Page 58 of The Last Library of Paris

Chapter 15

I was not a naïve young girl. I had been working for Section D for more than a decade. I’d lived a bit. But I was unsettled by what Parrish had done; he’d made me feel helpless. And he’d made me question everything I’d done up until the point he’d forced his hand up my skirt. Had I made him think I wanted that? I knew I hadn’t, but it was still a horrible feeling.

Plus I actually felt a bit silly, because I’d assumed what he was doing was one thing, only to discover it was something else. Something so banal.

I was annoyed with him. And annoyed with myself.

But I pushed it aside as I went into work early the next morning, eager to get started on the work with MI9 and keeping my fingers crossed that Valentine had spoken to Digby.

To my delight, I found Hughes in the office with Digby. Valentine wasn’t there.

‘Cassandra,’ said Digby. ‘I hear you’ve had a marvellous idea.’

‘Well,’ I said modestly. ‘It’s a bit early to call it marvellous, but with any luck it should help.’

‘Valentine wants you on the team.’

‘I don’t have to wait three days, do I?’

Digby shook his head. ‘I’m happy to let you do your thing. I’ll clear it with London.’

I imagined myself flinging my arms around him and squeezing him tightly. But instead, I just nodded. ‘Thank you, sir.’

‘Welcome back, Cassandra. They’re lucky to have you.’

Digby gave me a little mock salute and headed out of the office.

‘Brilliant stuff,’ said Hughes. ‘Now we can get cracking.’

He opened a folder on his desk. ‘I’ve written a timeline of how we’re going to put this into action and I’ve colour-coded tasks according to who should take them on, and according to priority. Why are you staring at me like that?’

I opened my bag and pulled out my own folder.

‘Because I’ve done the same thing,’ I said. ‘Hughes, I think we’re kindred spirits.’

‘Call me Henry for heaven’s sake,’ he said.

‘Cassie.’

I pulled my chair over to his and we studied our lists which were remarkably similar.

‘I can get in touch with Peacock Books and make the orders,’ I said. ‘I can speak to my friend Katie to find out who’s in charge and who we need to make arrangements with.’

Henry ticked that off his list.

‘I’ll source the stamps,’ he said.

‘Will we be stamping the books?’ I frowned, thinking stamping books could be just as dull as filing.

But luckily Henry shook his head. ‘There’s no point in sending the books here, just for us to send them back to Britain. They’ll get the girls at the War Office to do that. They’ll probably pull a new team together.’

‘Excellent.’

‘But we will need to come up with the names and addresses,’ Henry said. ‘A sort of code, but not quite.’

I nodded. ‘A disguise,’ I said.

‘Exactly.’