"I'm afraid this may be too heavy for us to take, Anna," he said. "Could you pack what you need in the leather suitcase I brought you yesterday?"

Anna screwed her nose up but said she would. Many of her dresses would be of no use anyway she guessed but she hated to leave them for the enemy. She opened the trunk and re-packed her favorite clothes in the suitcase Stefan placed open beside her. Less than half fitted in. Finally she tucked a little make up kit in a gap in the corner and watched as the elderly servant shut the case and pulled the straps tight.

Down at the main entrance there was a knock, the door opened and two men entered. They approached Countess Vladisciuszko and gave a head bow.

"Excuse us, Countess," the elder of the two men said. "You must hurry. The enemy is less than ten kilometers away and our train will depart from the station in fifteen minutes. We can hold it no longer."

Author Bio