The London Restoration by Rachel McMillan

Author:Rachel McMillan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2020-08-17T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

May 1944

Bletchley Park

“This war will be won by those who see the world a little differently than most,” Simon had told her when first they met.

War or no war, Fisher, Simon, and Villiers daily taught Diana to see her world differently. Simon tried to teach her chess, a game that, despite her proficiency in so many other problems, evaded her. Fisher was on hand to teach her about music. She had once watched him cast a line to the pond in the yard on the rare occasion he had the opportunity to practice the activity contributing to his nickname. Later at the pub, he told her fishing helped his logical focus.

“I work out all sorts of problems in my mind. Math problems. Logic problems. Problems about the world. You know, in equations, things turn out equally with measured reason. When I see the state of our world, even the chaos of our lives here sometimes, I cannot help but think we could borrow from the field of mathematics.”

Simon, evidently trying not to notice Villiers flirting with an airman at a nearby table, soured. “If everyone saw the world through your eyes, Fisher, we’d all be automatons. It leaves no room for human emotion.”

Fisher took a long sip of lager. “I’m sorry. I believe that Simon Barre is trying to lecture me on human emotion.”

“Sometimes on my birthday,” Diana said to placate them, “my father would lay out a bit of a game where one clue led to another—all little presents until my big present. Like a bike or a music box or a trip to Paris. I know he meant the exercise to sharpen my mind, but the time and effort behind it were all emotion.”

Simon’s smile was shrewd as he collected his empty glass from the stained table and rose for a refill. “That’s why we need you, Diana. You meet us at the intersection of logic and emotion.” He extended his empty hand for Fisher’s glass. Then he walked to the bar, taking a stroll by Villiers’s table.

What was between them? She always thought Brent was a better student of human nature, but what would he make of them?

From the start Diana thought Brent and Simon would get along. Simon was introspective and thoughtful. Exhaustion never crept into his voice, and his mind was consistently sharp. He was a bookish fellow who mostly kept to himself, save for Fisher Carne and Villiers. The latter at one end of a current charging through the two of them whenever they occupied the same space.

“You sure you don’t want another wine, Diana?”

She yawned and shook her head.

Fisher took a long sip of ale. “This helps me sleep at night.”

“How do you sleep at night?” Simon asked Diana as he approached their table, fresh drinks in his hands. “Shut your brain off? You must worry about your young man.”

Diana knew full well that worry was as physical an ailment as a winter cold. She lay awake at night imagining every scenario, worrying until perspiration beaded on her forehead and her throat was sore.

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