk gave her an appreciative hug.
“Can we go today so we get there at 2.00 pm, David?”
“Of course, and I will sort out your shave. There is an old pair of specs up in the loft, so if you can find them, you can have them.”
***
To avoid a wasted journey, Henryk found the phone number and address of Sir Matthew Barker, and made the call from the village. The butler answered. “Good morning, I was hoping to make an appointment for one of our reporters to interview Lady Barker. May I speak with her?”
“I will ask her ladyship, please hold the line.”
A moment later, he heard a familiar voice.
“Hello, Lady Barker here, who are you?”
It was Anna, her voice had become more cultured, but the clipped sentences were still obvious.
“Good day my lady, my name is Henryk Robak. I would like to write an article about you, if you could grant me an interview.”
Anna was dumfounded, she had not given a thought about Henryk since the last time they saw each other at Gant’s Hill, at the pub. Henryk was not her favourite person, but perhaps sex does help form bonds. She had only sexually used the boy Andrzej in Alderney, to get at him. Still, this was fortuitous, she had her own plans and he could be the perfect answer.
“Mr Henry Roberts you say? I would be delighted to meet you and discuss the content of the interview. Unfortunately Sir Matthew will not be here this afternoon, but I am free. What time have you in mind?”
“Would 2 o’clock suit your ladyship?”
“That will be splendid; I will inform the butler to expect you. Good day.”