Joseph set off down the drive, Snowden Hall behind him. The dogs were excited, bounding on the grass either side, delighted by the unexpected outing. His arms swung, he was almost marching now, the rhythm was satisfying. He breathed in the cold air.

He should do this more often. He was the landlord, after all, of all those cottages in the village. Yes, it really was his moral duty to make sure everything was in good order.

At the end of the drive, he walked through the iron gates and turned right.

‘Heel!’ he called to the dogs and they came.

It was indeed bitterly cold but it was bright, too. The kind of day that held the promise of spring, of better days after a long cold winter.

There were swathes of perfect white snowdrops on the verges. He’d never noticed them before. Even in the midst of this terrible war, flowers still bloomed, trees sprouted leaves, hedges grew. And the birds – all around him there were birds – singing their little hearts out.

As he walked, Joseph started to hum. Then he whistled a tune.

He couldn’t remember the last time he’d whistled. He was surprised to find that he still could.

Chapter 51

On the day of the concert, Maggie was called in to Lord Ashford’s office. She’d been back to London for the funeral and all her hopes had been dashed: there’d been no sign of Ray. It had been stupid to even think she might see him.

‘Ah, Miss Corbett. Welcome back, if only briefly,’ Lord Ashford said. ‘When are you leaving for your posting?’

‘First thing tomorrow morning, Sir. I could have gone straight from London, of course, but I wanted to … well, say goodbye properly to everyone and, of course, it’s the concert tonight. I wouldn’t miss that for the world.’

He nodded. ‘Good, good. Never easy to lose a parent. My condolences, once again. I trust it all went as well as these things can?’

Maggie nodded and thanked him.

‘I’ve got something that might cheer you up a little. I’ve been away myself for the past couple of days and I’ve brought a special delivery back with me.’

Maggie’s heart lifted. Ray! Oh, please let it be Ray.

He beckoned her with his finger. ‘Come with me.’

But it wasn’t him. There were two strangers – a man and woman, in their thirties, wrapped in coats and hats and scarves – standing in the drawing room.

The woman spun around as they entered the room and looked disappointed that it was only Maggie and his Lordship. She was serious and pale, with dark rings beneath her eyes. There was something familiar about that face.

‘Miss Corbett, these are Rudi’s parents,’ Lord Ashford said.

‘You did it,’ Maggie murmured.

‘We did it,’ he said. And then, to the couple, he said, ‘Hier ist Fräulein Corbett!’