Rather than sit across the desk from one another, as they had for their first few meetings, he’d arranged two armchairs in front of the fireplace, with a low table between them. The fire had been lit earlier and the logs were glowing, crackling and sending a comforting warmth into the room.

He lit his cigar and sat back, not quite ready to start work yet. ‘You know,’ he said, ‘in the last war, the Hall was used as a hospital. What’s German for hospital, by the way?’

‘Das Krankenhaus.’

‘Krankenhaus.’ He tried it out. ‘Sick house. Yes, makes sense. I thought the same might happen this time and the government would want to requisition the place. Fortunately, they didn’t. It was pure luck that enabled me to move the bank here. Otherwise—’ he grimaced ‘—we’d still be taking our chances with the raids in London. Awful business. Are you following the news, Miss Corbett? No let up now for fifty nights.’ He stared into the flames. ‘Poor sods. They’re being truly blitz-ed.’

‘Is that so?’ she answered, faintly. ‘I never listen to the news, Sir. When the others huddle around the wireless at nine o’clock, I slip out. I can’t bear it.’ She shrugged. ‘Being so far away, I don’t feel as though I have the right to listen.’

It was an interesting topic but before Joseph could respond, there was a loud thud on the door which made them jump. The door swung open. Rudi. He was breathless and wide-eyed, hanging from the door handle, gazing at them.

‘Hello, there, young man!’ Joseph said. ‘Now, what—’

‘I’m so sorry, Uncle Jay!’ Sarah came dashing in after the boy. Her hair pins had come loose. Joseph had never seen her so dishevelled.

‘Miss Corbett, this is my niece, Miss Jewell. She’s helping us out with Rudi.’ The girls smiled briefly at one another. ‘Not proving too much of a handful, is he, Sarah?’ he asked.

Red-faced and flustered, she shook her head and tried in vain to catch another hair pin as it dropped out. Joseph pretended not to notice.

‘No, no,’ Sarah said. ‘He’s rather lively in the mornings but …’ She took a deep breath and painted on a smile. ‘Nothing I can’t manage!’

She was attempting to prise the child’s hand from the handle. ‘Come along, Rudi, this is naughty. You’re not allowed here! You’re disturbing Uncle Jay. Let’s go and find you something nice in the kitchen. Quickly, now!’

Finally, Rudi released his grip on the door and allowed Sarah to lead him away.

The door closed softly behind them. Had he imagined that note of impatience in Sarah’s voice? Already? He really had his doubts about that arrangement.

He looked up. Miss Corbett was watching him.

‘Good little chap, Rudi, but full of beans!’ he said.

‘He misses his parents, I suppose.’