“Those are some good questions,” Schloss said. “Is there another option?”

  “We lower the age for participation in the workforce to sixteen. That will bring in a lot of workers to the factories, but many of those people are already working on the farms.”

  “And we don’t want to impact the productivity of our farms.”

  “Correct. The third option is to release our women into the workforce.”

  “And we reverse one of the key tenets of Nazi doctrine,” Schloss provided. “You know, and I know, Joachim, that’s probably the best option.”

  “Yes, Herr Reich Chancellor, I believe it is.”

  Schloss stared up at the ceiling and swung his chair back and forth as he thought. Then he looked at Ribbentrop again. “Okay, put it on the agenda for the next government Council meeting. We are going to have to force everyone to eat a spoon full of mineral oil and convince them that they like it.”

  “I don’t know that I would have expressed it quite in that fashion,” Ribbentrop commented. “But I think we all understand the dilemma.”

  “We will just have to handle it carefully.”

  “I am happy to leave that one in your lap, Herr Reich Chancellor.”

  “I am sure you are.”

  Later that evening, Schloss sat in the living room of his home and nursed a cup of coffee. Gisela was curled up next to him on the sofa and cradled a sleeping baby. Peter sat across the room, studied a Foreign Ministry document, and enjoyed the peacefulness since Gratia was asleep.

  “So it looks like we’re going to need to put the nation’s women to work.

  “That is going to be a problem, isn’t it?” Gisela asked. “It’s not just what the party has been saying for the last fifteen years, but we will be changing hundreds of years of German tradition.”

  “And we will be changing our culture,” Peter interjected. “That’s the big thing. Once our German girls get a taste of the freedom of their income, they will be demanding the vote again and eventually participate everywhere.”

  “Is that such a bad thing, Peter?” Gisela asked.

  “Not necessarily. I mean, everyone else is doing it. The Americans, the English, and the Russians, God help us. All I’m saying is that we had better gain a broad consensus before we do this because there will be no going back.”

  “And Peter will get to manage the promotion of the new policy,” Schloss said with a grin.

  Peter glowered at his brother-in-law. “I’ll bet you have been waiting all evening to tell me that.”

  Schloss shrugged. “I noticed that you seem to be at loose ends lately, Peter. It will keep you from being bored.”

  “Oh, thank you very much.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  May 5, 1944; 10 AM

  The Queen’s Office

  Buckingham Palace

  London, England, UK

  Colin Marty looked up as the dapper-looking man entered the office. It took a moment before he recognized Peter Schreiber, and he jumped to his feet.

  “Oh, Herr Foreign Minister. Welcome to London.”

  “Thank you. And there has been a lot of water over the dam since we last met.”

  “Yes.” Marty stuck out his hand as Peter walked across the room and extended his hand. “It is an honor to see you again. I don’t understand how you dare travel alone, all things considered.”

  “Oh, my minders are stooging around outside. The Reichsprotektor insisted that six guards travel with me. I convinced them that if I wasn’t safe in the Queen’s palace, I wasn’t safe anywhere. They took it with ill-grace, I might add.”

  Marty snorted. “Minders are like that. When Her Majesty travels, she and I constantly work to prune back the entourage.”

  “The Reichsprotektor travels with a single aircraft, and when the seats are filled, that’s it. He has refused to add a second airplane, and his secretary plays off one group against the other for seats. I think the man enjoys the blood sport.”

  “That’s an interesting idea,” Marty commented. “I might suggest that to Her Majesty.”

  “I understand,” Peter said, “that her sense of humor is such that she might enjoy something like that.”

  “Yes, but we try not to encourage it,” Colin said, rolling his tongue around in his cheek.

  “Speaking of which, I had an appointment with Her Majesty,” Peter said. “I wouldn’t want to keep her waiting.”

  “I must offer apologies, but Her Majesty had a meeting with her Seneschal this morning, and it has gone longer than expected. She sent word she would do her best to get here presently.”

  “No need to apologize, Colin. We all have days like that.”

  “This is a bit unusual. The queen is usually a stickler about her schedule. How was your meeting with Lord Halifax?”

  “Short and productive. We were able to dispatch the trade items with little discussion. The general session tomorrow will be more involved, of course.”

  “Of course.”

  Peter leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs. After clearing his throat, he spoke again.

  “So, how are you doing, Colin, really?”

  The grief briefly conquered Colin’s face. “It’s really rough. I mean, I understand that intellectually, but I guess I will now be more sympathetic to other peoples’ losses.”

  Peter grimaced. “Having been there, I can say with confidence that I don’t think the pain will ever go away completely, nor would I want it to. But it is easier now after six or seven months. But, God, how I miss Renate.”

  Colin nodded. “It is tough walking in the house each evening. She loved that place. And you have a child.”

  “And that is what has kept me going. Since I am raising Gratia, it keeps me grounded.”

  “And I have my job. It keeps me focused.”

  “I understand. Between the job and some good friends, I manage.”

  “Do you have those well-meaning folks who invade your life thinking to console you?”

  Peter laughed. “God save us from the well-meaning. I have had several who insist on introducing me to eligible ladies. To be honest, several were very nice, but all it did was make me miss Renate the more. And I came to offer you encouragement, not cry in my beer.”

  “And I’m delighted you are here. Just knowing someone who is going through the same experience has been comforting.”

  “Herr Foreign Minister, I apologize for my tardiness,” Margaret Windsor said as she swept into the room. Keeping a representative of a friendly government waiting is simply inexcusable on my part.”

  Schreiber stood and clicked his heels in the proper Prussian manner. “It is certainly not a problem, Your Majesty. Colin and I have been able to fill in the time quite profitably.”

  “Very well, come on into my lair. We have things to discuss.”

  Colin stopped Peter as he walked towards the door. “If your schedule allows, would you be available for dinner tonight?”

  “I have kept my schedule open, and I would be happy to dine with you.”

  The two men walked into the Queen’s office. Peter thought the queen seemed uncommonly cheerful, which was a nice contrast to the sheets of rain beating against the windows.

  “Bit of dirty weather, don’t you think, Herr Foreign Minister?”

  “I’m just glad we got into the airport before the worst of it hit.”

  “Just so. I’m just as glad I don’t have any outdoor events on my schedule for today. It’s bad enough subjecting the Royal Subjects to my speeches but doing so during a downpour goes beyond the bounds of reason.”

  “Just so, Your Majesty,” Colin said sotto voce.”

  “Colin thinks I don’t hear his little incendiary comments, but I am merely collecting evidence before I toss him into the Tower.”

  Peter smiled. He had heard that the Queen did not take herself too seriously, and this seemed to confirm that. Her affection for her secretary was apparent as well.

  “Very well,” the queen continued. “Shall we begin?”

  “First of all,” Peter started, “I wanted to thank you personally for your recent help during our war with the Russians. Particularly, we probably would not have held the Russians without the 250-kilogram bombs. And the Mosquito squadron has been invaluable for ground support.”

  “The unofficial Mosquito Squadron,” the queen corrected.

  “Of course. We understand your reluctance to get into another war and understand.”

  “I can assure you,” Margaret said, “that we do not want to be facing the Red Army across the Channel. I am uncertain, however, that the British public would tolerate us shedding British blood on the continent in support of a former enemy. The people like the current arrangement, and I have a bit of latitude in how I utilize our resources to help. I think, given a few years for things to settle further, we will have a closer relationship between our countries.”

  “That is our hopeful expectation,” Peter replied.

  “Very well, let’s talk about things that we can accomplish together. In particular, I wondered if Herr Schloss has given thought to the postwar environment.”

  And the discussion continued for another ninety minutes. Margaret was rather proud of herself for arranging time for Peter and Colin to talk. To further her goal, she suggested they have lunch. Colin had done remarkably well dealing with his tragedies, but she could tell Peter had already had a measurable effect on Colin.

  § § §

  May 6, 1944; 9 AM

  British Foreign Office

  Whitehall

  London, England, UK

  Joachim Ribbentrop leaned over to whisper to Peter Schreiber. “I still don’t know why you wanted me here, Peter.”

  “Because we need to put together more business deals with the English, and you are the best we have in that area.”

  “I didn’t endear myself to the English when I was the ambassador here.”

  “Well, you have a chance to redeem yourself. Just don’t screw it up.”

  Also in the room besides Schreiber and Ribbentrop were Colin Marty, Lord Halifax, Clement Attlee, and the Queen. Schreiber noted that Attlee seemed to be glaring at the queen and wondered if there was a problem in that relationship. Schreiber and Ribbentrop had each brought their secretaries but had limited the size of the entourage at Peter’s urging.

  “Let me state for the record,” Margaret began, “that I am here as an observer only. I have complete confidence in My government and am mainly interested in the details of our relationship with Germany.”

  “Thank you, Your Majesty,” Attlee said smoothly. “We would like to welcome the German delegation to London and welcome the opportunity to negotiate on matters of mutual interest.”

  “I thank you for the invitation,” Peter said, “and Germany is appreciative of England’s assistance during our current challenging situation.”

  “I wonder, Herr Schreiber,” Halifax interjected, “if you might tell us how the German government evaluates the current state of the war with the Soviet Union?”

  “Of course, Sir” he replied. “As you are aware, we were in a desperate situation when Smirnoff captured Berlin. However, Rommel’s actions that forced Smirnoff to surrender changed the dynamic of the war considerably. I would not claim that we are winning the war at this point, but we have the Russians on the defensive for the first time.”

  “And you also have a large prisoner population to guard and feed,” Wood said.

  “True, although we have some experience with that after our actions in northern Africa.”

  Attlee blushed. Rommel had forced the surrender of the British army under Montgomery and interned them in Egypt. That action had hastened the end of the war with Britain. The queen was not entirely successful in hiding the smirk on her face.

  “Has Smirnoff been cooperative?” Wood asked.

  “Very much so,” Peter replied. “I would also note, although we want the information held close, that along with Smirnoff, we captured Nikita Khrushchev. He was with Smirnoff in Berlin when we trapped the Russian armies.”

  “What is happening now?” the British Foreign Minister asked.

  “We have several divisions pushing into the Silesian district from Prague. We are prepared to pull them back to a defensive position since the Russians are working hard to reinforce their armies on the Oder River. General Schörner has four divisions, and they would be annihilated under any scenario we envision. The Reich Chancellor has directed that we continue to bleed the Russians while preserving our forces.”

  “How long can that go on?” Halifax asked.

  “The strategy has worked well for us,” Peter replied. “We have been successful in trading space for time, other than the Berlin offensive. Smirnoff surprised us with his breakthrough and was in Berlin before we could appropriately react. It is clear in hindsight that he moved before he was ready. We were able to cut his supply lines, and that made his surrender a matter of time.”

  “Very well,” Attlee said. “Thank you for that update. Now, since trade is on the agenda, what would you like to propose?”

  “First of all,” Peter said, “we are grateful for the supply of bombs and other ammunition you have released to us. We want to continue that supply on a contractual basis, and we will pay either in kind or in specie.”

  “What is your government’s financial situation?” Attlee asked.

  Peter looked over at Ribbentrop to answer the question.

  “It could be better, to be honest, but we are making do. We have avoided heavy sovereign debt and are financing the war primarily from the German economy. Some type of mutual investment in each other’s economies would be helpful.”

  “But what is your greatest need?” the Queen interrupted?

  “Manpower!” was Ribbentrop’s one-word response.

  “Could you elaborate on that, please?” she asked. Attlee was once again glaring at her.

  “The Wehrmacht has first call on personnel, naturally. And this removes the most productive men from the industrial sector. We have jobs to fill and not enough people.”

  Margaret nodded. “That is a problem. What is Germany doing to solve the problem?”

  Ribbentrop looked at Peter, who nodded.

  “We have considered bringing in guest workers. The alternative is to introduce our women into the workforce.”

  “Which other countries have done successfully,” she replied. “What are the considerations?”

  “It goes against a thousand years of German tradition and is something the government has worked to avoid more recently.”

  “And you will likely have to give them the franchise again, is that not correct?”

  Peter smiled. “That is indeed something we must do anyway.”

  “And why have you not done so?” the queen asked.

  “Herr Schloss is limited in the amount of change he can accomplish immediately.”

  Margaret studied Schreiber for a few moments. “Yes, I can see how that might be the case. Would you consider guest workers from the United Kingdom? The cultural issues would not be so pronounced. And we have a bit of an unemployment problem.”

  “This is something I would need to consult with the Reich Chancellor about, but the idea sounds like it might be workable.”

  “Then you must put that on your list of things to discuss with Herr Schloss and Clement; I apologize. I did not mean to take over your meeting.”

  “I would be tempted to say the damage is done, Your Majesty, but the idea has merit.”

  “Ever the tactful one, Prime Minister,” she said with a smile.

  Peter was again reminded who called the shots in England, and it wasn’t the prime minister.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  May 10, 1944; 3 PM

  The White House

  Washington, DC, USA

  Harry Truman left the bathroom in his upstairs quarters and hurried to the Oval Office. He was late for his meeting, but the cramps in his intestinal tract forced him to stop along the way. He wasn’t sure if it was something he had eaten or just picked up a bug. Either way, it was inconvenient. He hoped the steward would wait for a bit to clean the bathroom because the smell was frankly embarrassing.

  Admiral Leahy and Vannevar Bush were already present in the Oval Office when Truman walked in. The secretary had had the presence of mind to serve coffee and Danish as they waited, but Truman wondered if he would be wise to avoid the refreshments considering his most recent experience.

  “Gentlemen, I am sorry to be delayed. Perhaps we can quickly proceed.”

  “I serve at your pleasure, Mr. President,” Bush said.

  “Thank you,” Truman said as he settled into one of the chairs. “The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the status of the Manhattan project.”

  “The tragedy out West notwithstanding,” Bush commented. “I believe we would be making a mistake to shut the project down.”

  Truman smiled slightly. “You are leading me into what I wanted to say, Mr. Bush. I have given this a lot of thought, and I agree that it would be a mistake to shut the project down.”

  “That is some good news, anyway. Other than the end of the war, there has been too little of it.”

  “That is certainly correct,” Truman agreed. “The challenge we are facing is twofold: the first is to determine how to proceed, and the second is to decide who will run it. I would like your thoughts on this pair of questions.”

  Bush cleared his throat and leaned back in the chair, looking thoughtful. “While I am familiar with the broad outlines of the project, I cannot say that I have enough detailed knowledge to make a recommendation on a direction. However, I believe that sacking General Groves was a mistake. He was an excellent choice to head the program and did exceptionally well.”

  “I would be hard put to disagree. Leslie Groves was an inspired choice. But the nature of the accident dictated that he had to go.”

  “But he certainly could not have predicted or prevented the accident. It was not his fault.”