‘Here he is!’ Gwen interrupted Maggie’s thoughts as she led Rudi into the kitchen by the hand. ‘Look,’ she said, taking the orange from the table. ‘Here’s a treat for you, lucky boy!’

There was no telling if Rudi understood the words but he certainly understood the gesture. He took the orange from her solemnly and turned it over.

‘I found him wandering round the basement,’ Gwen said. ‘On his own, again.’

Mrs Mason grumbled under her breath. ‘No sign of her, then?’ she asked, passing Gwen a knife so she could peel the orange. ‘Once I’ve made this pastry, we’re done. All the veg is prepped for tomorrow and Cook’ll be here to make something tasty for your dinner.’

Maggie hoped she was right. The food at Snowden was queer, at times. Last week, Cook’s ‘something tasty’ had turned out to be mock sausage, made with oats and herbs. Maggie had eaten it, of course (‘Hunger is a good sauce!’ Cook was fond of saying) but it had been rather bland.

‘Hello, ladies! Say, Mrs M, any chance of a cup of char?’

Maggie dropped her needle into the fabric of the coat at the sound of his voice. It was Jack Rosman, storming into the kitchen. He did everything at high speed, as though he didn’t have a moment to lose. ‘I’m positively gagging!’ He held his throat and made choking noises, which made Maggie laugh.

Mrs Mason looked down at her hands, coated in flour up to the wrists.

‘I’ll do it,’ Maggie said. She stood up and put her sewing down on the chair. She set the kettle on the range and hunted for the tea pot and cups in the cupboards. She couldn’t think straight. Every time Jack appeared – always when she was least expecting it – he had this effect on her.

By the time she’d turned around to ask who else wanted tea, Gwen, Mrs Mason and Rudi had disappeared. She was alone with Jack.

She set everything down on the table and busied herself making the tea, conscious that Jack was leaning back in his seat, watching her and smiling.

‘You’re back, then?’ she said and could have kicked herself. Could she have made it any more obvious that she’d been watching out for him? She knew, from listening to Pam and Nancy’s chatter, that it put men right off if you appeared too eager. Men liked to do the chasing.

‘Yes, got back last night.’ He yanked the sling further up his shoulder. ‘Where were you? We were all in the drawing room playing games. It was a hoot!’

Maggie had been in the pub with Charity. She’d enjoyed herself but now that she knew Jack had been here at Snowden, she wished she’d never gone.