“We’ll let you settle in at the Limehouse, Sergeant Lind, and then Ellen can drive us to the aerodrome for three o’clock. I’ve got a pile of gen to prep you on—information, I mean, background and such. I do apologize, you’re not English, are you? I’ll try to simplify the lingo. We’ve arranged a bicycle for you, as it’s not far and it saves on petrol—oh dear, you are able to ride a bicycle?”

Sergeant Lind laughed. “I’m pretty fluent in English and I do know how to ride a bicycle. Don’t worry, it will be easier in uniform than in this coat.”

She was playacting even with her own posh accent, speaking English like royalty, as if she had a mouth full of river pebbles and could neither swallow them nor spit them out. I thought I’d strangle with laughter—I wished I had a smoke, just to think about something else.

“Thank goodness it isn’t snowing,” Phyllis said anxiously. “They have been walloped with it west of here. Perhaps we can arrange for boots if you haven’t brought any.”

“Thank you, I should love for boots to be arranged!”

I am not ashamed to say I gave thanks to God that I didn’t have to speak to her myself. I didn’t trust myself to speak a word.

As Sergeant Elisabeth Lind swept into the Limehouse, Phyllis was too busy trying to make her feel at home to notice my face doing acrobatics. Mrs. Warner was in her chair by the fire and Louisa on the piano stool where she often perched, and they both watched the queen bee with interest.

“Mrs. Campbell?” called Phyllis. “Mrs. Campbell, could you come through? Sergeant Elisabeth Lind is here—the German translator.”

Nan planted herself behind the bar with her hands on her hips. “Not another one!” she exclaimed.

“You already have a translator?” asked Sergeant Lind.

“I meant—” Poor Nan went red.

“Not another German?” guessed Elisabeth Lind. “No. I am Swiss. I am from Bienne, and my first language is French, but I speak German, too.” She laughed. “And English, of course!”

She unpinned her sealskin hat and laid it on the brass counter, and unbuttoned her soft gloves. She was no taller than Louisa and had to stand on her toes to lean across the bar. She said, “I am at the disposal of Wing Commander Cromwell. I am to stay here at the Limehouse, and Flight Officer Pennyworth will brief me on what’s happened at the aerodrome.”

Nan gave a wabble of her head with her mouth open as if she had forgotten how to speak.