Lily gasped, pulling Zivon to a halt. He frowned down at her. “Are you all right?”

She spun, eyes bright. “That’s it! That’s where I’ve seen that photograph. They weren’t officers in it. That’s what was throwing me.”

He had no idea what she was talking about, and while she might tell him simply from her current excitement, he didn’t want to put her in a bad place if it was something he oughtn’t to know. “Then . . . good?”

She laughed, popped up onto her toes, and planted a kiss on his cheek.

“Lilian!”

Even her father’s furious bark didn’t dim her expression. She just flew over to him, all but bouncing. “I’ve solved it, Daddy! At least, I think I have. I need to get to the OB, to my archives. Will DID still be there, do you think? Oh, it doesn’t matter. Even if he isn’t, I need to see if I’m right. I can send him a note if I must.”

Her father’s expression had shifted during her rambling speech from irritation to indulgence. “I haven’t a clue what you’re talking about, Lily White. But if you need to go to the office, I’ll run you over in the car so you can be back before your mother and I need to leave.”

“That would be lovely.” She spun back to Zivon, eyes wide. “Oh, that was rude of me. What a hostess I’m being.”

He chuckled and waved an arm to catch Clarke’s eye. “You are the kindest of hostesses, Miss Blackwell. I thank you again, and your mother, for going to such lengths to brighten my day. But it is time we were on our way.”

Always a good idea to dismiss oneself before one could be dismissed, to his way of thinking.

As soon as they entered the house again, Mrs. Blackwell was there to see them off and thank them for coming. She took Zivon’s hand as he stepped back outside through the front door. “You are in my prayers, Mr. Marin.”

He hadn’t words enough to express how much that meant to him. Especially today. So he inclined his head in gratitude and hoped she could read in his eyes how deeply her regard touched him.

If, by some miracle, this all turned out well . . . if ever he earned the captain’s respect again so he could call on Lily properly . . . if ever he dared ask her to be his wife . . . then it would be a blessing to know she came with a mother of such faith.

He was quiet on the walk to the tube station and during the ride he shared with Clarke. He’d long since confessed what the date signified, so his friend didn’t push him for conversation, not until they were off the train again and standing at the corner where they would part ways.