But as she turned, stepping slightly away from the door, the soldier appeared decidedly less interested in her. His eyes were trained on the other woman who’d answered the door, all the silent menace of before disappearing without a trace as his smile reached all the way to his eyes.

“Miss DuPont,” he said, taking a step forward. “We meet again after all.”

Cate studied the other woman, taking in the upturn of her mouth but not missing the tense way she clasped her hands behind her back, knuckles interlaced.

“So we do,” the woman replied, an obvious waver in her voice. This woman was understandably scared of him too, just as she’d been, but how were they already acquainted? Was this woman a German sympathizer? “What brings you here tonight?”

Cate cuddled the small dog closer to her, burying her mouth against his soft fur and wishing she could scream.

“This is your sister?” he asked.

“Cousin,” Cate interrupted, lifting her lips from the dog. “I am her cousin.”

To her credit, the other woman didn’t miss a beat. She didn’t so much as glance sideways at her, when she could have given her away as a fraud within seconds, but she did smile and nod. Cate had taken a risk in trusting her, but it had paid off in spades.

“Your cousin?” he repeated.

“She is. Thank you for escorting her home.”

Cate moved beside her, heart racing, the warmth of the home at her back beckoning her in, making her long to curl up beside the fire. But this was only the first hurdle; the minute she was safe, she had to find a way to go back for Jack. To brave soldier-infested territory again and somehow smuggle Jack to safety, whatever that might look like.

“May I call again to see you?” the soldier asked.

Cate watched the tremble in the woman’s top lip, and she reached for her hand, standing in solidarity with a stranger as they both faced the enemy. She knew then that he was interested in the woman, and that the feeling was most likely not reciprocated; but he hadn’t seemed to notice, or if he had, it certainly wasn’t putting him off.

“Yes, Wolfgang, you may,” the woman replied with so much warmth Cate wondered if she’d been wrong in her assumption.

How did the woman know his name? Cate’s hand fell away, as if she’d been slapped, terror rising inside her for a moment, wondering what kind of situation she’d stumbled into. Was this a friendly house or not? Were they simply playing a cat and mouse game with her? Or was this woman just a tremendous actress?

But as Wolfgang smiled, waved, and finally turned to go, disappearing into the darkness, the other woman’s sigh of relief calmed Cate’s nerves.

“I’m Adelaide,” she whispered, once he’d gone.