Page 85 of The Resistance Book Club

Margot and Arielle quickly settled in, accepting simple but welcome gifts of plates and rugs from Gray’s wife to make their cottage a home. The little girl happily played on the rug in front of the parlour’s fire as Margot chatted in French with Gray’s mother.

She eagerly began work on Gray’s library, a double-height room with polished wooden shelves loaded with all manner of books, as well as maps in leather cases. She wondered what Gray would’ve made of the antique map of Cordeval’s tunnels, which, despite its age, still guided people underneath the village. The large marble fireplace did its best to keep Margot and Arielle warm as it burned apple wood from the orchard. Aladder ran round the library on a rail, which reminded Margot of Les Pages d’Espoir every time she climbed it.

She started with Gray’s huge collection of antique books in French. He had German books as well, and, as she tidied them, Margot daydreamed about showing them to Theo. No one was allowed to tell her where he was. She’d written notes to him that she couldn’t send, but she kept them, hoping she could give them to him one day.

When she wasn’t working in Gray’s library, Margot was helping with the radios. The metal and Bakelite machines, with their array of lights and dials, were lined up in what had once been a ballroom, under chandeliers shrouded in sackcloth and portraits of Gray’s ancestors.

She knew she would always remember the day that she turned the dial and spoke to Joséphine. Although she was so far away, so untouchable and unseen, Joséphine’s voice was as clear as if she was standing next to her. They couldn’t speak for long, in case the Germans found them talking on the frequency, but Margot didn’t feel so lost now; she knew where to find her friends on the dial. And she smiled when she heard that the Resistance Book Club was continuing. Her friends were still meeting in the cellar under her shop to share their love of reading.

She wore Daniel and Esther’s wedding rings round her neck on a chain, looking after them until Arielle was old enough to have them. Keeping their rings so close meant she would always think of them.

Weeks passed by and Christmas was coming ever closer. Margot had been picking up English and was determined to learn; Gray’s mother had been helping her and she was confident that she was getting better. She joined a group who were planning a Christmas party at the house, and it stretched her English just to follow the conversations, but she felt more and more a part of the place.

She was still working on the French books; they were her connection to the country she’d had to leave behind. In quiet moments in the evening, when Arielle was asleep, Margot wrote on whatever paper she could find, recording everything she could remember. It brought back her friends to her; a testimony of all they had been through.

She’d made friends with the other women who worked on the radios, and they were planning to start their own book club. But she still hadn’t heard from Theo.

She’d wrapped up warmly as the library was vast and chilly in the winter cold, before the fireplace warmed up. She wore a thick cardigan along with a knitted scarf and fingerless gloves. Arielle was sitting up by herself now; she sat in her pram, wearing a bonnet that Gray’s mother had knitted for her. As Margot wheeled her over the parquet wooden floor of the corridor to the library, she noticed a soldier standing at the library’s entrance.

‘Morning, madame, morning mademoiselle. That’s a pretty bonnet,’ he said with a smile, giving a merry salute in the direction of the pram. ‘You’re getting a visitor today, madame. A new colleague on the radio team, by the name of Emil Hoffman. MrGray’s asked if you’d give him the grand tour when he arrives?’

‘Yes, of course. But I will bring along Arielle too,’ Margot said in English. She knew she sounded halting when she spoke, but she was pleased she understood what the soldier had said to her. Emil Hoffman – was he a German, or perhaps Austrian or Swiss?

The soldier nodded and opened the library door for her. ‘I’ll send the gent along when he arrives.’

Margot went into the library and started work. She’d tried to decorate it for Christmas, and the large fireplace looked festive with its fringe of holly and ivy that she’d draped on it. Arielle had a playpen in the library, but Margot kept herbalanced on her hip as she went over to the shelves. A collection of Molière’s plays in beautiful leather binding was waiting for her, with Gray’s family crest stamped in gold leaf on the spine.

‘What will you be getting for Christmas?’ Margot asked the baby, who grinned at her in reply.

Despite the shortages she’d been able to squirrel away some small gifts, which she was looking forward to giving to Arielle. MrGray had helped out there too, sending a little parcel of toys for Margot to share with her. The little girl had charmed Margot’s new colleagues and the Christmas cards she received all bore Arielle’s name alongside hers.

One of the women working on the radios was Jewish, and she invited Margot to bring Arielle along so that, each evening, the little girl could see her lighting the Hanukkah candles and hear her sing traditional songs. Each flame was a tiny light fighting against the darkness that was closing in on people like Arielle’s family in Europe. Margot had seen that hatred with her own eyes and wanted to do what she could to ensure that Arielle would grow up knowing about her parents’ faith.

Margot carried Arielle over to the shelves. ‘Does Monsieur Goose like the books?’ she asked, as Arielle pressed the goose’s nose against the volumes. She kept the bear clutched in her arm. ‘Or maybe Herr Knuddel?’

Arielle chuckled, then let her head fall to rest on Margot’s shoulder. She clutched the wedding rings Margot wore round her neck in her little fist. Now that Arielle was nearly six months old, Margot suspected it wouldn’t be long before she started to teethe. She already took great pleasure in chewing the rubber teething rattle that Gray’s mother had given her. She was growing up so fast, learning something new every week, it seemed, and Margot wished that her parents could watch her change and be proud of the little girl they’d brought into the world.

Margot didn’t know where Daniel was right now, but sheknew that he was doing good work. Every week new reports of Chevalier’s exploits came through on the radio, with tales of rescued prisoners, supply lines blown up, or downed Allies helped to safety. And now and then came a message from Daniel for his little girl and the woman who was caring for her, sending love to the first and gratitude to the second. Esther was never far away, Margot was sure, and she told Arielle of her parents and their faith, and of all that they had given up for her.

‘Your mum and dad are the bravest people I’ve ever known,’ Margot told her. ‘And one day, you’ll see your dad again.’ At least, Margot had to hope that she would. He was still a wanted man, living in constant danger.

Arielle blinked up at Margot and then, with a coo of contentment, beamed at her. As she did, Margot heard the soft sound of the library door opening beyond the bookshelves. This must be MrHoffman, the new man on the code team; whatever would he make of a baby in the ranks?

Margot turned, a polite smile on her face. Then she stared in surprise.

‘Theo!’ she gasped, before hurrying over the polished floor towards him.

It was the man she loved. A little thinner, perhaps, but it was definitely him.

‘Oh, where have you been?’ she said, holding the palm of her trembling hand to his cheek as she caught his gaze. He didn’t reply but instead put his arm round Margot’s waist and drew her to him, snuggling Arielle too as he embraced her. For a long moment they were silent, then Arielle gave a chuckle and presented her little goose to Theo for inspection.

‘Not Theo any more,’ he admitted, gazing at Margot. ‘Emil Hoffman of Switzerland now, thanks to MrGray.’ Then he pressed a soft kiss to Margot’s lips. ‘And here with you at last.’

‘Emil?’ Margot tried out the name. She’d have to get used to calling him that, but she decided it wouldn’t matter if shesometimes called him Theo when they were alone. ‘I love you so much. I’ve been so worried. But you’ll love it here, I know you will. It’s a happy place. And it’s even happier now you’re here too.’

Theo beamed, then kissed Arielle’s forehead tenderly. The little girl smiled, clutching at the wedding rings once more.

‘I love you, Margot,’ Theo said. ‘Let’s never be parted again,’