such a mess, whether or not it had brought it upon itself, and somebody had raised it back to its former glory.
In fact, he was half-inclined to the notion that Britain was drifting, with huge social problems, and needed somebody like Herr Hitler, or even Il Duce , to take over for a few years. He chuckled at the thought: to take over democratically, of course.
With the sound of the cork popping out they relaxed back into their earlier light-hearted banter, and when the band returned and started playing again, Konrad was on his feet.
‘Rosemary, will you dance with me?’
When she shot Biff a glance he added quickly: ‘With your permission?’
Biff said: ‘of course,’ and got to his feet, offering his hand. ‘Anna?’
She got up immediately and together they followed the others on to the floor. It was a slow foxtrot, Anna turned and held up her arms. As Biff placed his hand around her waist he suddenly remembered there was no dress there.
Her back was smooth, and cool, and it made him feel as if they were being very intimate, not helped by the fact that she snuggled up close to him. He was aware of her warm breath and musky scent.
They said nothing for a while, just moving to the music, until she whispered: ‘You love Rosemary very much.’
It was a statement, not a question, but he answered all the same.
‘I do. And I can see that it is the same with you and Konrad.’
She smiled and nodded. They didn’t say anything more. Given another time, another place, they knew that they would have been drawn to one another.
Anna was very light on her feet. She began to sing the melody softly, making him feel very good.
As they did a turn he caught a glimpse across the dance floor of Konrad and Rosemary. There was no doubt in his mind that they too were very happy in each other’s company.
What strange quirk of fate had brought them all together now?
‘Penny for them?’
He came to with a rush. Anna was looking at him, one eyebrow raised, a faint grin playing on her strong, beautiful face. He went bright red, and flustered: ‘Sorry. Just thinking of something Konrad said.’
He gave her a playful squeeze. ‘My God, your English is so good – where did you pick up that expression?’
She chuckled. ‘I spent two years doing post-graduate English at Oxford. I learned plenty of vernacular in the pubs after work.’
It was his turn to laugh, but she continued to look quizzical.
‘What was it that Konrad said that you found so interesting?’
Still red in the face, Biff realized he couldn’t say what he had really been thinking.
‘Oh, how he likes Herr Hitler for what he has achieved in Germany.’
To his surprise, instead of agreeing she turned her nose up.
‘Not all of us are so enamoured – that is the correct word, isn’t it?’
He nodded. ‘Yes, but I don’t understand. I thought you would be in full agreement?’
She said nothing for a while, as if she were carefully selecting her words, not wanting to go against her new husband.
‘He has done wonderful things – there can be no doubt about that. But I fear for the future – for my children – when I have them. Hitler is not a man to rest on his laurels. What will he do next? We are all enraptured by him at the moment and that includes nearly everybody, despite some misgivings about this business with the Jews.’
She grimaced. ‘There are rumours …’ she shrugged. ‘But it is now too late to influence anything. We can only pray.’
Her words shook Biff.
‘But Konrad – how does he feel? Has he worries?’
She pursed her lips. ‘Sometimes, but he would never say anything to you; he is a very loyal person, an officer of the old school. He is not in the Nazi Party, though, despite some pressureand worry about future promotion prospects.’
As the music finished Biff twirled her around.
‘Thank you, Anna.’
They walked back hand in hand to the table. Konrad was already helping to seat Rosemary, holding her chair for
In fact, he was half-inclined to the notion that Britain was drifting, with huge social problems, and needed somebody like Herr Hitler, or even Il Duce , to take over for a few years. He chuckled at the thought: to take over democratically, of course.
With the sound of the cork popping out they relaxed back into their earlier light-hearted banter, and when the band returned and started playing again, Konrad was on his feet.
‘Rosemary, will you dance with me?’
When she shot Biff a glance he added quickly: ‘With your permission?’
Biff said: ‘of course,’ and got to his feet, offering his hand. ‘Anna?’
She got up immediately and together they followed the others on to the floor. It was a slow foxtrot, Anna turned and held up her arms. As Biff placed his hand around her waist he suddenly remembered there was no dress there.
Her back was smooth, and cool, and it made him feel as if they were being very intimate, not helped by the fact that she snuggled up close to him. He was aware of her warm breath and musky scent.
They said nothing for a while, just moving to the music, until she whispered: ‘You love Rosemary very much.’
It was a statement, not a question, but he answered all the same.
‘I do. And I can see that it is the same with you and Konrad.’
She smiled and nodded. They didn’t say anything more. Given another time, another place, they knew that they would have been drawn to one another.
Anna was very light on her feet. She began to sing the melody softly, making him feel very good.
As they did a turn he caught a glimpse across the dance floor of Konrad and Rosemary. There was no doubt in his mind that they too were very happy in each other’s company.
What strange quirk of fate had brought them all together now?
‘Penny for them?’
He came to with a rush. Anna was looking at him, one eyebrow raised, a faint grin playing on her strong, beautiful face. He went bright red, and flustered: ‘Sorry. Just thinking of something Konrad said.’
He gave her a playful squeeze. ‘My God, your English is so good – where did you pick up that expression?’
She chuckled. ‘I spent two years doing post-graduate English at Oxford. I learned plenty of vernacular in the pubs after work.’
It was his turn to laugh, but she continued to look quizzical.
‘What was it that Konrad said that you found so interesting?’
Still red in the face, Biff realized he couldn’t say what he had really been thinking.
‘Oh, how he likes Herr Hitler for what he has achieved in Germany.’
To his surprise, instead of agreeing she turned her nose up.
‘Not all of us are so enamoured – that is the correct word, isn’t it?’
He nodded. ‘Yes, but I don’t understand. I thought you would be in full agreement?’
She said nothing for a while, as if she were carefully selecting her words, not wanting to go against her new husband.
‘He has done wonderful things – there can be no doubt about that. But I fear for the future – for my children – when I have them. Hitler is not a man to rest on his laurels. What will he do next? We are all enraptured by him at the moment and that includes nearly everybody, despite some misgivings about this business with the Jews.’
She grimaced. ‘There are rumours …’ she shrugged. ‘But it is now too late to influence anything. We can only pray.’
Her words shook Biff.
‘But Konrad – how does he feel? Has he worries?’
She pursed her lips. ‘Sometimes, but he would never say anything to you; he is a very loyal person, an officer of the old school. He is not in the Nazi Party, though, despite some pressureand worry about future promotion prospects.’
As the music finished Biff twirled her around.
‘Thank you, Anna.’
They walked back hand in hand to the table. Konrad was already helping to seat Rosemary, holding her chair for
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