Over the next twenty-four hours Tardivat drove her between the scattered camps and she gave the same speech, or versions of it, a dozen times. By the time the men started to gather at a chateau on the hill just outside Cosne-d’Allier, they were back to full strength.
Denden brought them the latest intelligence from London while they were eating canned rations round the fire in the Great Hall. They’d left the farmhouse the day before, and designated this chateau, a fine seventeenth-century building still hung with tapestries, their headquarters and rallying point.
The Germans who’d looted the place had done a half-hearted sort of job, taking down some of the pictures and smashing up some of the chairs, but the massive oak dining table had been too heavy to move.
Denden paused as he came in, looking around at the fluttering shadows in the high-beamed ceiling, the elaborate carvings around the fireplace. “Got to say, this is much nicer than that buggy little hovel of yours on the plateau, Fournier,” he said.
Fournier smiled and shook his head.
“What have you got, Denden?” Nancy asked, and he walked over to her and handed her the papers.
She scanned them briefly then put them on the table so the others—Juan, Gaspard, Fournier and Tardivat—could all see.
Gaspard sniffed. “Tomorrow then.”
Nancy nodded. “Brief your lads, gentlemen. And try and make them get some rest.”
Denden found her in her chamber at three in the morning, looking out from the leaded windows down the hill toward Cosne-d’Allier.
“My lady!”
“Not a bad billet, is it?” she replied, turning away from the moonlit view. “But I can’t sleep. The bed is too soft.”
Denden sat on it, bouncing up and down so the springs squeaked. “Fancy a drink? I hear rumors the Germans couldn’t get into the wine cellar, and you and I are rather good at locks. I’m sure the owner wouldn’t mind.”
“Not tonight, Denden. Though if you want to find some charming young man to party with, don’t let me stop you.”
He made a huffing noise, then fell backward on the bed.
“Does terrible things to my libido, knowing there’s an action coming in the morning. Can’t really enjoy the curious young men if I keep thinking of them getting shot the next day.” He folded his hands behind his head. “Is this plan of yours going to work?”
She leaned against the window and crossed her arms. “I don’t know, Denden. It’s a long shot. You haven’t forgotten your role, I hope.”
“No, darling. I’m all set to be utterly heroic. Then, if any of us survive I’ll break open the cellar and find a nice new friend all flush with victory.”
She wasn’t sure she believed him. She’d noticed how he still looked at Jules when he thought no one could see him. She lay down on the bed next to him, and he put his arm around her shoulder, gathering her onto his chest.
“Nancy?”
He was stroking her hair.
“What is it?”
“There was something else in the intelligence, something I kept to myself,” he said, then hesitated.
She bit her lip. “Major Böhm,” she whispered.
“Yes, dearie. Seems this battalion is the remains of a number of units and the word from London is that all the local Gestapo officers are traveling back to Germany with them.” He drew in breath to say something more, but she put her hand on his chest, stopping him.
“It’s all right, Denden. I won’t run off again. Not until this is done. Then I’ll find him.”
He kissed the top of her head. “Good. We need you.”
They didn’t say any more and eventually she could tell by his breathing he had fallen into a doze. Nancy could not, and watched the soft shadows cast by the moon chase each other around the room until it was time to get up. To begin.