Page 28 of The Last Library of Paris

‘They need something to do.’

‘Cassandra, are you using your family tragedy to get me to do your bidding?’

‘No,’ I said. ‘Well, yes, but in a good way.’

Edith chuckled. ‘Go on.’

‘My mother runs the WI in our village,’ I said. ‘She’s a regional organiser in fact. She can drum up a room full of willing women at the drop of a hat. And my father, despite being a cleric, or perhaps because he is a cleric, likes nothing more than bending rules in order to do good.’

Understanding was dawning on Edith’s face.

‘Bea knows everyone,’ I went on. ‘And Lara doesn’t have much family of her own, but she has a whole theatre of people who would do anything to help her.’

‘I’m fairly sure the opera-loving sisters had an arrangement with the Quakers,’ Edith said, leaning forward, as she took in what I was saying. ‘And I know a lot of people in Oxford.’

‘Edith, I need you to think carefully about this,’ I said. ‘It might not be entirely illegal but it’s certainly on the edge of being so. We’re risking our jobs with the embassy. And lord knows the PVDE would not be impressed if they found out. They might throw us in jail.’

We both went quiet again. But then Edith nodded.

‘The risks are high,’ she said. ‘But I believe they’re worth it.’

Relieved that she’d understood what I was saying, I clapped my hands together.

‘If I get the names, can you process the visas?’

‘I can sort the paperwork, but I’ll need a hand filling in the forms if we want to work quickly.’

‘Count me in,’ I said, ignoring thoughts of my desk in clerical waiting for me. ‘I literally have nothing else to do.’

‘Good,’ said Edith with a smile. ‘How’s your typing?’

I laughed. ‘It’ll do.’

‘Can you speak to Bea and Lara? The sooner we can get started the better.’

‘I’ll go now.’

Edith glanced at me.

‘You really have got nothing to do?’

‘Nothing,’ I said firmly.

I went back downstairs, planning to pop my head into clerical and tell them I was doing some work elsewhere today. As I went along the corridor, someone fell into step beside me. I glanced round to see Archie Valentine.

‘Hello, Watson,’ he said.

‘Watkins,’ I corrected.

‘Watkins.’ He grinned at me. ‘This is a bit awkward, isn’t it? Walking along in-step like this. I didn’t intend it. I didn’t know whether to wait for you to pass before I started walking, or rush to get ahead of you. And then I chose to rush, but you’re going at a cracking pace, and I found I’d overestimated my own speed.’

Despite myself, I smiled. Encouraged, he carried on. ‘So where are you off to in such a hurry?’

‘Clerical.’

‘Fun.’

‘Not really.’