“Oh no.” Her cheek tickled, and she brushed away tears.
She couldn’t lead the Gestapo to Lyd-af-Lys. She needed to hide.
Frue Plads opened before her, with the cathedral to the south and university buildings to the north.
And the library on the corner beside her.
With a quick glance behind her, Else burst inside the ornate brick building.
A rounded, golden, arched ceiling soared above. On both floors, on each side of the open atrium, bookcases jutted out. Else trotted upstairs and found an empty alcove. Across the atrium, the mirroring alcove also stood empty.
Her breath puffing hard, Else slid her suitcase under the table, flipped it open, and pulled out her tan raincoat. She shrugged off her cobalt blue winter coat and stuffed it into her suitcase. It wouldn’t close.
Else yanked on the raincoat. She ripped off her hat and stashed it on the highest bookshelf she could reach.
Then she grabbed a book and opened it, with her back to the atrium.
What now? Her hands shook, her arms, her whole body. Had she been shaking all this time?
Else squeezed her eyes shut and moaned. She didn’t have time to get to Vedbæk tonight—not without betraying her friends and the man she loved. She’d have to hide in the library overnight and plan a route to take in the morning.
Oh, but Hemming. He was expecting her that night. Would he think she was in trouble?
Or would he think she was staying away out of spite?
43
VEDBÆK
Where on earth was Else?
Henrik tugged at his overcoat sleeves and passed the drawing room clock—8:29, over three hours since sunset.
“You’ll wear a groove in the rug, Hemming.” Laila sat on the sofa in her hat and coat. Four guests sat around the room, two middle-aged brothers and their wives. Luggage waited by the door.
Henrik ran his hand through his hair. “She’s angry with me.”
“Not Else. Come, sit.” Laila patted the sofa cushion and cocked her head toward the guests, who seemed rather interested in Henrik’s romantic dilemma.
He plopped down onto the sofa. “I hope she’s angry with me.”
“Why would you want that?”
Henrik’s sigh made his chest collapse. “I prefer it to the alternative explanations for her absence.”
Laila’s eyes widened enough to expose a flicker of fear.
His head sagged back against the sofa’s wooden frame. Had Else been in an accident? Arrested?
“I’m sure it’s an innocent delay,” Laila said.
Delay? Else knew what was at stake. “I hope she’s being peevish and staying away to make me reconsider my decision.”
“That isn’t like her.”
Henrik rolled his head on the sofa back and leveled his gaze at Laila. “You’re not helping.”
She gave him a rueful little smile.
