“Everything that happened.” Neil shot Lachlan a pointed look. “I now see Germany intends to destroy England at all costs, and they’ll destroy Scotland to do so.”
“Aye, they will.”
“I’m fighting for Scotland, mind you.” Neil waited for Lachlan at the top of the stairs and shrugged. “But I’ll do so in an English uniform.”
Lachlan murmured and followed his brother down the hall. “Our fates are intertwined.”
“Aye, and what’s happening on the continent ... did you read the reports that came out recently? The Nazis are massacring thousands of Jews. Some say a million have died.”
“Aye. It’s horrific.” Lachlan met his brother’s compassionate blue-eyed gaze. “It’s not an English war or even an Allied war. It’s a war for humanity.”
“I’ll gladly fight for that.” Neil opened the door to Lachlan’s room and swung his bag onto the bed. “The time for a Scottish nation will come, but not until after we win this war. And not through violence or sabotage. Through a reasonable appeal to fairness and history.”
“I’m proud of you.” Lachlan’s voice thickened. “You’re a good man.”
“Wheesht.” Neil shut the door after Lachlan and gave him a sheepish smile. “You willnae be so proud when you see me in a humble private’s uniform.”
Lachlan’s smile and his admiration grew. “No. Even prouder.”
Neil dipped his head to the side, but then he stepped closer and looked Lachlan hard in the eye. “Did you know Cilla left?”
A kick in his chest. “Aye, I was told.”
“She left after all this happened.” Neil spoke in a low voice and motioned to Lachlan’s leg. “The spy you shot—do you think he came to—”
“We cannae discuss this.”
“The same nightMar na Creagbroke free from her moorings and drifted to sea—on a fair night with the slightest of winds?”
“Neil.” Lachlan fixed his firmest gaze on his brother. The family boat had been towed back to Brough the following day, battered yet afloat.
Neil huffed. “Cilla left no address, but Mother thinks she’ll write.”
“She never will. She cannae.” Almost two months. Althoughthe pain in his leg lessened each day, the pain in his heart merely changed form.
Neil mashed his lips together. “Is she—”
“All I know is she’s alive and safe. That’s all I’ll ever know.”
“I’m sorry.” Neil’s eyelids fluttered.
His brother’s sympathy settled deep in his soul, and Lachlan gave him a brisk nod. Then he worked up a smile. “Och, who needs a lass when he has a brother?” He punched his brother’s shoulder.
Neil chuckled and punched him back.
Lachlan lost his balance and plopped onto the bed, laughing. Aye, it was very good to have a brother again.
****
London
Monday, July 6, 1942
In a small conference room at MI5 Headquarters, Commander Yardley patted a folder on the table. “We have an assignment for you. We’d like you to work with our newest double agent.”
“Oh?” Cilla sat taller and studied the thick folder. “I thought I was here to file and type, not that I don’t enjoy the work.”
Tar leaned back in his chair and crossed his tartan trouser-clad legs. “Our main purpose in bringing you here was for this very possibility. MI5 has far too few female officers, and we’ve found our female double agents often require a feminine touch.”
