said about the danger, but it’s you who doesn’t understand. I know what it would be like for your mother if she left you behind, not knowing what will become of you. If this is hell, then that is too, of a different kind. Don’t you see? A single day here is better than a thousand days over the border. A single day, if that’s all we have. At least we’re together. The way God put us.”
Those were words she’d once written in her diary to him, words she’d only dreamed of saying to him aloud. She knew he thought it was only to keep their quasi-family together, but it didn’t matter.
Edward turned away. Then he went out the door without saying anything more.
5
Let us respect the rules they impose upon us so long as they touch neither the liberty of our Christian consciences nor our patriotic dignity.
From a banned letter written by Cardinal Mercier to pastors throughout Belgium, quoted on the pages of La Libre Belgique
* * *
Isa stood in the American Legation parlor, having used her brightest smile, her wittiest wit, and her father’s name to request Brand Whitlock’s help in regaining ownership of her home. How many times had he and her father dined or played golf together? But so far nothing had penetrated Mr. Whitlock’s obvious disapproval of her unexpected arrival back in Belgium.
“Well then, please instruct me as to how I shall go about getting the soldiers out of my home by my own effort. Shall I simply walk into my old vestibule, announce my ownership?”
“Isa, don’t be ridiculous. You’re purposely egging me on, aren’t you?”
“Why, no. I’m just asking for advice. I thought you were here to protect the interests of Americans. If you can’t help me, I’ll have to do it myself. Who is in charge of the army in this city? Shall I go to see him?”
“Oh, I can just see the German general’s face if you were to go to him. That would be a sight!”
“Then I shall go, and you can come along to see that face. What is his name?”
“Military Governor General Freiherr Moritz Ferdinand von Bissing. What do you intend to do? March right over to the Kommandantur and demand to see him?”
Isa frowned. “Have your fun. If you think I’m a fool, why don’t you just say so?” She suddenly wanted to abandon all her bravado and have a good cry. So far nothing had gone the way she’d planned. Not even this, and she’d thought the ambassador would be on her side once he realized she’d returned in spite of his protest.
Whitlock stood to walk around his desk and sit on the edge closest to her. He even leaned down to take her hands in his. “Now, don’t pout.” Then, despite his hand patting, he glared. “You’ve put me in quite the spot, though. The Germans will smell a rat over your sudden appearance, no doubt about it.”
“You’ll do it, then? Get my home back for me?”
“No promises. I’ll have to let them think you’ve been here all along, staying elsewhere. They’ll wonder why you can’t just stay wherever it is you’ve been staying, and I don’t have a ready answer.”
“It’s my home, Mr. Whitlock! Isn’t that reason enough?”
He uttered a humorless laugh. “I suggest you stay out of trouble, young lady, although it’s trouble you’re in already just by being here. Why don’t you see Nell? She’s at l’Orangerie in Ravenstein for the time being.”
“No, no, I won’t trouble your wife. I do have a place to stay, but not for long. I don’t have a telephone, though, so I’ll have to call on you for updates. Is that all right?”
“It’ll have to be, won’t it?”
She turned to leave, but before she’d reached the doorway, he called her back. “Isa, you do have your passport? papers?”
She raised her brows, hesitant to tell him about the papers she possessed that were so nearly legal. “I do have my passport—my own. And I have papers, too. . . .”
“Let me see them.”
She pulled the identity form from her pocket but kept it too close for him to see the name Anna Feldson. “It’s been scrutinized already. I’m fine in this regard. I keep my passport well hidden, always separated from this.”
He held out his hand.
Slowly, she placed the paper in his open palm. He unfolded it, his brows lifting. “This is well done.” Then he frowned anew. “I’ll see about legitimate papers for you, too. Hopefully by