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Jane reread the note from her Mother. Elizabeth was breakfasting in her room and had some paperwork to attend to she would meet them on the terrace for lunch.
“Great! We have the morning to ourselves, grab the other end of this basket. We can have breakfast on the boat,” She said, throwing a colorful picnic cloth over the top.
“What about your aunt Lucie,” Sue Lee asked as she helped carry the basket out of the kitchen door. “What do you have in here? It weighs a ton!”
“It’s champagne; Aunt Lucie is not a morning person. She loves sleeping late. Head for the boathouse.” Jane said, bringing up the rear on the narrow path going down to the river.
The boathouse was a green two-story building projecting out towards the river with a large door on the riverside leading out to a slipway. On both walls, stacked three high, were racing boats. Jane was explaining all of this as they walked through the building. When they reached the slipway, a sturdy-looking rowboat was tied there. Sue Lee was ready to help load the basket aboard when a good-looking young man in a striped blazer walked out of the boathouse.
“Did you bring the champagne? “He asked, smiling with perfect white teeth.
“Yes, Donald, Jane answered, pulling three bottles out of the basket; take them upstairs and save some for us tonight. This lady, your ogling at, is an American, Captain Sue Lee Ono, Sue Lee this young rascal is Donald Dawson. He is the Coxswain of our local rowing club. Now don’t drop these, sit them over there and push us off, lad.”
Donald waved, saying before they got underway.” Be sure to bring the captain!”
“Get back to work, you lecherous grunt, or I will call the conscription board and tell them you are really eighteen,” She yelled back, laughing.
After they had been underway, Jane explained that her father and Jonathan both rowed for Oxford. They wanted to sponsor a local club here in Shiplake. The boys use the boathouse for training, but they conscript all the boys who reached eighteen into the service since the war.
“The training is a moot point, but the camaraderie is precious to them. Tonight is a celebration to honor the passage into adulthood and the army for two of the rowers. Unfortunately, some may not live to see nineteen,” Jane said with sadness. “They invited us tonight to their upstairs bar that their mothers supposedly know nothing about but secretly contribute to each going away through the girlfriends. The young ladies come from villages around Oxfordshire to see the boys off, so we won’t be alone with the little perverts.” Jane said, laughing as she maneuvered the rowboat close to the far bank under a tree. “Grab that line and throw it over that lower branch; the current will hold us close to shore. We can breakfast here.”
“Oui, Mon Captain!” Sue Lee saluted, then tied the line.
After the food was passed, they talked about last night and how everyone agreed the war fashions were awful. The conversation paused, and Sue Lee sensed Jane was going to ask her about Tommaso. “Before you ask about my feelings, I need to know a few things,” Jane nodded a yes as she bit into her apple. “You were looking for me but shot because you were discovered as one of the undergrounds, true?”
“True, I was part of the underground team, but not anymore. That bullet was meant to kill me. It blew my cover as the compassionate doctor; they have a contract out on me. I left Gibraltar came here not just to recover. I can’t go back. It would put others in jeopardy. It’s an unwritten rule when your cover is known, you’re out,” Jane said sadly.
“Sorry, it was a guess; how long have you been involved?”
“Two years ago, it started when I was checking up on a patient; they had a Jewish family hiding in their barn; the father, one child, and an expectant mother. The mother was far enough along that she could no longer travel. I flew her to the hospital in Gibraltar, came back for the father and the boy. That’s when it all started, “Jane poured two glasses of orange juice for them.
“What about the Moth? I would love to fly her again.” She said, accepting the glass of juice.
“My mechanic friend dismantled her; he is shipping her here, to be stored in the boathouse. However, I’m sure the RAF will not let me buzz around Old England until the war is over.”
“You volunteered to help your mother to find leads about the missing sword. Is that what you want to do?” Sue Lee said with a sly smile.
“Yes, it will be bloody boring. Jane stopped to look up at Sue Lee over her glass, Blimey, what are you on to Yank?”
“Well, obviously, your talents wouldn’t be challenged here; why not San Francisco?”
“Why not San Francisco she asks me? If I jump across this boat and hug you, we will both end up in the water!” Jane’ was almost hollering; “Please tell me more?”
“Last night, I sat up, considered your mother and aunt’s offer to help. They could scan the art world for unusual requests. Nevertheless, everything points in the direction of San Francisco. Someone is needed there who is not in the service, someone who would not seem interested in treasure hunting. A doctor looking forward to setting up a small clinic in San Francisco; she would stay in my apartment during her transition. What do you think, Dr. Watson, is California a possibility?” Sue Lee said, smiling.
“Dammit, we shouldn’t have given that kid all three bottles of champagne; let’s row back and get one. Are you sure about this? Are you serious,” Jane said, untying the line?
“I’m serious. I need someone unknown to help me look. My time is limited. There will be times when I’m away for weeks. You would be on your own; it could be dangerous; this sword hunt has claimed a few lives already.” Sue Lee said with concern as they moved across the river toward the boathouse.
“I have been living on an adrenaline high for two years, now suddenly I find myself in purgatory, you’re offering me an escape, don’t worry, I’m just a little lady doctor, who would ever suspect me? I should add that I’m an excellent shot I have proven it many times over in the last few years.” Jane expertly pulled the boat alongside the slipway, shouting, “Donald dear, get your cute bottom down here with a bottle of that champagne, please.”
With the help of the champagne, the two friends sealed the deal as they floated a little too far downriver. They were late for lunch.
However, it was delayed. Sir Jonathan had phoned, he would join them. He had a rare day off and wanted to participate in the evening celebration at the boathouse. The two boys’ fathers were his good friends.