He moved over to his desk, sat down and fixed her with a steady gaze. ‘I can’t make any promises,’ he said, firmly, ‘but I could do my best to find out your mother’s whereabouts. What do you say?’

Maggie’s heart lifted. ‘Could you?’

‘I could make a few telephone calls, call in a few favours.’ He picked up a pen and started to scribble some notes.

Maggie thought she might burst with hope and happiness. He’d do it, she had no doubt; he was a marvel.

He stopped writing and looked up at her, pen poised over the sheet of paper. ‘Did your mother have to go before a tribunal?’

Maggie nodded. A letter had come, summoning Mutti to a meeting. When she’d returned, she wouldn’t speak about it. All she would say was that there was nothing to worry about.

Then the coppers had arrived and taken her away.

Lord Ashford made a few notes. ‘I should warn you, Miss Corbett,’ he said, ‘that some internees are being sent overseas. To Canada and Australia, places like that.’

Maggie felt the blood drain from her face. But that was the other side of the world! No, that couldn’t be true. She might never see Mutti again.

‘I know, it’s a blow,’ he said, gently. ‘But I wanted to be honest with you. Here, write down your mother’s details. Name, date of birth, date she was taken. Then I’ll tell you why I want your help.’

When she’d finished writing, Lord Ashford leaned back in his chair and made a steeple with his hands. ‘If the Nazis invade, Miss Corbett, it wouldn’t do any harm to know a little German. I might be able to negotiate or at least understand something of what they were saying. I’d be on their hit list, that’s a certainty.’

Maggie frowned. She couldn’t think for a moment why he might be of interest to the Nazis but the moment had passed. In any case, it wasn’t her place to ask him.

‘In the Home Guard,’ he continued, ‘I believe they’re taught a few simple German phrases but I want to learn more than “Hände hoch!”’ He smiled. ‘And, if we win the war – much more likely, please don’t look so vexed – then I might be asked to go to Germany. I could do some good. But none of this can happen unless I speak the language. Do you see?’

She nodded.