Maguire nodded. He was standing straight, staring ahead, as though to attention. His back was straight. Gracious, that Home Guard lot had done a good job on him. This wasn’t the same man who’d stood in front of him back in September and reluctantly taken on the role of ‘Head of Morale’.

‘I don’t have a wife, Sir—’ Maguire said.

‘Wise man,’ Joseph muttered.

‘—and if you don’t mind me saying so, Sir, that seems rather unfair, that I’m not permitted to bring—’

‘Yes, yes,’ Joseph said. His mind was a maelstrom. What on earth was all this about? ‘You want to bring someone here, Maguire? To Snowden?’

‘Yes, Sir. You need more house staff, after all, Sir.’

Joseph wouldn’t say it now but he already had two new members of staff to introduce to Snowden. Rudi’s parents – both doctors – would make a rather overqualified under gardener and housemaid but they’d assured him they didn’t mind. And it wouldn’t be forever.

Joseph sighed. ‘Go on, then,’ he said. ‘Let’s hear it.’

Suddenly a woman’s voice piped up from the other side of the door. ‘I’m a grafter! I’ll earn me keep!’

Maguire nodded. ‘That’s her, Sir.’

‘What? Out there, in the freezing cold? Well, whoever she is, bring her in, man, for goodness’ sake!’

* * *

‘Hello, you.’

Maggie turned and almost dropped the huge teapot she was carrying.

She recognised that voice but not the person attached to it. At least, not for a moment. It was Ray, all bandaged up. But it was, undoubtedly, him. She could barely believe her eyes. ‘What’s happened to you? You haven’t enlisted! Have you?’

Someone, probably Charity, took the teapot carefully from Maggie, leaving her free to stand on tiptoe, take Ray’s face gently in her hands and kiss him.

The grey-haired woman standing beside him, chuckled. ‘Oh, I see it all now, Raymond. No wonder you was so keen to get back!’

‘We thought you’d joined up!’ Maggie said. She thought her heart would burst with happiness. He was here, he was safe and he wasn’t angry with her anymore.

Ray sighed. ‘No. Not that. I went to fetch Ma. Ma, this is Maggie, the one I’ve told you all about.’ He turned back to Maggie. ‘When I saw the state of those streets back home, I couldn’t leave her there. I was going to bring her straight to Snowden. That was my plan. Only Hitler had other ideas.’

His mother chuckled. ‘We got bombed out, love,’ she said, matter-of-factly. ‘’Ospickle. That’s where he’s been all this time.’

‘I can look everyone in the eye, now though, eh?’ Ray said, pointing to his bandaged head.

‘Luckily, ’is head is rock hard,’ his mum said.