Page 123 of The Last Library of Paris

‘Excellent. Baron Rhodri Morgan it is.’ Lara picked up a piece of paper and a pen, and gave them to Henry. ‘Now sit down and write everything you can think of about Rhodri. Where does he live, is he married, does he have children … everything. And most importantly, why is he travelling between Lisbon and Paris?’

I was thinking hard. ‘Being Welsh is convincing because Henry’s got the background, but we need to come up with some Nazi connections,’ I said. ‘No one else in their right minds would be travelling to Paris.’

‘That’s true,’ said Henry.

‘What about that prince, the one who’s a German duke?’ Lara said.

I screwed my nose up. ‘Charles Edward?’ I said. ‘I think he’s too close. They could check that.’

‘We could use the Duke of Windsor again,’ she suggested. ‘Or Moseley? The Mitfords?’

‘Yes, that sort of thing would be safer,’ I said. ‘Lara, you’re good at accents – how about you’re German–American, travelling back to Britain with your Welsh husband. Your German skills will help, too.’

‘Right,’ said Lara, nodding. ‘I could be Adolfa …’

‘No,’ I said. I loved Lara’s clowning, but we had so little time, today was not the day for it. ‘Ada works though.’

‘Baroness Ada Morgan? Is that what the wife of a baron is called?’

‘I think so?’ said Henry. ‘But I think they’re called Lord and Lady when you talk directly to them.’

‘As long as I live I will never understand the aristocracy,’ said Lara.

‘Well, Ada, you don’t have to,’ I said with a grin. ‘Because you are American and they are known to be dreadfully ignorant of the class system.’

‘Good for them,’ said Lara in a very convincing American accent. ‘Who are you?’

‘Erm, your companion?’ I said. ‘Friend? Sister?’

‘Sister, could work,’ Lara said. ‘Maybe half-sister, to account for the age difference.’

Henry stifled a chuckle and I glared at him.

‘And your German is better than mine,’ Lara pointed out. ‘You can be from the German side – that will help.’

‘You’re right, actually. I could be …’ I thought about it. ‘Marta?’

‘Perfect.’ Lara looked pleased. ‘Marta …’ She looked round for inspiration and then she grinned. ‘Bucher.’

‘Fine,’ I said. I studied Henry. ‘Can you get into Archie’s apartment? I think you should borrow one of his suits. You are always nicely dressed, but his clothes look more expensive than yours.’

Henry tutted but he nodded. ‘And we can just slick down your hair and you’ll look different,’ I added.

‘Your hairstyle is quite memorable,’ Lara said, looking at my straight hair critically. ‘Because everyone has curls now.’

‘My hair does not like to curl,’ I said. ‘It will not curl. Believe me, I’ve tried.’

‘We’ll find you a wig. It only has to convince a few people for a few hours. I’ll tie mine back in a bun – that always makes me look much older.’

‘Old enough to pass as my sister,’ I said, slightly barbed, and Lara grinned.

‘Right, we need to find Edith and get these papers started before we do anything else.’ I clapped my hands.

‘What will we do? Will we need German passports? Or American?’ asked Lara, looking worried. ‘I’m not sure even Edith can find one of those.’

Henry shook his head. ‘We can get British Certificates of Travel issued from the embassy,’ he said. ‘They wouldn’t work if we wanted to go to Germany, but they’ll get us to Paris.’

We all looked at one another. ‘This is very dangerous,’ I said. ‘Even with Ada, Marta and Rhodri’s identities, it’s risky. If either of you have any doubts, now is the time to share them.’