Читать книгу The Cavendon Luck - Barbara Bradford Taylor - Страница 20

Whenever she came to stay with Daphne and Hugo at Villa Fleurir, Daphne always told her she could use the small office just off the library. And Diedre did so now. Everyone had scattered, gone off to do things, and she needed to do some thinking and make several phone calls.

Sitting down at the desk, Diedre glanced around, noting how much this room reflected Daphne and her taste. It had apricot-coloured walls and matching silk draperies, and the comfortable sofa and armchairs were covered in an apricot cotton fabric. The room came alive with the vivid colours in the paintings hanging on the walls, and the cushions on the sofa.

Diedre sniffed and smiled to herself. The room was redolent of Daphne’s favourite perfume, lilies of the valley, which had been created especially for her by Cecily.

A deep sigh escaped Diedre, and she focused on Cecily and her suggestion about Berlin. It would be a clever solution, it would please Charlie, and it would certainly suit her to go along with the family group, if Daphne and Hugo agreed. However, she would have to tell William Lawson, her immediate superior. She could see no reason why he would object; also, being in the middle of the Ingham family group was the perfect cover for her. Diedre had no intention of mentioning a possible extraction to Will. There was no need for him to know. Anyway, it was unlikely to happen quickly, if at all.

Diedre placed the call through the overseas operator, using Will’s private number. He answered immediately, was obviously glad to hear from her. Once she had explained about the family trip, he had agreed she should go. ‘It might prove useful,’ he said. ‘It’s the annual shindig next week. I’ll make sure you’re all invited. By the boss himself.’

‘That would be wonderful.’ She noted how careful Will was, even though he was on a safe phone. ‘I thought I might see the sights … if you get my drift.’

‘Your sister would enjoy it, too, if you get my drift.’

‘I do. Solo out.’

‘Correct. Don’t neglect me.’

‘I won’t.’

They hung up. His last words had meant that she must call him every day. That was mandatory when she was in a foreign country.

Her next phone call, via the international operator, was to Berlin.

‘May I speak to Toby Jung please?’

‘This is he, Daffy.’

‘I’m checking in as you asked.’

‘In the same place as yesterday, are you? Or did you do a bunk, follow your heart?’

‘How did you guess?’ She smiled to herself. How well he knew her.

‘You sounded so serious, very intent. Nobody could’ve stopped you.’

‘True.’ Diedre settled back in the chair, staring at the painting of the autumn woods at Cavendon, painted by Genevra some years ago. Its russets and golds were perfect for this room. Her eyes remained on the painting as she went on. ‘No progress, I presume?’

‘Nothing’s changed, Daffy. Everyone’s on the move, on holiday, going back home. And some are simply flying their own kites.’

‘So your usual helpers have dwindled?’ she asked.

‘I’d say that.’

‘Perhaps I should leave the suitcase with you, Toby. Just forget it.’

‘You might have to, Daffy Dilly.’

‘Thanks for keeping it for me. How’s the weather?’

‘Boiling hot. Beastly, in fact.’

‘I don’t like hot weather,’ Diedre added, ‘I grew up in the north.’

‘Are you thinking of making a trip here?’

‘That’s a possibility,’ she answered in a quiet voice.

‘Daffy Dilly, that would be a treat for me!’

‘And me too. And perhaps I can just get rid of the suitcase.’

Ignoring the mention of the suitcase, he asked, ‘When?’

‘Don’t know yet.’

‘I’m free as a bird—’ He cut himself off, and then after a moment he continued in a low tone. ‘There is a person who could no doubt get the suitcase to you. But you yourself would have to ask.’

‘No. It’s not possible!’ she exclaimed. ‘I cannot. I should say, I will not. In fact, it’s out of the question. I must not involve him.’

‘I understand. Please come, Daffy. We might even have a bit of fun.’

‘We might. So long.’ Diedre hung up the phone, leaned back in the chair and closed her eyes. Her thoughts were whirling, and she asked herself if she should go to Berlin or not?

Diedre sat in the small office for another twenty minutes, running everything through her mind. Her main focus was on the trip to Berlin. It would work only if they went as a group, and it would be quite a large group. Six of them altogether, because Alicia would not be going. A group was not easy to miss so they would stand out. But they were the Inghams of Cavendon, therefore protected by their nationality and their famous name.

What Miles had said earlier was true. Adolf Hitler did have a fondness for the British aristocracy, and the two Mitford sisters were a prime example of his preferences. Diedre was also well aware that a number of highborn men in the Establishment and certain politicians were admiring of a man she truly believed would become the dictator of Central Europe in no time at all.

She could not understand why they didn’t see through him; see him for what he was. A man of evil who wanted world domination. Part of their problem was the fear they all had of Russia. They saw Communism as a greater threat than Fascism. Diedre let out a sigh. She held the view that they were facing a grim future, and a worse horror even than in the Great War.

There was a light knock on the door and Daphne looked into the room. ‘Are you busy? Can we talk for a moment?’

‘Of course, Daphers.’ Diedre rose and moved away from the desk, went and sat down on the sofa.

Daphne took the chair opposite her. ‘Hugo and I have just been talking about this idea Charlie has of going to Berlin. We don’t want him to travel alone; on the other hand we do understand why he’s interested. So what is your opinion?’

‘I agree with you and Hugo, he shouldn’t go alone,’ Diedre said. ‘I think any person without a companion in that city is very vulnerable at this particular time.’

Daphne nodded. ‘I realize you know Germany better than any of us. You’ve studied the country for years and you speak German.’ Daphne suddenly smiled, then went on, ‘Not to digress, but I recall when you went off on a trip with your friends Maxine and Laura in 1914. Just before the Great War. And you came back full of warnings about the Germans rearming. You were very het up.’

‘Gosh, what a good memory you have. Yes, it was a very revealing trip indeed. I sensed they were readying themselves for war, and I was right.’

‘And now they’re doing it again. Only twenty years later,’ Daphne murmured, her expression grave.

Diedre nodded. ‘People in Britain remember the horror of it, the death, the destruction, and that’s why there’s all this talk of appeasement. But it won’t work.’

‘Why not?’ Daphne asked, leaning forward, paying attention to her sister.

‘Because Adolf Hitler wants the war, although not necessarily with Britain involved. That’s why he, too, is encouraging the British to come forward with the idea of appeasement.’

‘I understand. Getting back to Charlie, why can’t he go alone actually? I need to give him reasons.’

‘Because Berlin is the most dangerous city in the world today. It’s militaristic, in a certain sense, filled with thousands of men in uniforms … the SS, the SD Intelligence agency, the Stormtroopers. And the Gestapo. There is unrest, bigotry, anti-Semitism, and very loutish behaviour on the part of many people. Not only German thugs, but vagabonds. Hundreds of Poles, Czechs, Hungarians, Serbs, you name it, have flooded in, and Berlin has become a cosmopolitan melting pot.’

Diedre paused, letting all this sink in. After a moment, she said, ‘Here’s a scenario. A young man, on his own, minding his own business, goes into a bar, or a beer hall for a drink. He jostles somebody or something like that, and a split second later he could easily be in a fight, getting beaten up. People are very tense, volatile. And that’s why anyone on his or her own is vulnerable.’

‘I understand, Diedre; you have explained it well. Hugo and I want him to be independent, to fly, to be himself, but since it is unwise for him to travel alone, do you think this idea of going as a family would work?’

‘If you wish to please Charlie, which obviously you do, I can make it work if we go as a family. I’ve spoken to my office and I can have next week off. And I would come with you.’

‘That would be simply marvellous, Diedre. Actually, I honestly don’t believe we would go if you weren’t able to accompany us.’

‘I’ll make all the arrangements. We’ll stay at the Adlon Hotel. I know it, and it’s the best. All we have to do is decide when we should go.’

‘I’ll talk to Hugo, and we’ll settle on a date. Have you any thoughts?’ Daphne asked.

‘Yes, actually. Tuesday of next week. That’s when we should travel to Berlin,’ Diedre answered.