Harry is shocked when the DG and the Home Secretary both request that he go undercover on this latest terrorist case. "Something is wrong at that country house Harry. You must find out what is going on. You and your "wife" will be expected at a house party at that country house starting Thursday."
Harry sighs heavily and runs his hand over his face. "You're expecting me to take a "wife: with me to a four day country party where we'll be expected to share a room? Who were you thinking for such a task?"
"Ruth Evershed, of course. You and she already have a connection. It will be easy." The Home Secretary says seriously.
"She's not a field agent! You can't ask her to do this!" Harry says angrily, desperately trying to avoid having to sleep next to Ruth for three nights after she turned him down.
"She's the only one who can fulfil the role. Everyone else in your unit is far too young to be plausible." The DG says firmly.
"All right, I'll head back to Thames House and get to work on getting this undercover operation organized. I better hope Ruth is in a good mood or I'm in big trouble." Harry finally concedes to his bosses.
"Oh, come on, Harry. We all know that you can get Ruth to do anything." The Home Secretary teases Harry.
"She may kill me for this one." Harry says with a heavy sigh. He leaves the office and is driven back to Thames House.
As he heads up to Section D he thinks about how he's going to tell Ruth about this undercover op. He runs his hand firmly over his face. "Ruth, join me in my office when you have a minute." Harry calls when he enters the section. He walks into his office and hangs his coat on the coat rack. Ruth is in his office before he even sits down.
"What's going on Harry?" Ruth asks as he sits down behind his desk.
"My meeting with the DG and the Home Secretary was interesting. They want me to be the undercover operative on a new operation at a country house in Cornwall. They believe, based on intelligence , that people in that house have links to British terrorism, so I have to go down there for a house party for four days beginning on Thursday." Harry explains to Ruth.
"Okay," Ruth says slowly. She's trying to process what Harry's said. "What does this have to do with me?"
"The DG, in his infinite wisdom, thinks I would be less conspicuous if I had a partner with me, a female partner. I don't even want to go." Harry pours himself a glass of whiskey.
"A female partner? I suppose the DG had me in mind." Ruth rolls her eyes.
"Yes, he did. He wants me to have a woman with me to play my wife. He thought you and I would make the most plausible couple."
Ruth rolls her eyes again. "I don't suppose we have a choice about this, do we?"
"Do we ever have a choice? I don't want to spend my weekend with all those pretentious people. This could be one big waste of time." Harry sounds frustrated.
"So, what's the plan?" Ruth sits down in a chair across from Harry.
"Well, we have to get our cover stories organized with Malcolm. We'll need wedding rings and you'll need a wardrobe. We're leaving on Thursday so I'll pick you up. Actually, I have a suggestion. We have to get used to being a married couple, so maybe we should stay together for a couple of days before we head down to the house party." Harry is trying to remain organized.
Ruth blushes at Harry's suggestion. "That's probably a good idea. We can start tonight."