During his orchestration of the sounds of her mock torture in Cell Block B—the slaps and punches and moans and groans—and the skillful application of false bruises and cuts and pig’s blood, he’d refused to explain himself. All in good time, Derrick had said when Victoria pressed. Meanwhile, if you and your friends wish to live, you will trust me and play along with this charade.

Derrick poked at the fire. “That question is best answered over a glass of the first press of the grape,” he said, referring to the bottle of 1943 Cuvee, one of the most expensive wines to be produced in France. Victoria wondered if the wine cellar of the count was also open to the disposal of the duke. “It’s never too early in the day for champagne, especially in these times. Ah, here’s Alois now,” he said as the mantel clock struck ten o’clock.

They took seats on opposite couches while the servant poured the wine, leaving the bottle in an ice bucket on the table between them, and when they were alone, Derrick raised his glass to Victoria. “To your safe return to America to live a happy and fulfilled life, Victoria Grayson. That should answer the question of why you were brought here.”

She stared at him. “That’s the only reason?”

“The one and only. What else could there be?”

Her face warmed, but her gaze remained steady. “You know very well, Colonel. Or have I been flattering myself?”

He set down his champagne flute. “No, you’ve not been flattering yourself, but I accepted from the beginning that some hopes, dreams, desires, whatever word one wishes to describe yearnings, are never to be fulfilled. For the record, though, my hankering extended beyond sheer lust, as you continue to interpret my interest. You stirred longings of another kind on a purer and higher level. No need to go into them. I have been satisfied to believe that what could have been might have been at another, more benevolent time.” He raised an eyebrow at her. “Do you deny it?”

Victoria forced herself to meet his gaze. She owed him a direct look and straight answer. It was true. After Ralph, if they’d met in a world at peace… “No, I cannot deny it,” she said. Her eyes burned. “Derrick, how could a man like you become a part of an organization like the SS?”

He sighed. “At the time, I joined for the sake of my country. I foolishly believed in Hitler and his mission to restore Germany to its former glory. By the time I understood that my own work would perpetrate his madness, it was too late to withdraw without raising suspicion of my loyalties and endangering my family. But at least by staying in the SS, I could help save the lives of some of my countrymen.”