Chapter 1
Louisa

“On account of what the government considers improper activities in military and naval matters, this government has requested the immediate recall of Captain Boy-Ed and Captain Von Papen as they are no longer acceptable, or personae gratae, to this goverment.”  — U.S. State Department, December, 1915

The black motorcar chugged to a stop. A chauffeur got out and opened the back door. The small crowd surged forward, but police held them back as the two Germans in their heavy black coats climbed out.

The temperature had dipped below 20 degrees overnight and had only crept up a few degrees as Louisa, Ellen, and Carlotta, bundled in coats and scarves, watched Captains von Papen and Boy-Ed push their way to the pier toward the steamship Noordam.

“It would be unfortunate if their ship caught fire while it was out at sea,” Louisa said, remembering how she had spied on the comings and goings of the two men the previous summer when they regularly visited a brothel run by a German opera singer. She felt proud of her role in their banishment, even if she got no credit. She and Ellen had helped to expose their scheme of sabotaging American ships and, of course, none of it could have happened without Carlotta’s help. Unfortunately, the girl had paid a steep price.

“I have no doubt those two hooligans will continue to cause mischief wherever they go,” Ellen said.

Carlotta brought her gloved hand up to the scar across her lip. Her nose was crooked from the beating she had taken from von Papen when he discovered she was helping Louisa. Her lovely face would never look the same.

“I hope they go to hell,” she muttered.

Ellen put an arm around the girl and pulled her close. As horrible as the beating had been, at least Carlotta no longer made her living in the opera singer’s brothel.

Carlotta pulled away, and a moment later a tomato sailed over the crowd, splattering von Papen’s back. He wheeled around and glared at the jeering crowd.

“Carlotta,” Louisa whispered. “You shouldn’t have done that.” But she smiled as she chided the girl.

The crowd followed as the two men made their way to the gangplank and watched as the saboteurs strode arrogantly up to the ship. The Noordam was a huge black ship with a yellow and green funnel. As a Holland based ship, it would be safe from German torpedoes, unlike the Lusitania that had sunk in the Irish sea, ending the lives of more than twelve hundred passengers and crew members. Louisa glanced at Ellen, knowing she must be remembering that fateful journey.

The ship’s horn blasted as the gangplank was lifted and stowed.

“Let’s watch her leave,” Carlotta said. “I need to know they are gone for good.”

So they waited, shivering in the breeze that sheared off the surface of the water. The smoke stacks belched as a tugboat pulled the ship across the rippling river.

Louisa glanced over at Ellen’s protruding belly. In less than two months time, the baby would be here. What sort of mother would Ellen be? Would she be able to pour her heart into the child in spite of its unfortunate origins? Louisa couldn’t begin to imagine what her friend must be feeling.

The ship’s horn sounded.

“It’s gratifying, isn’t it? Seeing them leave our shore?” Louisa asked. Not only had the two Germans, along with others, plotted to sabotage American ships, von Papen had been mastermind behind a ring in New York that forged passports so German men could go back to their country and fight in the war. Hundreds of fighting men had been able to join the ranks of their countrymen thanks to von Papen’s schemes.

“It won’t bring my Hester back,” Ellen said, her hand drifting over her large belly.

Ellen had lost Hester Murphy, the love of her life, when a torpedo from a German u-boat sank the Lusitania. It had taken Louisa months to learn the truth about the child that Ellen carried. After surviving the sinking of the Lusitania, Ellen had gone to Germany, ostensibly to help her Irish countrymen acquire arms from the Germans to foment rebellion in Ireland. Instead she pretended to offer her services as a spy for the Germans. She said she was so numb from grief she didn’t care what they did to her. “I had to make them think I was one of them,” she’d said. “How else would I get my revenge?” As far as Louisa could tell, her friend was still grieving.

Louisa hailed a cab and the three of them huddled together in the backseat.

“Suzie will have something warm for us when we get back,” Louisa said.

“Oy, I’ll miss her,” Ellen said. “And yet Mr. Sweet seems like a nice fella.”

“He’s a good sort,” Carlotte confirmed. Mr. Sweet had brought Carlotta to the house after Von Papen had beaten her for telling his secrets. “If he hadn’t stepped in, I think that lobcock mighta killed me.”

“Well, you’re with us now and no one will do that to you again,” Louisa said, ignoring the profanity. “And with Suzie getting married and leaving us, we’ll all have to learn how to be more self-sufficient.”

“Speak for yourself and your pampered old Mam,” Ellen said. “Suzie was never my servant.”

“And how do you plan to publish your magazine and take care of a baby when the time comes?” Louisa asked.

“I’ve told you both a hundred times, I’ll take care of the baby,” Carlotte interjected. “It’s not like I can do much else.”

“And your help is welcome, girleen,” Ellen said, patting Carlotta’s hand.

“Well, don’t count on me,” Louisa said, looking out the window. Snow fell against the glass in big fat flakes. “I know nothing about babies, and I have no interest in learning.”