His mother’s American accent called from the house: “Get in here, you kids—we’re leaving!” They dropped their cigarettes into the flower bed and went inside.

The two families were assembling in the hall. Dave’s grandmother, Eth Leckwith, was to be “introduced” to the House of Lords. This meant she would become a baroness, be addressed as Lady Leckwith, and sit as a Labour peer in the upper chamber of Parliament. Dave’s parents, Lloyd and Daisy, were waiting, with his sister, Evie, and a young family friend, Jasper Murray. The Dewars, wartime friends, were here too. Woody Dewar was a photographer on a one-year assignment in London, and had brought his wife, Bella, and their children, Cameron and Beep. All Americans seemed fascinated by the pantomime of British public life, so the Dewars were joining in the celebration. They formed a large group as they left the house and headed for Parliament Square.

Walking through the misty London streets, Beep transferred her attention from Dave to Jasper Murray. He was eighteen and a Viking, tall and broad with blond hair. He wore a heavy tweed jacket. Dave longed to be so grown-up and masculine, and to have Beep look up at him with that expression of admiration and desire.

Dave treated Jasper like an older brother, and asked his advice. He had confessed to Jasper that he adored Beep and could not figure out how to win her heart. “Keep trying,” Jasper had said. “Sometimes sheer persistence works.”

Dave could hear their conversation. “So you’re Dave’s cousin?” Beep said to Jasper as they crossed Parliament Square.

“Not really,” Jasper replied. “We’re no relation.”

“So how come you live here rent-free and everything?”

“My mother was at school with Dave’s mother in Buffalo. That’s where they met your father. Since then they’ve all been friends.”

There was more to it than that, Dave knew. Jasper’s mother, Eva, had been a refugee from Nazi Germany and Dave’s mother, Daisy, had taken her in, with characteristic generosity. But Jasper preferred to underplay the extent to which his family was indebted to the Williamses.

Beep said: “What are you studying?”

“French and German. I’m at St. Julian’s, which is one of the larger colleges of London University. But mostly I write for the student newspaper. I’m going to be a journalist.”

Dave was envious. He would never learn French or go to university. He was bottom of the class at everything. His father despaired.

Beep said to Jasper: “Where are your parents?”

“Germany. They move around the world with the army. My father’s a colonel.”

“A colonel!” said Beep admiringly.

Dave’s sister, Evie, muttered in his ear: “Little tart, what does she think she’s doing? First she flutters her eyelashes at you, then she flirts with a man five years older!”

Dave made no comment. He knew that his sister had a massive crush on Jasper. He could have taunted her, but he refrained. He liked Evie and, besides, it was better to save up stuff like this and use it next time she was mean to him.