Heinrik held up his hands. “All right. But you can’t keep your eyes on your luggage forever, not with three children with you. At some point?—”
The train’s shrill whistle cut Heinrik off.
The conductor came striding along the train, waving and shouting for everyone to get on board.
Toby and Heinrik turned to the open door. Toby swiftly climbed the steps, then at the top, halted and turned, blocking the doorway and looking down at Heinrik.
Still on the platform, Heinrik looked up. His features blanked as he realized his vulnerable position; if he tried to climb up, Toby could easily kick him out of the train and onto the platform.
If Toby timed it correctly…
Toby stared at Heinrik, then grunted and stepped back, allowing Heinrik to clamber up. “That,” Toby informed him, “is for what I owe you after that affair in Gibraltar.”
Heinrik huffed and leant out to catch the carriage door and slam it shut.
A commotion on the platform toward the middle of the train drew Toby’s and Heinrik’s attention. Toby shifted to look out over Heinrik’s head.
Abruptly, Heinrik swore. He drew back and slammed the door.
Tense, Toby asked, “Was that who I think it was?”
His expression grim, Heinrik spat, “Jager and Koch, damn them. They’ve managed to get on board.”
The train jerked, then started rolling.
Toby frowned. “I thought you said they’d raced off the other way.”
“They had! Eva and I saw them go. They shouldn’t have been anywhere near Italy.”
Toby’s frown deepened. “So how on earth did they know to come rushing down here?”
Suddenly, Heinrik’s expression altered.
Toby narrowed his eyes at the almost-sheepish look that stole across Heinrik’s face. Incredulous, Toby accused, “They found out through you.”
Heinrik grimaced. “We’ve thought for some time that we might have a traitor at headquarters. Because I have Eva with me, I have to report in. I sent a telegram after seeing you in Udine, saying we would be on the train with you.” Heinrik shook his head in disgust. “The traitor must have passed the information to the Germans.”
Exceedingly grim, Toby nodded along the train. “Well, they’re here now, so we’ll just have to deal with them.”
Heinrik pulled a face. “Yet another complication.”
“Indeed,” Toby replied.
* * *
Heinrik wentto break the unwelcome news to Eva and warn her, for she would not have encountered the likes of the Prussian pair before.
Toby watched Heinrik go, then entered his and the boys’ compartment. After closing the corridor door, he peeked into the ladies’ compartment.
The game had ended, and the children were crowded at the window, staring at the passing scenery. On the bench seat, Helga sat quietly mending and keeping a watchful eye on the three, while Diana appeared to be resting, sitting with her eyes closed.
Without alerting anyone to his presence, Toby retreated to the bench seat in his compartment, sat, stretched out his legs, and thought furiously.
Then he planned.
Once he had what he deemed their most viable way forward clear in his mind, checked and double-checked, he rose and returned to the open door leading to the other compartment.
He paused in the doorway, out of sight of the children. Diana’s eyes were open. He waited until she glanced his way, then with his head, invited her to join him.
