The Lavender Keeper (30 page)

He could see the anger flash again in her eyes.

‘And what if he’s part of a plot that aims to bring down the German administration from within?’

Luc hadn’t expected that. ‘What?’

She ran a hand through her black hair, distracted. ‘Something big could be going on between Kilian and Stülpnagel.’

Luc looked at her quizzically while she told him everything she knew. He listened but wasn’t convinced. ‘Are you sure you’re not just painting him in a sympathetic way?’

‘Very sure. And I don’t think every German national who walks this earth should be tarred with the same brush as Hitler. I have German blood too – does that make me guilty? You have
German parentage, Luc – are you part of the atrocities? What about that beaten up old man in l’Isle sur la Sorgue? He didn’t look like he sympathised too much with the Nazi regime.’

He sagged, as if punched.

It had been cruel to say it, but Lisette couldn’t stop herself now. ‘And I am not one of your fellow Maquis to do as you say,’ she finished.

He was not to be deterred. ‘There is time to get away, and no one need be hurt. We can—’

‘Luc, I appreciate your loyalty.’

‘My loyalty?’ he repeated, sounding injured.

‘But I have to find out what’s going on between Kilian and Stülpnagel. I’m not going to just do as you ask. I must follow my orders – and my own heart.’

He stared at her for a moment with deep sorrow. ‘Well, pity me for following mine.’

She looked at him, bewildered, as he dragged on his shirt and jacket, but when she finally reached for him, he was already walking out of her door. He leapt down the stairs, two and three at a time, angrily ignoring her calls from above.

Lisette took the Métro to the bank and within an hour was behind her desk. Even though it was nearly two p.m., she was happy to get out of the apartment; she’d be busy enough at work so that neither Luc nor Markus could invade her thoughts. She couldn’t explain her attraction to Luc in the same way that she couldn’t explain her angry opposition to him. They could make such tender love and a few minutes later be at loggerheads. And now she was without him once again, left with that bereft, hollow sense of loss. Her mind reeled with the knowledge that Luc had watched her with Markus.
How hard would that have been for him? She couldn’t juggle them both if her mission was to succeed.

Lisette opened a note that had been left by Walter, asking her to come to his office as soon as she arrived. She headed to the director’s office immediately.

Walter stood when she arrived and surprised her by coming around his grand desk. She thought he was coming to kiss her but he reached for his hat and coat, and threw a scarf around his neck.

‘I’d been told you were unwell.’

‘I felt better as the day wore on.’

He forced a smile. ‘That’s good. I’m glad you’re in. I thought we might go out for a coffee.’

Walter was stiff, awkward. And he would never suggest going out when his PA could serve him the best of any drink he felt like.

‘Is something wrong?’

‘Fetch your coat, Lisette. I’ll see you in the lobby in a couple of minutes.’

He shooed her out of the office and Lisette had no choice but to do as she’d been asked.

Outside he pointed down the road. ‘There’s a café here called Trois Moineaux.’ Then he shifted to German. ‘Three sparrows. Where do they get these names?’

Spring had definitely arrived, but the walls she had carefully built through the long Parisian winter were crumbling, threatening to choke her. By the time they were seated, the tension had escalated. Walter was past seventy – Lisette was sure he would far prefer to sit inside but he’d insisted on the terrace. He all but dismissed the waiter with a snapped request in German for two coffees.

‘Are you upset with me for calling in sick?’

He glared at her and she shrank. ‘An officer from the Gestapo paid me a visit yesterday.’

Alarm bells began to shrill. ‘Oh? Why?’

‘To talk about you,’ he said.

‘Me?’ Her surprise was genuine.

‘Yes, a detestable fellow by the name of von Schleigel. Ah, I see his name is meaningful to you. Do you mind telling me why, Lisette?’

‘What did he want?’

‘You don’t deny you know him. I didn’t think he’d have any reason to lie, even though I found it difficult to come to terms with mentioning you in the same breath as the secret police.’

He discreetly held up a finger for her to remain quiet while the waiter placed their coffees on the table.

‘What did he say, Walter?’ she asked firmly, then reined in her tone. ‘Forgive me, but the man’s loathsome politeness is just a front for his cunning.’

‘What were you doing in l’Isle sur la Sorgue when you told me you’d come from Lyon?’

She made sure she looked both angry and wounded. ‘I also told you that I’d travelled into Provence.’

‘Marseille, you said.’

Lisette gave a sigh of exasperation. ‘All the southern trains route through Lyon. Why do I feel like you’re accusing me of something?’

‘Should I be?’

She refused to answer. Her chicory coffee was strong and bitter, suiting her mood. She glared out into the street.

They sat in uncomfortable silence for a few more moments. ‘Why didn’t you tell me about Lukas Ravensburg?’

Her insides felt as though they’d flipped a somersault.
There was no point in lying if he knew the name. ‘Walter, you’ve been very kind, very generous to me since I arrived, and I remain grateful for your support. But you never asked me much about my life, and I took it to mean that you didn’t want to know.’ She shook her head as he opened his mouth to interrupt. ‘I wasn’t offended at all. Why should you care about the personal details of an employee? I know that you are admired and respected by the French as much as the Germans. I’m sure you walk a fine line sometimes between the two – I understand your need to protect your position.’

‘To protect the bank,’ he corrected, eyeing her angrily.

‘Do you think I would jeopardise it?’

‘You tell me.’

The truth could and would hurt him. And by now he most likely
did
suspect her of having ulterior motives for returning to France. ‘Listen … Walter. Lukas Ravensburg is a friend of mine.’

‘Friend?’

She gave an embarrassed nod. ‘More than a friend.’

‘Your lover?’

‘I wouldn’t call him that.’

‘Really? Von Schleigel tells me this Ravensburg fellow is your fiancé!’

‘He’s not. He’s German. Has lived in France. Both parents dead. His father was a war hero.’ She hoped all of this would appeal to Walter, and as he finally began to sip from his cooling coffee, she could see he was calmer. ‘We had mutual friends in France, became sort of penpals, and decided to meet when I headed into Provence. He’s from the south. I do like him very much, but as you can imagine, these are not times to be getting involved. We had a few days together … just friends, just fun.’

‘Are you in love with him?’

She smiled sadly. ‘There was no time to fall in love. I had to get to Paris.’

‘How does von Schleigel fit in?’

‘An unlucky ID check. Lukas was seeing me off on a train platform after a day’s sightseeing in Gordes. We had a very unhappy day, actually – two maquisards had been executed publicly while we were there.’ Lisette’s eyes watered conveniently. ‘It was horrible, Walter. They shot two men just a few yards from me, one in the head. I’ll never be able to erase that ghastly image from my mind.’

Walter covered her hand with his, his voice sounding genuinely concerned. ‘I’m sorry, Lisette.’

‘We couldn’t wait to get away. Lukas put me on the train to Lyon and suddenly von Schleigel appeared out of nowhere, checking our papers before making accusations and arresting us.’

‘He prefers to say “detained”.’

‘Whatever he calls it, we felt like prisoners. He interrogated Lukas. I was in another room, so I can’t tell you much more. I gather von Schleigel mistook Lukas for a resister. The Gestapo had nothing on Lukas – nothing. It was a case of mistaken identity.’

‘How did von Schleigel get my name?’

Lisette looked contrite. ‘I am sorry about that. I did have to use your name to get us out of there.’

‘It worked, I gather.’

She nodded. ‘Like magic. I had to do something.’

‘And where is Ravensburg now?’

‘I don’t know,’ she said, holding his gaze and her nerve. ‘We said farewell in Gordes. It was under difficult circumstances, as you can imagine. We were both a bit shocked. He knew where I’d be working.’

‘And you haven’t heard from him?’

‘No. What did von Schleigel want?’

‘I’m not quite sure. Perhaps he was concerned that you might have said something to me, and that I might create problems for him with his superiors. He was likely just feeling me out. He made no accusation.’

‘Nor would he want to. On what basis did he visit you?’

‘Making sure I knew what you’d been up to in the south.’

‘I’d done nothing.’

‘As you say, he’s a cunning fellow. The Gestapo officers invariably are. I don’t know anyone, German or otherwise, who has a single good word to say for any of them. But I have lied for you, Lisette. I told von Schleigel you worked at the bank in Strasbourg.’

She nodded gratefully. ‘I know we can’t reveal I spent any time in Britain.’

‘If anyone knew that, you’d not be trusted, no matter what I said. You understand I had to make sure.’

‘Of course. And I’m sorry for disappointing you. You know I would never do anything to hurt you, Walter.’

He waved a hand as if it was of no concern. ‘I do. Which is why I told him I knew of Ravensburg.’

Her eyes flashed at him. ‘You did?’

‘How else was I to rid you of that toad?’

She looked down, played with the handle of her cup.

‘Once I’d confirmed that I knew your young man, von Schleigel left with his tail between his legs. But what I’d like to know is why you told the Gestapo you were to be married.’

She took a breath. ‘For the same reason you lied for me. I told him that because I was terrified. I truly thought he would kill Lukas, and if I said I – Walter Eichel’s goddaughter – was to marry him, I hoped it would protect him.’

‘I see. Do you feel close to this Lukas?’

‘I … Yes and no. When I was with him it was wonderful, but as I said, war is no time to be thinking too far ahead.’

‘And now there’s Markus Kilian in your life.’

She hesitated and knew he saw it. ‘Yes.’

‘Are you playing with Markus?’

‘I hardly know him.’

‘Because I suspect that would be dangerous. I don’t want you getting into a situation beyond your control.’

‘What situation?’

‘Being the lover of a high-ranking German Wehrmacht officer.’

She stared at him.

‘I know you spent the night at his hotel.’ He looked away, embarrassed.

She felt ill. ‘Are you spying on me?’

‘I’m looking out for you, Lisette. I am your godfather.’

‘I have no reason to lie to you, Walter.’

‘No, but you may have reason to try to protect me.’

‘From what?’

‘From whatever it is that Lukas Ravensburg and von Schleigel have between them.’

‘You’re seeing something that isn’t there.’

‘I hope so. I hope I’m wrong. But if I’m not, then I’m obliged to warn you that where the Gestapo is concerned, my influence is minimal. You might be able to impress a lowlife like von Schleigel with my name, but I can assure you, if Berlin or even Gestapo headquarters in Paris starts to take an interest in you, I am no shield. Himmler is ruthless, and what’s more, he’s paranoid. It’s a terrible combination for someone who is chief of the secret service
and
the paramilitary.’

She nodded.

‘You’re fortunate that von Schleigel is on his way east to Poland, to work in the camps. Frankly, I hope he freezes and dies there!’ Walter said, his voice full of disgust. ‘But people like him never do. Anyway, I sent him on his way believing that I know and like Ravensburg. I trust that my lie will not come back to bite me.’

‘Thank you, Walter,’ she said softly.

‘Before you start thanking me, you need to know one more thing.’

Their eyes met.

‘Von Schleigel asked many questions about you before he asked about your so-called engagement.’

She frowned. ‘And?’

‘I mentioned Colonel Kilian.’

Her mouth became instantly dry. ‘Is that relevant?’

‘Von Schleigel was certainly interested.’

‘Why did you mention Kilian?’

‘He asked if you were romantically involved with anyone. I wasn’t going to risk a second lie.’

‘Does Markus know about your conversation?’

‘With von Schleigel?’

She nodded.

‘Not to my knowledge.’

‘Well, hopefully the toad hasn’t stirred up any trouble with the colonel.’

‘Have you told Markus about Ravensburg?’

‘No. Markus is …’

‘A fling?’

She gave a helpless gesture with her hand. ‘I was going to say an irresistible force.’

‘Apart from the Führer and his henchmen, I don’t know anyone who doesn’t admire him.’

‘The perfect man?’

He shook his head. ‘The perfect soldier. But he is a man, Lisette, with all the usual foibles, and he has fallen for your charms. Be careful. He is proud. If you plan to pursue his affections, I suggest you cut ties with Ravensburg … or you tell Markus of the southerner and bring this budding romance – or whatever it is – to a halt.’

She nodded. If only he knew that she could do neither.

‘I’ve said enough. Shall we go?’ Walter stood and rummaged in his pockets for some money. ‘When do you see Markus next?’ he asked, dropping coins into the saucer.

‘Perhaps tomorrow.’

‘Think on what I said. Can you find your own way back? I have some errands to run.’

She kissed him goodbye.

‘Be careful, child,’ he said softly, returning her embrace. ‘I don’t want you hurt.’

Lisette smiled gently and turned to walk away, deeply troubled but showing none of her concern, knowing he watched her. She was not ready to tell London her cover had been compromised, especially so hot on the heels of her last few notes that she hoped would have impressed London. She decided to say nothing, and risk that von Schleigel had been simply ‘fishing’. If Buckmaster wanted her to continue, then she would persist with Markus at all costs. But what if Luc was right and they no longer cared about anything other than the promised D-day? Then she needed to hear that from SOE.