“Enlightenment,” she said. It was the simplest answer and one this man would understand. He would think a female incapable of intelligent thought. After all, he’d traded his daughter to a Nazi for his own purposes.
“You hope to learn something?” He chuckled softly. “You?” Edward Wegner shook his head as if the very idea was ridiculous. “You’re a simple girl. I doubt you’ll gain much knowledge from the opera. It’ll all go right over your pretty little head.”
Anya gritted her teeth. He was beyond horrid. “I’d like to see for myself and listen to what the opera’s message is.” In that, she wasn’t lying. Even though she knew it was Nazi propaganda, she wanted to listen to it. The idea behind it would only help her understand them more and learn how to help those that needed it.
“If it means that much to you,” he began, “I’ll arrange it with Mr. Jones.” He set his pen down. “I expect you to only attend the performance. You’ll leave a half hour before and return immediately after.”
“Thank you, Father,” she said and glanced to the floor. He would expect a little bit of humility and cowardice from his daughter. If Anya looked at him directly in the eyes, Edward Wegner wouldn’t react well. Ida’s instructions had been exact. Her father expected her to act a specific way, and if she failed to do so, he’d punish her. Ida had taken great pleasure in explaining how those reprimands would go too. She had no reason not to believe the maid so she’d paid attention to everything Ida said. “I’ll do as you directed.”
“See that you do,” he said firmly. “Now go. I have work to do, and you’ve disrupted me enough.” He had no respect for his daughter. When he was done with her, he acted as if she was no longer in the room. Anya wished she could make it better for Ana somehow. Maybe it would be after she started helping the Jews in Germany.
Anya nodded and turned to leave the room—not that Edward Wegner noticed. She didn’t have anything else to say to him anyway, and she had to ensure her plan went off without a hitch. It helped that her fiancé was gone…even if she was disgusted by what kept Dierk Eyrich occupied. She would use that to her advantage, along with his knowledge of the camp if she could manage it. She could act sweet and innocent to lure him into speaking about things he shouldn’t. Anya wasn’t an actress, but how hard could it be?
She went down the hall and headed back to her bedchamber. Now that she had permission, she had to prepare for the evening. Starting with her gown. After she knew what to wear, she would prepare a bath and have a good soak. It wouldn’t be a fun evening, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t look and feel pretty.
