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Diedre took a deep breath, shook her head. ‘Sorry, Tony. I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to snap. To continue, I’m afraid we have another problem.’
‘What is it?’ He looked at her swiftly, his light grey eyes suddenly turning anxious.
‘Their passports have “J” for Jew stamped on them,’ Diedre said.
‘Oh God, no! I can’t get new passports. Not any more.’ Tony slumped back against the garden seat, looking and feeling defeated.
Diedre took another deep breath and said, ‘What’s the worst scenario? Obviously not getting any exit visas. Could you get one?’
‘Probably, if my new contact works out, and helps me.’
‘Professor Steinbrenner has two children. I’m certain he will want to get one of them out first.’
Tony closed his eyes, and let out a deep sigh. Then he sat up and said, ‘A child. How are we going to handle that, Diedre? A child couldn’t travel alone. It’s too dangerous for one thing. A child is too obvious a target in more ways than one. If you get my drift.’
‘I do. A target for everyone. But when I say child, I don’t mean a young child. From what Cecily told me, I believe Elise, the professor’s younger daughter, is about sixteen or seventeen.’
‘That’s better, easier, but it’s still a tough one. A young woman travelling alone on a train. They’re full of troops today, Diedre. Troops going on leave, going to other postings. A woman of any age is a bit vulnerable, actually.’
‘You’re right, of course. Look, I did some hard thinking in Zurich, and I came up with a plan, working on the assumption you could only get one exit visa, if that. And—’
‘I should never underestimate you, should I, Daffy Dilly?’
‘No, you shouldn’t, Toby Jung,’ she shot back through her laughter. ‘This is what I thought might work. I have a friend in American Intelligence. His old college roommate is an impresario. He’s often in Berlin, visiting the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. He’ll do favours for his best buddy. I’d put him on the train out of Berlin. With the girl. To protect her.’
‘That’s the border town before the crossing into Belgium and then France, and what if something goes wrong?’ Tony asked. ‘A civilian wouldn’t know what to do.’
‘I’ve made that trip, and I realize there are very tough guards at the border. Passengers have to get off the train, show their passports, exit visas, whatever travel documents they have, and the guards do open suitcases. But things don’t often go wrong. You’ll have to brief this man, the escort – and if he sees something odd, or feels there are suspicions about them, he’ll simply get off the train with the girl, and go into the town of Aachen. From there he’ll contact you.’
‘Understood, and I’ll have to take it from there …’ He let his sentence trail off. They didn’t have a safe house in Aachen now.
‘It won’t go wrong,’ Diedre assured him.
‘What about the passport the girl has? With “J” stamped on it?’ Tony suddenly asked.
‘If the girl has a return ticket to Berlin, she won’t come under any suspicion. She’s going on holiday to Paris, returning home to Berlin in two weeks.’
‘And she’s going with a man, is she?’ Tony shook his head. ‘That might look strange to some people, especially if he’s older.’
‘I agree. The alternative is to put the man on the train alone in the same carriage. The girl will be told he’s there to watch over her, and therefore he’s not a threat. But they’ll behave as if they don’t know each other, look like total strangers.’
Tony nodded his head vehemently. ‘That’s much better. I think that will work. How do you know this fellow will do it?’
‘I don’t. But it is a workable plan, a good one,’ Diedre asserted.
‘What happens when the girl gets to Paris?’
‘He’ll take her to the British Embassy, where she’ll get an entry visa for Britain. It will be waiting for her. And then they’ll take the train to London together, and I’ll pick it up from there.’
‘Do you think Germans who are Jewish and have a “J” stamped on their passports are likely to travel, to go on a break?’ Tony pursed his lips. ‘I can’t help wondering if the guards might not think it odd. And there are often Gestapo on the trains.’
‘I understand what you’re saying, but the “J” is to proclaim they’re Jewish. It’s not to stop them going anywhere. The passport is valid. Look, they have a passport, nobody’s taken it away from them.’
‘Right. I get your point. So the stamped passport should not really be a stumbling block. However, I’ll see if I can get a new one. But it won’t be easy, and it’ll be costly.’
‘Thank you. And money is no object, Tony. Whatever is needed.’
‘What happens if I manage to obtain two exit visas? Does that mean Mrs Steinbrenner will be going, which would make everything easier, don’t you think?’ Tony cocked his head on one side, eyeing his boss curiously.
‘I do indeed, but I believe the professor will want his son to get out. At least that’s what Cecily has said to me. That will have to be last-minute planning.’
Tony nodded, and then said carefully, ‘Going back to problems. Let’s say the American gent and the girl jump ship in Aachen. Where will they go? They’ll be adrift. We don’t have a safe house there any more.’
‘We do, actually,’ Diedre told him. ‘I had confirmation on Monday of this week that it’s ours now. I’ll give you the details later. Now, what is the name of the person I’m going to meet tomorrow, the one who might help with a suitcase?’
‘I’ll tell you over lunch,’ he said.
The restaurant was in a narrow alley in the middle of a tangled web of back streets in an unfashionable part of Berlin. But they served the best homemade Bavarian food and it had been Tony’s favourite for several years. He was a regular, and because of his inherent charm, good manners and generous tips, he was treated royally by Frau Weber, the proprietor, and the waiters.
He always had the same table in a corner near the front door with his back to the wall. He could easily see everyone who entered and left, and, if necessary, he could be out of there in a flash.
Diedre loved the little restaurant as well, and whenever she was in Berlin, Tony took her there. And that was where they were headed when they left the Tiergarten and hailed a taxi on Tiergartenstrasse.
After receiving a warm welcome from Frau Weber, they were shown to Tony’s usual table, and within minutes tall glasses of lemonade appeared along with the menus. Neither of them drank alcohol when they were working. After a few sips of the lemonade, Tony leaned closer to Diedre, and said, ‘I’d like to tell you about my new contact before we order.’
‘Yes, yes, do,’ Diedre said, ‘I want to know all about her.’
‘I don’t know too much, but certainly enough for you to understand where she’s coming from, the background of her rather turbulent life.’
‘Turbulent?’ Diedre raised a brow questioningly, frowning. Turbulent backgrounds alarmed her.
‘Yes, I’m afraid so, although she seems intact on the surface: controlled, calm. Anyway, here goes. Her name is Princess Irina Troubetzkoy. Her father, Prince Igor Troubetzkoy, was murdered in 1917, when Irina was about six and her mother, Princess Natalie, in her early twenties. Because of his death and the fall of the Romanov autocracy, they fled Russia. It is my understanding that her mother is a cousin of the late Tsar, by the way.’ Tony paused, took a swallow of lemonade.
Diedre said, ‘And so they came to Berlin?’
‘No, they didn’t, at least not at first. They were in various countries, and spent quite some time in Poland, where they had close friends in the Polish aristocracy. Ten years ago they came to Berlin and stayed, tired of being refugees apparently and wandering from country to country.’
‘Did her mother work? Or Irina when she was older? How did they manage to live, do you know?’
Tony shook his head. ‘I’m not sure. But I don’t think Princess Natalie worked, or Irina when she grew up. The person who introduced me to Irina just recently implied that they had managed to escape with a lot of jewellery and some money, and certain Romanov relatives who had also escaped helped them financially.’
‘It’s the same story about many White Russians who fled the revolution. But I will say this, those I’ve met proved to be very resilient, and commendable.’
‘Good words to use. I think Princess Irina and her mother must have been extremely resilient indeed over the years. Anyway, the good news is that Princess Natalie recently married a Prussian Baron, a widower, and at last they have a real home. The Herr Baron has a house on Lützowufer, and all seems to be well with them, and the marriage is a grand success, so I’m told.’
‘Happy endings warm the heart,’ Diedre murmured quietly. ‘So, what makes you think Princess Irina can help us get an exit visa, or visas?’
‘I’m sure it will be only one, Diedre, the way things are at the moment.’ Tony leaned back in the chair, looking off into the interior of the restaurant. At last he said, quietly, ‘A close friend in my line of work who’s at another foreign embassy in Berlin tipped me off that Irina often works with an underground anti-Nazi group. The ones helping Jews, dissidents, and Catholics to leave Germany. He made me swear to keep her secret a secret.’
‘I fully understand. Your secret is my secret. How old is she?’
‘I figured out she must be in her mid-twenties since she was six in 1917. She was probably born in 1911. She’s attractive, rather good looking, in fact, and loaded with charisma. She appears to have led a life of ease and luxury, when that’s quite to the contrary. But you’ll meet her tomorrow.’
‘I assume I’m meeting her as an English socialite and not a woman who works at the War Office?’
‘Correct, and that’s why I’m so pleased you have Lady Daphne and her husband with you, and your brother and his wife … it all plays well for me. You’re important British visitors on holiday in Berlin.’
Diedre nodded. ‘I agree, and that means you’ll be doing the asking, dealing directly with Princess Irina?’
‘Yes, I will. Don’t worry about that. You’ve got to keep your cover. Obviously. Now, let’s order. I don’t know about you, but I’m famished.’
Diedre smiled at him. ‘So am I, but I must be careful. This food is so tempting, I always eat everything, and then have to starve myself for a week. And I can’t put on any weight at the moment. I’m living in borrowed clothes from Daphne and Cecily. I only had a few things with me when I did an errand in Geneva, and then decided to stay in Zurich to be with Daphne and the others.’
‘And just look where you ended up. With me. And that’s been good because we’ve been able to have a proper talk without fear of eavesdroppers. And we’ve made a plan.’
‘Now everything depends on you, Tony.’ Picking up the menu, Diedre stared at it, but her mind was on the days ahead and what she had to do.
Looking up from the menu, she added, ‘I’m afraid I shall stick with my usual … Bockwurst and sauerkraut, with potato pancakes and apple sauce first.’
He laughed. ‘I’m having the same, I love their Bavarian white sausage.’ He frowned, then said, ‘I would love to have a cold beer, but I suppose I can’t.’
‘I’d join you if I could, but we daren’t drink, Tony. We’ve got to be on our toes at all times. Life can change in a split second. You never know what’s going to happen. Especially in our business.’
‘You’re right.’ He signalled to the waiter and ordered the food, and then turned to Diedre. He murmured softly, ‘I think there might be a time element here; things are changing so swiftly in Berlin. I want to try to get the suitcase out before the end of this month.’
Diedre looked at him, her blue eyes searching his face. ‘Do you know something I don’t?’
‘No. But I think trouble is brewing. Also, there’s a whole new feeling in the air … a sense of expectation … Something big is coming. I just don’t know what.’
‘Then you will have to be quick and nimble,’ Diedre answered. ‘Now, here’s the information you need about the safe house in Aachen.’
She spoke and he listened, memorizing the address and other details. A few minutes later, Tony asked, ‘By the way, what’s the name of the impresario, the American gent who’s often in Berlin?’
‘He’s called Alexander Dubé, and he is American. Born and brought up there. French father. He’s apparently very dignified and elegant in his appearance. Speaks French and German, and he’s as clean as a whistle. And he doesn’t mind doing a favour for my friend at the American Embassy, who I will fill in when I get back. But you’ll have to deal with Alexander Dubé here.’
‘No problem, Boss,’ he answered and grinned at her. ‘Here comes our gourmet lunch, Daffy Dilly.’
FIFTEEN (#ulink_b795067b-2952-5eb4-9c37-6856e9c76bea)
‘I’m glad I found you alone,’ Diedre said, following Cecily into her suite at the Adlon. ‘Where is everyone?’
‘They decided to go to the Tiergarten, because Charlie hadn’t seen it, and Daphne went along as well. They were then going to Horcher’s for lunch.’
‘I see. Didn’t you want to go, Ceci?’
‘Not really, I’m already back in my work mood …’ She paused, half smiled. ‘Miles wanted us to honour this break, but I’m not very good at holidays, you know that. I needed to speak to Dottie, go over a lot of things. With a war undoubtedly in the wind I have so many plans to make for the business. It’s all rather urgent.’
‘I understand. Did you speak to Greta this morning?’
‘No, I didn’t really have reason to, and anyway I wanted to avoid it, if the truth be known. Rather cowardly on my part, isn’t it?’
Diedre shook her head, and said, ‘Not at all. I know how you feel. I got a bit of unexpected and interesting news yesterday – only by chance, of course. And I know it’s going to please you.’
Cecily looked at her sister-in-law, expectancy filling her eyes. ‘Is it about Professor Steinbrenner?’
‘Quick as a tick, you are, Cecily. Yes, it is, but I don’t want you to get too excited. My friend Tony Jenkins from the embassy has told me several English people will be at the reception tonight. Lady Arabella Cunningham, who is now married to a German prince. Daphne used to know her when they were girls.’
‘How amazing. And it will make Daphne feel better about going. She really doesn’t like being here.’
Diedre nodded. ‘I know. She has a great aversion to Germany. The academic and broadcaster, Sir Anthony Parry, is coming, and he’s asked if he can bring an old friend, Professor Steinbrenner.’
‘Oh, thank God. I’m going to meet him, and in the most normal way … quite by accident.’ Cecily was obviously thrilled.
‘Yes, you are. However, when I told Tony he was also an acquaintance of ours, he said the professor hadn’t yet replied to the invitation.’
Cecily’s face fell. ‘I do hope he comes. It would be lovely to go back to London and tell Greta I had talked with her father. I know it would make her feel so much better.’ Cecily paused, and then asked quietly, ‘Do you think he’ll come?’
Diedre shook her head, gave a half shrug. ‘I just can’t answer that. However, I got the impression that Sir Anthony and the professor are very good friends of long standing, so I’m going to hazard a guess and say it’s more than likely he’ll be there this evening.’
‘Why didn’t you tell me last night?’ Cecily asked, frowning.
‘There really wasn’t a chance; we were surrounded by family and Charlie hardly stopped talking. Anyway, I need to speak to you very seriously, that’s another reason I waited until this afternoon.’
‘You sound so grave,’ Cecily responded, searching Diedre’s face. ‘Go on, tell me. I’m all ears.’
‘I want to caution you to be extremely careful how you handle the meeting with Professor Steinbrenner. You must watch your words. There can be no discussion about getting the family out, or anything like that. Talk mostly about Greta, how wonderful she is, how much you rely on her. Be very positive in every way. No woeful commiserations about his predicament.’ Diedre paused for a moment, then continued, ‘I’ve only been to a couple of these receptions over the years, but they are now very crowded, so Tony explained. Everyone comes to the British Embassy “bun fight”, as he calls it. Look, Ceci, all eyes will be on us, because of who we are. And never forget walls have ears.’
‘Even carpets do,’ Cecily shot back, and they both laughed, breaking the solemnity of the moment.
Swallowing her laughter, Cecily said, ‘I promise to be extremely cautious – careful in everything I say and do. I truly understand the situation. You’ve made it very clear to me. And I know I must keep this bit of information to myself, correct?’
‘Yes. It’s better you look surprised when Professor Steinbrenner is introduced. So don’t tell Miles or anyone else.’
‘I won’t. Are you going to mention Lady Arabella to Daphne?’
‘I thought about it long and hard today, and I think it’s better if I just leave it alone. She’ll meet her in a natural way, be brought over to Daphne, I’ll make sure of that.’ Noticing a look of puzzlement in Cecily’s eyes, Diedre went on swiftly, ‘I want the evening to be casual, very normal. And I want us all to enjoy it. Tony says there’ll be lots of interesting people there, and that it will be fun.’
Cecily made a face. ‘Fun, eh? At a time like this, with the world on the edge of a precipice. Sometimes I can’t figure it all out … or why people behave the way they do.’ She shook her head. ‘To be honest, deep down inside I’m filled with alarm about the future.’
‘And so am I,’ Diedre answered quietly. ‘But not everyone sees things the way we do. They don’t understand politics, what’s happening around them. And so they live their lives as usual. And we have to do that for the moment as well. We must keep a smile on our faces, Ceci, and never show fear.’
‘Right,’ Cecily said, ‘So you’re going to wear my black crêpe de Chine frock tonight, but you will need some jewels to liven it up.’
Diedre laughed. ‘I didn’t take anything like that with me to Geneva last week. I’d gone on an overnight trip. Can you help me out?’
‘I certainly can,’ Cecily exclaimed. ‘Come with me to the bedroom, I’ll show you some of the pieces I brought. They’re all fakes, of course, from the Cavendon Collection.’
Diedre nodded, and the two of them went into the bedroom. Cecily removed several black velvet bags from a chest of drawers, and emptied the contents on to the bed, sorting through them.
