414Chapter 1
Klara woke with a start to the sound of pounding, coming from the front door. She leaned out her window to find five men, in uniform, waiting in the street. Quickly she lit her oil lamp and grabbed her keys. On her way to the door, she locked her Grandmere's door, hoping her hearing loss had enabled her to stay fast asleep. She pulled her robe tightly around her as another pound echoed through the house. Floating down the stairs quickly, she reached the door and yanked it open.
"Guten abend Frauline." a husky soldier huffed, pressing himself toward the door.
"Je ne parle pas Deutch." she said firmly, beginning to close the door.
A taller, slimmer soldier pushed past the husky one. He looked a great deal more pleasant than the others and smiled before speaking. "Parle vous Angles?" he asked, in a much more polite tone.
"Yes." she answered flatly with half a smile.
"Good evening miss," he said in a perfect British accent, "we are doing a routine inspection of the houses in this neighborhood, may we come in please?"
"It's very late, I really don't think that's a good idea." Klara began to shut the door again, but the soldier stepped closer, butting his boot between the door and it's frame.
"I am sorry about the hour Madmoiselle, but you don't really have a choice. I give you my word that you will not be harmed, we will check the house then be off."
"Very well." she swallowed nervously, opening the door. "Would you care for some tea, coffee, some hot chocolate perhaps?" She hoped that giving them some refreshment might distract them from searching the entire house.
"That would be most appreciated, we aren't usually shown much hospitality, and it has been a very long night."
"So which will it be?"
"Since it's so late, how about the hot chocolate." he smiled. "Unless that's more trouble, in which case, the tea will be fine."
"Klara was impressed with his manners, he was the most polite S.S. officer she had ever met. He lead the other men inside and they began the search while she heated enough milk for six cups of chocolate chaud. She began to pour the fudge into the mugs when she heard the harsh squeal of the basement door. Her heart beat fiercely within the small cavity of her chest. At first, she thought of running, but remembered Grandmere upstairs, and there were no men downstairs. Her feet wanted to sprint, but she focused her mind, forcing them to stay still, she continued with the chocolate chaud, thankful for the distraction in provided.
Her mind ticked quickly, thinking of excuses for the beds and medical supplies downstairs. As she was thinking, she could hear the soldiers murmuring something in German that didn't sound pleasant, but then, when did German sound pleasant? She would have laughed at the thought, but was startled by the sound of boots climbing up the steps.
With shaking hands, she placed the mugs on the table, sitting behind one. The soldiers clamored around the table, nudging the polite one as they did.
"Umm, Madmoiselle, we were hoping you could explain what we found in the basement?" he asked tentatively, taking a sip of hot chocolate.
"Oh, of course! I take in boarders, for spare money, you understand. With the war going on, and all the rations a bit of extra money comes in handy. Really, extra money usually comes in handy." she giggled nervously. "They also give us their ration cards, so we end up getting far more, legally of course, because we feed them as well."
"That doesn't explain the medical supplies." he said sadly.
"Right, they are from six years ago, my Grandpere was very ill, I nursed him in the house because he refused to stay in the hospital. I suppose we just never got rid of them, really should though I guess. It can't look very good for them to be down there, huh?"
"No, it doesn't look good, but it is an explanation, which is wonderful." the young man smiled. He turned to his fellow soldiers and explained in German. They nodded, but didn't look as convinced as the young soldier. "Once again, we're very sorry for the inconvenience, thank you so much for the warm drink."
"You're welcome," she smiled, ushering them out the front door, "tell me sir, do I have anything to be worried about?"
"I don't believe so Madmoiselle, thank you for your cooperation." he smiled, turning to walk away.
"Excuse me!" she called. "What is your name?"
"How rude of me, I'm Captain Eiffel."
"Thank you for your kindness Captain, I'm Klara, Klara Kemp."
"Sleep well Miss Kemp." he smiled, before turning to follow his fellow men.
Klara managed to contain the small laugh that threatened to jump from her lungs. After tonights ordeal, she would do anything but sleep well, unless she had a strong drink. She stood at the door, watching as they walked away, sighing in relief. Pulling her robe tighter around her small waist, she closed the door and went to fix herself a drink.
Sleep well...Jack thought, rolling over in his bed for what seemed to be the hundredth time that night. On the walk back to the barracks, his fellow officers discussed Miss Kemp''s home, vocalizing their distrust in the situation in the basement. Before they had returned to their rooms, they decided surveillance was needed, and that it was possible she was the runner they were looking for, no other house in the neighborhood had been so suspicious, so exactly what they were looking for.
He felt awful, he had told her she had nothing to worry about, nothing to worry about, there was always something to worry about with German soldiers, always, he thought. Miss Kemp had occupied his thoughts all night, he felt guilty and hoped she had been able to sleep more than he had been able to. He knew he didn't know her, but she was stuck in his mind. Her brown hair braided loosely over her shoulder, her robe brushing against her knees as she moved to fix hot chocolate. The telltale giggle that showed she was nervous and implied she had something to hide. Nothing to worry about!
Unable to lay still any longer he jumped off his bunk, pulling up his trousers and shoving his arms in his coat. He didn't bother shaving, or brushing his thick blonde hair, he pulled open the heavy wooden door as he slipped his arm into his coat, meeting with the gush of winters breeze. Adjusting his collar to block the cold gusts he set off through the maze of French streets, re-tracing last nights steps. Finally, he found the only yellow home, his teeth chattering as he admired the chipping paint before knocking. He was only left on the step for a moment before an old woman with grey hair and gleaming green eyes opened the door.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I must have the wrong house, I was looking for Miss Kemp." he smiled, trying to hide his confusion. He knew this was the house he visited last night and could not account for his mistake.
"Right house, wrong tenant, let me go get Klara for you. Do come wait in the kitchen, it's freezing out here, and help yourself to a croissant, they're fresh from the bakery."
"Thank you Madame." Jack ducked through the small door and managed to find his way to the kitchen, trying to remember how he had gone the night before. He could hear singing coming from upstairs which stopped after a knock on a door. Soon after, Klara came bustling down the stairs, her skirt clinging to her nylons as she walked, a heavy sweater wrapped around her shoulders.
"What are you doing here?" she asked in a frantic whisper. "I hadn't planned on telling my Grandmere about last night."
"Why wouldn't you tell her? German officers inspected your home and found four beds and medical supplies!" he laughed, sure she was joking.
"Because you told me I had nothing to worry about, and she's not exactly a spry young thing that can handle stressful situations as easily as I can!"
He reached across the table slowly, sincerity in his blue eyes, and took her hand. She flinched and looked at him strangely, but did not remove her hand. "In the kitchen they told me your excuse had satisfied their confusion, but on the walk back to the barracks, they said different, told me they were going to put surveillance on your house. They know that someone from this neighborhood is helping the runners and with your beds and medical supplies you are the greatest suspect. I am sure they would have arrested you last night if I hadn't persuaded them otherwise."
Klara's hand was trembling in his, she bit her lip nervously, it was her. Suddenly he realized that she was the runner, the one helping the allied soldiers, doing the one thing he wished he had the courage to do. When he left his room in the morning, he had never thought she was actually capable of endangering herself in such a manner, she looked so sweet, so innocent. And here she sat, a beautiful young woman, brave and strong, incredible, he thought while he held her hand.
"You have to stop Miss Kemp, notify your runner, tell him you'll take no more soldiers. You have to stop for the safety of you and your Grandmere." he said earnestly. He had no idea why he felt like he needed to protect her, or why he was asking her to give up something he commended her for.
"How did you know? I mean...why are you saying such things?"
"It's written across your face, the beds, the medical supplies, it all adds up that you are exactly what my men were looking for. You'll never get through an interrogation, you're far to sweet."
"Are you going to report us?" she asked, her face stony, her voice shaking.
"I won't tell, truth is, I'm only in the army because I was drafted, I think Hitler's a maniac, but my country men will find out, they already suspect you."
"No, my Grandmere will never allow it, she feels it's her duty to help the injured men."
"Your Grandmere?" he asked, baffled.
"Yes, she is the one behind it all, she was doing it for months before I arrived. She won't stop until they arrest her."
"They would have arrested you last night had there been any men in one of those beds without papers, and they would have shot him right in front of you." he urged.
"It was by God's grace that we were empty, He will keep us safe."
"Perhaps he kept those beds empty to give you warning, don't test Him."
Klara sighed, "Well, how can we stop the surveillance?"
Jack paused, pondering her question, yes, there had to be some way to keep his men from her without them suspecting. His mind twisted and turned around several options but only one seemed to hold steady. Fear constricted his throat and sweat beaded on his brow, shyly he cleared his throat. It's the only way... he thought. The men he worked with might be suspicious, but things like this happened all the time during the war, right? With another deep breath and a gulp, he found the courage he was looking for.
"Marry me."
Chapter 1! I know it moves kind of fast, and we dive right into the story, I will understand if some of you think it's tooo fast, believe me, things will slow down, I just want to get to the MAIN point of the story, which is what happens to Jack and Klara after the proposal, this chapter is just a scene setter. SO that said, I hope you'll stick with it! Thanks for reading, and your reviews and opinions would be much appreciated!