Lord Ashford was sitting on the front row. Lady Ashford was still at The Dorchester, as far as anyone knew. But Maggie was glad to see that his Lordship wasn’t on his tod. Gwen was sitting next to him – right up close – and she did look smart. She’d curled her hair and she was wearing what looked like a new blouse. On her other side was Mrs Mason – smiling, for once – and then Rudi’s parents.

Rudi was sitting on his mother’s knee and his father was teasing him about something and oh, they were having a good laugh.

Even though Maggie’s heart was aching for all she’d lost, she couldn’t help but smile, seeing the little family together at last.

She knew she wasn’t supposed to blow her own trumpet but she was allowed to think it because Lord Ashford had said it to her when it was just the two of them. He’d said he blessed the day she came to Rosman’s and if it hadn’t been for her, Rudi would have drowned. Without a doubt. Even if she did nothing else worthwhile for the whole of the war, Maggie knew she’d always remember that.

* * *

It was the interval and tea and biscuits were being served from the kitchen hatch at the back of the hall.

‘I’ll fetch one for you,’ Gwen had told Joseph and he was sitting pulling faces at Rudi on his father’s lap when his driver, Brummie, interrupted them. There was someone at the back door to see him.

‘Come in, man!’ Joseph said to the shadowy figure standing outside. It took a second to recognise him – he was bandaged around his head and arm. ‘Maguire! You’re back! Excellent. But not entirely sound, I’m sorry to see. Goodness, man, what’s happened to you?’

Maguire waved his right – unbandaged – hand in a dismissive gesture, making it clear he didn’t want to discuss his injuries. Apart from the dressings, he seemed in fine fettle. Which was a relief. Just wait until Miss Corbett saw him! Joseph attempted to hurry Maguire into the hall but he shook his head and stood firm inside the back door.

‘There’s … erm … a teddy bear, Sir,’ he said, frowning at Joseph’s jacket pocket, from which Sebastian was peeping out. He rubbed his eye, thinking he was seeing things.

‘Are you coming in, Maguire?’ Joseph said again but clearly the fellow had something he wanted to get off his chest.

‘Sir, when we moved here from London, you allowed married men to bring their wives.’

Joseph frowned, wondering where this was heading. It sounded like a prepared speech. ‘I did,’ he agreed.