Free A Kiss for the Enemy by David Fraser

way, not looking at her,
    â€˜You and your brother always want to talk about Jews. There are many other things to talk about. Many other things I would like to talk to you about, Marcia.’
    â€˜Werner, you can’t say we “always” want to talk about the Jews! We – Anthony – mentioned them once, our first evening. Not since. And isn’t it important? If one lot of people are being bullied, hounded –’
    â€˜Hounded?’
    â€˜Yes. Hunted.
Gehetzt
, isn’t that it? And if that’s happening,isn’t it both wrong and important? And it’s getting you all a very bad name.’
    Werner had finished preparing the sausage. He folded the knife, put it away and seemed to be considering. He said,
    â€˜Yes, I think it is important. And there are other things important also. Just now the most important thing for me is this.’
    Next moment Marcia found herself held tightly in his arms, his mouth seeking and finding hers.
    â€˜Marcia, you are delicious, you are as beautiful as the morning, you are soft, you are smooth –’
    â€˜I feel terribly wicked. But terribly happy. It was all right in the end, wasn’t it? But, oh dear, Werner, I’m really a very carefully brought up young lady, you know.’
    â€˜I am sure of it. And I am a very polite, responsible officer.’
    â€˜You! You’re a fiend! Look me in the eyes again! What are we going to do?’
    â€˜Perhaps we shall stay here for ever. The horses are happy. They are warm and lazy and there is some grass. And a stream at the foot of the little hill. You too. Are you warm and lazy?’
    â€˜Very warm.’
    â€˜And lazy?’
    â€˜And lazy. I think I’d like to go to sleep. How long have we been here?’
    â€˜About an hour. One marvellous hour. Everything will be all right. You must trust me.’
    â€˜I do. But Werner, you must think terrible things of me. To let you –’
    â€˜I think only wonderful things of you. You enchant me.’
    â€˜Werner, are you
sure
–’
    â€˜I am sure. Everything will be all right. And all that matters is when I see you again. I have to return to my regiment tomorrow. You will soon be going to England. All that time I shall want you. I shall dream of you in my arms. My eyes will see you when I close them, my hands and limbs will be hungry to touch you. When –’
    â€˜Werner, my father and mother have talked about sendingme to Vienna this summer to study art which I want to do. We’ve got cousins there.’
    â€˜Austrian cousins?’
    â€˜No, Cousin Francis Carr is very British, he’s my father’s cousin and he was at the Embassy. Now, of course –’
    â€˜Of course. No Embassy. There has been a union between Germany and Austria.’
    â€˜Well, Cousin Francis is still there, with his family. I think there’s a British Consulate-General or something. Would you be able –’
    â€˜Vienna is not a long way from where my regiment is in Bavaria.
    â€˜You are really warm enough?’
    â€˜Well, I think I ought to put on
something
–’
    â€˜In a little while.’
    â€˜Werner! Oh! …’
    â€˜In a little while. Not quite yet.’
    It was at about six o’clock that Anthony’s car began to make disquieting noises.
    In the morning Frido had been an excellent guide to Celle. Anthony had insisted on giving him and Lise lunch at a small
Gasthof
in the country five miles east of the town. The afternoon was spent in leisurely exploration north-eastward.
    â€˜There is a cousin of my father who lives not far from Celle,’ said Frido. ‘She married an officer in the Luftwaffe called Langenbach. She’s part English. Very charming. She has an English grandmother.’
    â€˜I didn’t know you had English relations, Frido.’
    â€˜It is not so. My cousin, Anna, is born von Arzfeld but the grandmother who is English is not