Jansje glanced at her other customers as though checking to see if she was needed. She was a plain girl, but her smile made her seem pretty as she talked about her boyfriend. “Bram and I are planning to get married when he finishes at the police academy. I’m working here to earn money so we can get a head start.”

“That’s exciting!”

“I can’t wait to be his wife! Have you ever been in love?” Ans shook her head. “Oh, it’s wonderful! We go dancing nearly every weekend or else to this other club to listen to the music. You’re welcome to come with us sometime.”

“I wouldn’t want to limp along like a third wheel.”

She tilted her head in thought. “Bram’s roommate is awfully cute. I don’t think he’s dating anyone special. How about a blind date? We could all go together.”

“What’s his roommate like?”

“Erik already finished at the academy and he’s a policeman here in Leiden. He’s kind of quiet and serious, you know? But you’re so lively and friendly I think you’d be good for him. And Erik is good-looking, too —although not as handsome as Bram,” she added with a laugh.

The offer intrigued Ans. She felt a shiver of excitement, or perhaps it was guilt. Should she ask which church Erik belonged to? Her parents would forbid her to date a man from another religion —or worse, someone with no church background at all. She took a sip of coffee and decided she didn’t care. “I’m willing to try it if Erik is.”

“Great! What do you want me to tell him about you? Besides that you’re gorgeous.”

The compliment caught Ans off guard, and she felt her cheeks burning. She’d been taught that it was vain and prideful to acknowledge her own physical beauty. “Just tell him I’m new in Leiden and that I’m working for a university professor and his wife as her companion. Please don’t mention that I’m from a farm town.”

A customer beckoned to Jansje from another table, and she stood. “I’ll talk to Bram and Erik tonight. Stop by tomorrow and I’ll let you know what they say.”

It was quickly arranged. Ans would meet Jansje at the café on Saturday evening and they would walk to the dance hall where the men would be waiting.

Erik Brouwer’s first words when Jansje introduced Ans were “You weren’t lying when you said she was gorgeous! I’m very glad to meet you, Ans —before some other lucky fellow did!”