Page 40 of The Amsterdam Enigma (The Continental Capers of Melody Chesterton #3)

W hat was next? Melody sat in the armchair in her suite and pondered her immediate future. It appeared that William had redeemed himself somewhat at the Foreign Office. He had sent a note that morning to ask if he could call on her and had hinted at such an outcome.

She hadn’t seen or spoken to Rat or Alessandro since the previous day.

She suspected that, unlike William, they were licking their wounds, or at least Alessandro was.

While Rat could probably claim he was merely doing as he’d been directed, if William was right, then Alessandro had been involved in dismissing his concerns and ensuring that Captain Somerset didn’t return to Amsterdam, at least officially.

As much as Alessandro had wanted to argue against the obvious the previous day, Melody was sure that even he secretly realised they had been made to look like fools.

While Melody didn’t know precisely what had been said and done in Morocco, it was hard to believe that this Dutch mission reflected well on the conte.

After all, without her and William’s help, he would have walked into Germany’s trap and caused the British to seem paranoid and heavy-handed.

More importantly, the Dutch might have started to doubt Britain’s competence or honesty and to question their neutrality.

As it was, who knows what Germany had gleaned about their operations?

Melody couldn’t decide whether this Amsterdam puzzle had put her off international espionage and intrigue or confirmed how well-suited to it she was.

Just then, there was a soft tap at the door. Melody rose and went to open it. After the note, she wasn’t surprised to find Captain William Somerset standing there, in uniform and holding his hat.

“It is good to see you, William,” she said softly and sincerely. “It is especially good to see you back in uniform. Please come in.”

William smiled so sweetly that it was all Melody could do not to rush into his arms then and there.

Instead, she stepped back to let him in.

The day they’d met in the botanical gardens, she had told him she missed him, but he had not reciprocated.

Perhaps he had reconsidered his feelings towards her, especially given what he believed she felt towards Alessandro.

“I felt we left things awkwardly yesterday. It was such a chaotic scene, and I wanted to come and say goodbye properly.”

“Goodbye?” Melody asked in alarm. “You are leaving already?”

“I have been summoned back to London, at least to debrief on this operation. Not only did we walk straight into the trap set for us, but in doing so, we provided Germany with a great deal of valuable information about our operatives and methods. In fact, we do not even know everything they managed to learn as they moved us about like marionettes. Although we haven’t deciphered the note that Mustafa memorised, there is reason to believe we might crack it soon enough, and who knows what that could reveal.

There is strong reason to suspect a breach of confidential information somewhere within the Foreign Office or British Intelligence that allowed Helga Meier to anticipate our actions so thoroughly.

I must return and report to Sir Edward.”

Because Melody hadn’t heard from Alessandro or Rat that morning, she was unsure if they had also been recalled.

She asked now, and William smiled ruefully.

“Conte Foscari definitely has some explaining to do. It appears he not only walked into a German trap, but it was one with clear warning signs he chose to ignore. He was so eager to prove his acumen over mine that he made some quite basic errors in judgment.”

Melody reflected on her earlier concerns about how conveniently the cypher key had been handed to them and how arrogantly Alessandro had dismissed those worries, and she had to agree.

It appeared William didn’t have any details on how this mission might impact Alessandro’s work for the Secret Service Bureau, but from the look on his face, he wouldn’t mind if the man was brought down a peg or two.

Melody only hoped this wouldn’t harm Rat’s career.

As she thought about her brother, Melody recalled a question she’d wanted to ask before they parted the day before, but hadn’t felt comfortable mentioning in front of Rat. Now, she told William about finding the clippings of the classified ads in Jemima’s room.

“Of course, this led us to believe she was involved with Germany, but there was nothing we uncovered yesterday to support this. Given Robert’s involvement, or the man we thought was Robert the desk clerk, I now wonder if those clippings were just another piece of misdirection left for us to make us suspicious of Miss Edwards.

It is clear Robert was watching our every move and reporting back to Helga Meier.

He must have noticed our interactions with her. ”

William smiled. “Actually, your brother mentioned this Miss Edwards to me yesterday. Having observed this hotel and your comings and goings for days, I can tell you that I believe she is exactly what she appears to be.”

“Then why lie about travelling with her aunt?” This was the question Melody kept returning to.

“Perhaps because the social mores against a young woman travelling alone make it easier to conjure up a fictional chaperone who keeps to her room,” William suggested.

Melody considered his words and nodded her agreement. As annoying as Jemima Edwards was, she knew her brother would be thrilled to receive this news. The more she thought about it, the happier she was for Rat.

William sat, and they chatted for some time about nothing in particular. Melody admitted she didn’t know what she wanted to do next, and William encouraged her not to doubt her abilities, boosting her spirits.

“You are clever, insightful, and brave, Melody. Whether or not intelligence work is where you choose to spend your time, don’t ever doubt what an excellent operative you make.” With this, he stood. “I should be going. I have some reports to write and telegrams to send.”

Melody also stood. This was it; William Somerset was about to walk out of her life again.

In Morocco, she let him go. Now, she had a second chance if only she were brave enough to take it.

William had praised her courage, but somehow, expressing her feelings to the man before her seemed far more terrifying than confronting a villain or escaping from ropes and a gag.

“William, I…” she said hesitantly.

“You don’t have to say anything, Melody,” he replied as he moved closer and took her hands in his. “Things between us don’t need explanation.”

He was about to release her hands and turn towards the door.

“No! I do. I have to say something. No, that’s not right either.

I want to say something. You left me in Morocco before I could explain.

” Was that true? The expression in William’s eyes told her that her actions at the time had been enough explanation.

Trying again, Melody said, “I know what you thought you saw. Perhaps what you did see when Alessandro first appeared. And it’s true, I had a girlish infatuation in Venice and it was not entirely extinguished in Morocco. But now…”

William had turned fully towards her at these words, and now he stepped closer, so close that Melody could feel his breath, warm on her face.

“But now?” he asked eagerly.

“Now, I see what I believed I felt for Alessandro for what it truly was. He is handsome and charming, and he swept me off my feet. He also used me, overlooked me, and belittled my contributions at every turn. He doesn’t respect my intellect or value my involvement in these investigations.

” Even to her own ears, these words sounded inadequate.

They were marks against Alessandro, but not reasons to love William.

Melody tried once more. “I was heartbroken when I thought I had lost you forever and giddy with joy when you revealed yourself the other night.”

She reconsidered her words. “Well, I was scared at first, of course. After all, I had been grabbed from behind on a dark street in the middle of the night.” She smiled.

“But after I realised it was you, those feelings turned to joy. I have come to realise how much you mean to me. You have trusted me, confided in me, and treated me as an equal. You have respected me, not only as a woman, but as a person of intellect and worth, and have not been threatened by my contributions. Even when I have doubted myself, you have cheered me on and pushed me to believe in myself. I cannot tell you what that has all meant to me.”

Even as she said all this, Melody realised that as true as those words were, they could just as easily be the underpinnings for a good friendship and that she still hadn’t said the words that mattered. “I love you, William. And I’m sorry it took me this long to realise it.”

Captain William Somerset said nothing in reply. He didn’t have to. Instead, he took Melody into his arms and pressed his lips to hers.