“For now,” her father said grimly.“But they’ll be watching.We can expect more visits.More searches.”
Frau von Ostenfeld spoke up, “I hope Lord Bowen was worth all of this.”
Jonathan expelled a long breath.How the hell was he going to get out of this house unseen and safely to a port and a ship that was sympathetic to King George?
“Papa —” Lise began.
“Go check on your brother.I need to assess the damage to the house and speak with Lord Bowen.”
Jonathan was released minutes after the French left.Herr von Ostenfeld himself came down and pushed the fake wall open.He held another lamp to light his way and said merely, “Follow me.”
Jonathan hated to see the lines of worry etched onto Lise’s father’s face, knowing they were because of him.His reluctant host didn’t stop on the ground floor.Silently, he led Jonathan up to the attic, where Hans and the other servants had their small quarters.
“I fear you must stay up here until we can get you out of the house,” the man said.“But we will try to do so before the French return, which we know they will.”
“May I say goodbye to ...to Henrik?”Jonathan nearly mentioned Lise, whom he fully intended to speak with, come hell or high water, and no one was going to stop him.But first, his friend.They were now comrades in arms, after all.
“Yes.After dark would be best.You will eat up here and rest, while I see about getting you as far from Eutin as I can.To somewhere convenient for you on the Elbe, if possible.”
“How will you manage that?”
Herr von Ostenfeld took a deep breath.“Those who live in our village and most of the nearby ones are not friends of the French.They will help us get you out, but it will be dangerous.”
“I don’t wish to put anyone else in danger,” Jonathan began.
“Nonetheless, you shall allow us to help you.Lise is correct aboutGastrecht.Beyond that, though, I believe you have saved both my children, even if my wife thinks you put them at risk in the first place.”
Herr von Ostenfeld prepared to leave.“I will send up coffee immediately and a plate of food when it’s ready.If you must go downstairs, don’t go to the ground level.And should you hear horses, you can climb out the window.”He didn’t need to point, as there was only one.
“There is a spot between the two roof lines and the chimney where you can crouch and not been seen from below or from here.”
“Thank you.”
Jonathan decided to use his time to rest and eat and rest again.Soon, he had coffee, brought up by Hans, followed a few minutes later by a platter of bread, cheese, slices of roast pork, a bowl of stewed cabbage, boiled potatoes swimming in sweet butter, and a jug of small bier.
He ate everything, knowing he would be on the move again soon.When it was dark, Jonathan went quietly downstairs to the family’s space, where all their bedchambers clustered around one hall.He knew which one was Henrik’s door and also which was Lise’s.
Ignoring the latter, he knocked, softly, in case his friend was asleep.
“Come in.”
When Jonathan entered, Henrik, who was propped up on pillows, gave him a tired grin.
“Did the French try to wake you?”Jonathan asked by way of greeting.
“They did.I just groaned and kept my eyes closed.And tried to bleed a little more.”
His words and his attitude made Jonathan laugh.If the world was not as it was, Henrik would be a good friend to have, alongside Finch.Then he had a thought.
“Will you come again to my country, to train with the British Army?”
“I believe so.The KGL only remains here like ghosts for a period of time, then we go back to our adopted home.”
“Which you dislike?”
Henrik shook his head.“No, not at all.I like Britain very much.But when I’m there, I wonder what is happening here.I worry, and I miss my family.”
“Understandable.Have you sent word to your commanding officer yet?Is there even a way to do so when they are constantly on the move?”
