Chapter Twenty-One

I stared at him in surprise. "But they've already robbed Nico Lazaro," I said at last, when the silence stretched.

Uncle Mick turned to look at me as he filled his pipe with tobacco. "They told me a bit about that, too," he said. "Seems whatever they were looking for was not there at the time that they previously robbed him. Now they've received word it's in a safe, and they want to give it another go. This time, a bit more in the shadows, so to speak."

"Did they say who gave them this information?" Ramsey asked.

"As to that, they were fairly vague," Uncle Mick said. "Seems they were making their way through a list of people who might have had the object in their possession. They took what they found along the way to disguise it as common thievery rather than call attention to their true motivations."

"If we know where they're going, then we can get it before them, and perhaps even replace it with a useless map." We had pulled such a job early in our acquaintance with the major, substituting false documents for the ones the Germans were looking for. Would it work again with this lot?

Major Ramsey swore and took a seat behind his desk, rubbing a hand across his jaw. "This complicates things. But the idea of replacing it and causing the Germans even more trouble has its merits."

"I don't know much about cartography," Uncle Mick said. "But I'm willing to bet Felix could help you create a false map. If it was something you were interested in doing."

The only hint that the major didn't particularly like the suggestion was the way his face showed no expression whatsoever at the mention of Felix's name. All the same, I knew Ramsey was fair enough and smart enough to let Felix in on the job if he thought it would work.

"And I have the perfect opportunity to replace it," I said suddenly.

Major Ramsey looked up at me. "You are not going to that party."

My chin went up. "The opportunity has fallen right in our laps. I think it would be a mistake to ignore it simply because you don't like the man."

He looked over at me, seemed to consider his words carefully. "Lazaro is… not a good man. I'd rather not put you in that position," he said at last.

"I can do it," I said.

"I know you can," he replied. "That's not the issue."

"Then it's settled."

Major Ramsey's face said he did not at all approve, but he didn't argue this time.

Uncle Mick smiled. "Well, Ellie girl, it sounds like you've got a party to go to."

I rang up Felix the next day, and he agreed to accompany me to Major Ramsey's so we could all discuss the plan. Felix was also to work with Archie Blandings on creating a believable map of Portugal we could use to send the Germans mining in the wrong place.

Uncle Mick had gone to Red's to see if he could learn anything else. In that easy way he had of putting people off their guard, he was ideally placed for the task.

"Once again, you're putting yourself in harm's way," Felix said as we walked from the Tube station toward the major's house. "You're not happy unless you're throwing yourself into the lion's den."

"Yes, well. It came out all right for Daniel, didn't it?" I said. "Besides, I'm the only one of us with an invitation to the party."

"And why, I wonder, would Nico Lazaro, noted lecher, be wanting you to attend his party?" Felix said.

"You let me worry about Nico Lazaro," I replied.

Felix seemed to sense that I was growing frustrated because he dropped his teasing tone. "I can't help worrying about you, sweet."

"I know, Felix," I said, squeezing his arm.

"After all, the chivalry in me makes me want to rise to your defense."

"Oh, is that what it is?" I asked.

He shrugged. "Well, that and I'm afraid you'll fall in love with Lazaro and move to Lisbon with him to lounge about eating arroz doce in a lace negligee."

Bending down, I picked up a handful of snow, packing it into a little ball as best I could, and hurled it at Felix. It hit him squarely in the chest.

He grinned, his eyes flashing. "Oh, that's how it's going to be, is it?"

"Chivalry!" I reminded him, backing away.

"In the name of chivalry, I shall give you three seconds' head start."

"Felix!" I shrieked, laughing, even as I turned and began running as best as I could on the slippery ground to dodge the snowball he was making.

It hit me on the bottom. I whirled, still laughing, and it was too quick a move on the icy ground. My feet slipped out from under me, and I tumbled into the snowbank that edged the pavement.

He made his way to me, laughing. "I'm sorry, sweet."

"You wretch! You aren't the least bit sorry!"

He was still laughing as he reached out his hands to help me up. I sometimes forgot that his artificial leg was not as steady as his other one, and it failed him now. His foot slipped out from under him, and a moment later he had tumbled forward, knocking me back into the snow.

He rolled off me, and we lay side by side in the snow, laughing as we had done as children.

That was when the front door opened, and Major Ramsey stood looking down at us.

"Oh," I said, sitting up. "Hello."

"Hello," he said, his eyes moving from me to Felix. "Hello, Lacey."

"Ramsey," Felix said, getting nimbly to his feet and reaching to help me up.

"We were just having a minor disagreement," I said lightly, dusting myself off. "Where has my hat gone?"

I looked back to see it had fallen off down the pavement.

"I'll get it," Felix said.

He began walking back to retrieve it as I made my way up the front steps of Major Ramsey's house.

And then I stooped, scooped up one more handful of snow, packed it tightly, and threw a parting snowball that hit Felix squarely in the middle of the back.

Then I darted inside of the house. Major Ramsey followed.

"You must forgive me, but I had to win," I said as I turned to him, my eyes still gleaming with the triumph of that last well-aimed snowball. I knew I must look a fright, dusted with snow, my hair windblown and my cheeks pink with laughter and cold.

So I was startled by the heat in his gaze as his eyes met mine. There was no mistaking it. Not angry heat. The other kind.

Then Constance was there, taking my coat and muffler, and helping me brush the snow from my hair.

"No gloves?" the major asked as I rubbed my hands together briskly to warm them.

"Only one. I dropped the other somewhere else. I seem to be dropping things all over London."

Felix came in with my hat. "We still have the walk home, you know," he said with a good-natured smile.

"Yes, so you had better watch out."

By the time we reached his office, the major had reached his usual appearance of complete indifference to me. Sometimes I wondered if I imagined those moments between us. But then I remembered that explosive kiss—the few moments of electric connection we had shared—and I knew that it was still there somewhere. I couldn't help but feel a bit pleased at the way he had looked at me.

It was very bad of me, I knew, to want him to want me. But I couldn't seem to help hoping that it was difficult for him to cast me aside after one kiss. I simply couldn't get that kiss out of my mind.

I sighed. It was all so ridiculous. I was not some schoolgirl to lose my head over a handsome boy who had kissed me.

What unsettled me was that, deep down, I was beginning to realize it was more than that. And, of course, where did that leave Felix?

But now was not the time to consider all of this.

"So what's the plan?" Felix asked when we were settled. "Ellie tells me she's been invited to a party at Nico Lazaro's and intends to get into the safe. I foresee only one problem."

"And what's that?" Ramsey asked.

"Lazaro letting her out of his sight long enough to get the job done."

"Oh, stop it, Felix," I said. He was doing it on purpose, flirting with me in front of Major Ramsey.

But Ramsey, it seemed, had his own cards to play. "She won't be going in alone."

I looked up at him. This was not something we had discussed.

"You'll be accompanying her?" Felix asked.

"I'm not invited to Lazaro's parties," Ramsey said. "But I have an associate who is. He'll be arriving shortly to make introductions. We'll go over the details of the plan while you and Blandings work together on the map. You've brought everything you need?"

Felix nodded to the little leather bag he'd brought with him. "All the tools of the trade in one tidy package."

"Good. Blandings will be able to give you up-to-date specifics on what should be included in the false map. I'll show you where you can set up. If you'll excuse me for a moment, Miss McDonnell."

The men left the room, and a few minutes later, Major Ramsey was back.

"You didn't tell me I was to have a date to the party," I said.

"I think it best, all things considered. Backup is always preferable in any situation."

I didn't argue with him. "And who is my date to be?"

"His name is Aristide Dupéré. He is, obviously, a Frenchman. He's been working with intelligence here, while assisting with the resistance movement in France. He also happens to be someone comfortable in Lazaro's set. There are a few things you should know about him in advance."

Now I was intrigued.

Before the major could continue, however, there was a tap at the door.

"Come," he said.

The door opened and Constance looked in. "Monsieur Dupéré is here, Major Ramsey." I was surprised to notice that her normally placid face was a bit pink. I wondered if she was feverish. I'd never seen Constance's color that high.

There was a slight pause before the major answered. "Show him in, Miss Brown," he said in a tone that sounded almost resigned.

"Very good, sir." Constance retreated, and shortly afterward there was the sound of footsteps down the hallway.

A moment later, the door was flung open and a man swept in, talking loudly enough that his voice would surely carry back to Constance. "Ah, Majeur, mademoiselle is far too jolie to be a secretary. I am trying to convince her to run away with me. She says no, but I am nothing if not persistant."

I turned to look at the man who had just entered. I could see at once why Constance had been flustered. In addition to his clear amorousness, he was extraordinarily handsome. He was tall and dark, with flashing black eyes that matched the gleam of his pomaded hair. There was something of a Rudolph Valentino air about him that was immediately noticeable.

His eyes lit on me, and I at once saw a focused intensity in them that might have been alarming if I was at all the sort of woman to be swept off my feet by French charisme.

Then he shot a look at the major, one eyebrow raised. "Do you keep all of the loveliest women in London here in your maison?"

Major Ramsey sighed audibly. "Miss McDonnell, allow me to present Monsieur Aristide Dupéré. Dupéré, this is Miss Electra McDonnell."

He came to me and took my hand, bowing so low over it that his warm lips brushed my skin. "Enchanté, mademoiselle."

"Pleased to meet you, Monsieur Dupéré."

"You must call me Aristide."

"I'm called Ellie."

He still held my hand as his dark eyes studied my face. "But you are the lady with whom I am to work? So young and beautiful… and you are brave, too? Magnifique."

Major Ramsey cleared his throat. "That will be sufficient, I think, Dupéré. I was just discussing the matter with Miss McDonnell."

"Then I have come at a good time."

He took the seat beside me, crossing one leg over the other.

"The party, as you know, is tomorrow night. You and Miss McDonnell will attend together. At some point in the evening, she will enter Lazaro's study and replace the map with the one we are currently drawing up."

Monsieur Dupéré waved a hand. "Facile."

"Simple, it may be," Major Ramsey said. "But there are any number of things that could go wrong."

"We'll pull it off all right," I said.

"Oui. Ellie and I are going to be bons amis, are we not?" he said, flashing his very white teeth.

"Dupéré…" Major Ramsey said.

But Dupéré had leaned closer and taken one of my hands in his, studying it. "Such soft, delicate hands to do such important work."

Major Ramsey said something sharply in French, to which Dupéré responded with a grin.

There was then an exchange in rapid-fire French, of which I could understand perhaps one word in ten. I presumed that was the reason Major Ramsey had chosen to use it.

Aristide waved a languid hand, his words flowing in an amused tone.

Major Ramsey answered with evident fluency and what sounded like a perfect accent, but without any of the accompanying gestures. It was remarkable, I realized suddenly, how Major Ramsey managed to sound stern even in French.

"I'd rather you not discuss me as if I weren't here," I said at last.

Both men turned to look at me.

"Ah, but pardon, chérie. It is unforgivably impoli of us."

Major Ramsey was less apologetic. "I think that's everything for the time being. You can go, Dupéré. Miss McDonnell, be here tomorrow evening at nineteen hundred hours."

"Actually, I'll be here tomorrow afternoon," I said. "Your sister invited me for tea."

Major Ramsey's face went impassive again, as it did when he didn't want me to know what he was thinking. Then he gave a short nod. "Very well. You can get ready here afterward, and Dupéré can pick you up."

Dupéré smiled. "I shall be looking forward to it."

He rose and took my hand in his. "Au revoir, Ellie. Until tomorrow night."

With a nod at the major, he left, and a moment later I heard him bidding Constance farewell with similarly flowery language.

I turned to look back at Major Ramsey, my brows raised in amusement. "Rather throwing me to the wolves between him and Lazaro, aren't you?"

"I don't suppose I need to tell you that Dupéré… has a reputation," Major Ramsey said. "I wouldn't give him too much encouragement."

"Do you suppose I just go about throwing myself at attractive men who happen to cross my path?" I asked it pleasantly enough, but I didn't suppose Major Ramsey missed the edge to the words.

If it came down to it, I would remind him that it was he who had kissed me and not the other way around.

His eyes flashed, and he looked as if he was about to reply and then thought better of it. He paused for just a moment, and when he did speak, his voice was neutral. "Of course not, Miss McDonnell."