Odile followed Nathalie out into the lane. ‘Where are we going?’
‘We have to get the train to London,’ said Nathalie, taking the case from her cousin.
‘Where are your bags?’
‘I didn’t want to have to lug them all the way here and back again,’ explained Nathalie. ‘They’re safe for now. We can collect them on the way.’
‘Can you tell me what’s going on?’ asked Odile as they hurried down the road. She was aware of Nathalie constantly looking over her shoulder as if they were being followed. It added to the tension caused by the urgency of their flight. To where, she had no idea.
‘Bochette is here in England,’ said Nathalie, without breaking stride or looking at Odile.
‘What? I thought you …’
‘So did I, but apparently not. And she’s here for me and the sketchbook.’
‘Oh, Nathalie! We should tell the police. Tell Mr Bertram. He’ll know what to do. He has contacts with all sorts of people.’
‘Yes. And we will in time, but for now I need to get us away from the house.’
‘What aren’t you telling me?’ Odile stopped dead in the road. ‘I’m not moving until you tell me everything.’ She knew whatever it was, it was bad, but surely it couldn’t be worse than what she’d already gone through. Just being at Bignor Manor for a few weeks had given Odile the chance to rediscover an inner strength she didn’t know she still possessed. After being attacked back in France, she had wanted to hide away from the world, but here in England, she felt safe and she could feel herself coming back from the dead.
Nathalie stopped walking, and after a moment’s hesitation, turned around to face Odile. ‘Bochette wants to prove to me that she will stop at nothing to get me and to retrieve the sketchbook.’
‘Can’t you just give her the book?’
‘I can’t. There is information hidden in there. Keys to codes and names of spies working for both us and the Germans. If they get their hands on the codes and names …’
‘Why don’t you just destroy the book?’
‘Destroy my work? My designs? I know it sounds vain but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I truly didn’t believe Bochette would come to England for it.’
‘But, Nathalie, you must,’ said Odile.
‘No, I’m going to give the book to Thomas,’ said Nathalie. ‘He’ll be able to take it to the Home Office and they can decide if they need to extract the information.’
‘Can’t it wait?’ asked Odile.
‘No. It has to be done today and I can’t risk leaving you here until this is sorted out. They need to stop Bochette,’ said Nathalie. ‘Please don’t be scared.’
Odile began walking. Now she understood. It made sense. ‘I’m not scared anymore,’ she said, falling into step alongside her cousin. ‘Well, not as much as I used to be.’
‘I know,’ said Nathalie with a sad smile. ‘I just wish the circumstances were different.’ She checked her wristwatch. ‘We have to hurry, otherwise we’ll miss our train. I’ve bought the tickets already.’ She tapped the bag over her shoulder.
The road to the station seemed to go on forever, but eventually they arrived.
‘Come on, quickly,’ said Nathalie, hurrying Odile along.
Odile followed Nathalie in through the ticket office and out onto the platform. She watched as Nathalie scanned both sides. The platform was surprisingly busy and Odile shuffled back against the wall, her suitcase in her hands, watching her cousin briskly walk up to the end of the platform and back.
The whistle of a train had Odile looking up. She looked over at Nathalie who shook her head. ‘Next train. This one doesn’t stop!’ she called above the noise of the steam engine.
Odile’s anxiety levelled out a little and her shoulders relaxed, allowing some of the tension to ease from her neck. She watched Nathalie walk to the far end of the platform and then back as the speeding train approached.
‘Stand back!’ called the guard, as he walked in the opposite direction along the platform. The noise of the train grew louder as it rumbled its way towards them. It tooted several times.
Odile turned her gaze back to Nathalie and smiled as her cousin turned to meet her gaze.
And then Odile saw Nathalie lurch forwards. She was too close to the edge of the platform. She pivoted on the edge, trying to throw her balance away from the track and the oncoming train. There was a look of horror on Nathalie’s face as she realised she was falling backwards.
