‘We’ve been looking all over for you, young man,’ the airman said to the child. He sounded amused rather than cross. ‘It’s past your bedtime. And you’ve got Sebastian, too, you little rascal!’

Rudi looked up and surrendered the teddy, which the airman used to tap him lightly on the head. The child giggled.

‘It’s my uncle’s,’ he said to Maggie. ‘This bear. A kind of mascot. Very precious.’ He gazed at the teddy for a moment then looked back at her. ‘Don’t think we’ve been introduced, have we, Miss?’ He tucked the bear under his arm and came towards her down the steps, holding out his left hand. ‘Sorry, can’t shake properly. John Rosman. Jack to my friends. I’m the errant nephew. Pleased to meet you!’

Maggie swallowed. Rosman. He was part of the family, then. He seemed to fill the whole space in front of her, so that for a moment she couldn’t think straight. If he’d been a regular Tommy or someone from down her street, she’d have had no trouble talking to him. But he was so handsome, with the most piercing blue eyes, it was putting her in a tizz.

She quickly stretched out her hand. His was warm to the touch.

He seemed amused. ‘And you are?’

‘Oh! I’m just Maggie. Maggie Corbett.’

‘Hullo, “just Maggie”. Here with the bank? Yes, of course you are. I saw you earlier. Lucky devils, aren’t you? Got out of London at exactly the right time. Heaven only knows when the bombing’s going to stop. It’s relentless.’

She didn’t want to talk about the bombing.

‘Is he German?’ she blurted out, nodding at the child standing next to her.

Jack Rosman pursed his lips. ‘Yes. No, he’s Austrian. My uncle got him out before it all started. The only English he knew when he arrived was “I’m hungry. May I have a piece of bread?”.’ He laughed. ‘His parents taught him before they packed him off!’

Poor little mite. He seemed awfully young to be travelling around Europe alone. And they probably oughtn’t to talk about his parents in front of him like this; he might get upset.

‘His English is still rather ropey but it’s getting better, isn’t it, Rudes?’

The little boy stared up at the airman trustingly but didn’t reply. There was no telling if he’d understood.

‘He … he said he was forbidden to speak German,’ Maggie said.

Jack Rosman waved his hand, dismissively. ‘Oh, he’s not forbidden. It’s simply that if he speaks German, none of us can understand a word! But you, on the other hand …’

Her stomach flipped over.

He turned his blue eyes – and his charm – on her. ‘Tell me, “just Maggie”, how come you speak German? Are you—’