‘He’s in the Feldkommandantur, like you.’
Stefan shook his head, turned back to watching Persey, a look of concern on his face that she tried her best to ignore.
‘He’s in charge of military … something. Not sure.’
‘No. Different department. There are a lot of us here. There are too many of us here. Why?’ Stefan asked, pulling his gaze towards Dido as she chopped vegetables.
‘Just wondered,’ Dido said.
‘He is special to you?’ Stefan asked and Dido reddened.
Persephone looked up at her sister, waiting cautiously.
‘Well … I mean … I like him, certainly. He’s kind and …’ Dido looked away from the vegetables and gave Persey a challenging look. ‘He’s a good man. Looks after me. Takes me for nice lunches, long walks. Talks to me about music. About life. He owns a farm. Or rather his father does. I like him,’ she repeated. ‘I trust him.’
‘You go out with him in public?’ Persey asked.
‘Yes, plenty of times,’ Dido dared. ‘And I know what you’re going to say and it’s already happened once or twice.’
Persey gasped, ‘What has?’ she asked in horror.
‘People calling me a Jerrybag.’
‘Oh, Dido,’ Persey said mournfully. ‘It was bound to happen.’
‘What did you do?’ Stefan asked. ‘When they called you such an awful name?’
‘Ignored them. Kept walking. What else could I do? One of them called me a Jerrybag when I was actually with Werner. It was all I could do to hold him back from shouting at her. I don’t think they see it, the love. I don’t think they believe a Guernsey girl could actually fall in love with a German. They can’t see past the uniform. Much like you, Persey,’ Dido said pointedly.
Stefan looked from Dido to Persey and back again, making no comment. But before Persey could spring to her own defence, Dido said, ‘Anyway, I wanted you to know. If I’m not at the cluband I’m not here, I’m with him. Nothing untoward has happened, before you ask. He’s a gentleman. He’s kind. But I didn’t want to bring him here for fear of you and Jack losing your minds. But I wanted you to know. I don’t like secrets.’
‘Neither do I,’ Persey said, knowing she had plenty of secrets of her own. She loved Stefan, Stefan had helped move the body of a man she had killed, Dido loved an officer, Lise was in hiding, Doctor Durand and she were helping supply a clandestine newsletter, and Jack was planning to escape.
‘Enough,’ Persey said, standing. ‘Enough.’
‘Where are you going?’ Stefan asked.
‘I’m going to get the remainder of your brandy and drink most of it if no one has any objections.’
‘Good Lord.’ Dido laughed, missing her sister’s depressed tone. ‘Are we having a party? Are we about to get squiffy?’
Stefan smiled kindly. ‘Why not?’
When Persey returned with the brandy, she poured three glasses and kept the bottle far too close to herself. There was no way she could disappear from this island so she may as well disappear inside herself.
‘Will you be here this evening,’ Dido asked Stefan far too casually.
He narrowed his eyes. ‘Yes?’
‘Oh.’
‘Why?’ he asked.
‘No reason,’ Dido trilled.
‘What happens this evening?’
‘Nothing,’ Dido said.
