Vera's Valour Read Online Free Page B

coffee and a freshly baked roll helped to pacify her as she sat in the French kitchen.
    After awhile Vera became aware that many people were coming and going and snatches of French she heard suggested the furtive nature of their activates. And when two men arrive with rifles slung over their shoulders, she guessed this house was a safe house for agents and saboteurs.
    Exhausted after her travels she was pleased when she was shown a bed inside the house, and lying down was soon asleep.
    * * *
    Vera had no idea what time it was when she awoke. She ached from head to toe and was glad just to remain where she was lying down.
    But she was relieved to have found Geoff – and had been able to give him the message.
    However, as she lay there, she wondered how she was going to get home. Geoff didn’t seem to want to acknowledge her, and the house was full of busy agents, all preparing for the invasion as they were in England.
    I must just keep myself scarce. Hidden. Until the invasion is over – which I hope and pray will be successful.
    Then after awhile she thought, I’d love a cup of tea – and a wash.
    That desire increased until she got up and finding a bathroom she was able to wash and change her underwear, which she had packed in her knapsack. But, seeing the ladder in her stocking, she chuckled, wishing she’d asked one of the Americans for some nylon stockings they were known to carry in their pockets.
    Gingerly finding her way to the kitchen she found it empty. So filling a kettle from a jug of water she got from the pump at the sink, and taking a hunk of bread from a long French loaf on the table she was about to eat her breakfast – when she heard footsteps on the tiled floor.
    Turning to see who it was opening the door she smiled as Geoff came into the kitchen with a frown on his face.
    “Get me a coffee too, will you?” he said casually as though they were at home.
    “Yes, sir,” she replied sharply, but he didn’t seem to notice her sarcasm. He sat down on a chair and put his elbows on the table and his hands over his face.
    Alarmed, Vera went over put her hand on his shoulder. “Are you alright?”
    He shrugged off her hand saying. “No. No. Nothing is certain. Except we are going to be bombed, heavily, very soon.”
    “Oh dear!”
    “You may very well say, Oh dear! Being under a bombing raid is murder. I’ve known it . . . you haven’t. Everything gets shattered. You may not survive.”
    Vera didn’t like the sound of that. “Haven’t you a shelter?”
    He didn’t reply.
    She made the coffee and brought him a cup saying, “Wasn’t the information I brought you any use?”
    “Of course it was.”
    Vera was pleased about that. But he didn’t seem to be.
    Sipping her coffee and pulling a slice of bread apart with her teeth she chewed it then swallowed and said, “Well I suppose I’d better see about getting back to England.”
    “Easier said than done.”
    So that was the crux of the matter. Geoff was pleased to get the information she’d brought him. But he now had the problem of getting her home safely. So she realised she had added to his worries.
    “Listen, Geoff, ” she said looking into his eyes and longing to kiss him, “I got here on my own, knowing it was a dangerous thing to do and I’ll get back on my own. Forget about me. I’ll hide somewhere, and once the invasion troops have come I’ll manage to get a lift back - somehow.”
    “What if the Germans throw us back into the sea?”
    “Oh they won’t do that. Churchill wouldn’t allow it!”
    Geoff’s strained face changed as he began to laugh. “Oh Vera, you’re quite a gal!”
    Vera was pleased to see his pent up tension being released. He looked at her with deep affection despite shaking his head. “Let’s hope you’re right,” he said, “But I am right about the bombing.”
    Longing for him to take her in his arms, she lowered her eyes. She had to be brave. Nothing would remove them both from the danger around