‘Oh, that’s perfect!’ Lady Allingham dips her gloved hand into the bunting and lifts some clear of the box. ‘And in such better condition than what we have brought. Mrs Jennings, I do fear ours is going to look a little shabby, but it has done us good service – why, my father-in-law purchased it for Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee! I’m concerned it may fall apart as soon as you start to unravel it.’

‘Mummy!’

Gwen spins round at the echo of the familiar voice. Tom is racing up the nave and her first words are to chastise him for running in church. Only after he sheepishly apologises, pressing against her leg, suddenly shy before strangers, does she question his presence, but then she sees Nora sauntering up the aisle with another box of offerings.

‘Muriel dug out some more things for you, Iris.’

The Land Girl smiles as she sets the box down on an empty pew, but it fades to a look of bemusement as she catches sight of Gwen’s alarm.

‘What?’

Gwen’s arm snakes around Tom’s shoulder, fixing him against her. She is unable to give voice to her concern.

‘Tom wanted to come,’ Nora says, her manner defensive.

‘Mummy,’ Tom wraps his arm around her thighs, tipping his head back to look at her, ‘will you give me a piggyback home? My legs are very tired! Nora walks so fast I had to run to keep up.’

Lady Allingham laughs, charmed by the boy. Tom coyly basks in the warmth of her attention and, as he does so, Gwen notices something play across the older woman’s features, as if her son has stirred a deep-seated memory, and now, put to mind of it, she desires to remember it anew. But it remains tantalisingly beyond Lady Allingham’s grasp and she soon abandons her efforts and loses interest in the boy.

‘Now, Mrs Jennings, I’m afraid we must be off. Gordon has made a number of cine films during his time abroad and Lord Allingham and I have committed to watching them this evening. I left him setting up a large screen. I fear it will be a long and sobering show.’

Iris thanks her for her donation. Gwen steps back, pulling Tom with her. Lady Allingham casts them a bland smile as she pulls her mink stole further around her shoulders. The clip of her shoes on the stone flags echoes as she walks away. The stooped man, who Gwen now suspects to be her chauffeur, hurries behind.

Gwen does not watch her leave. Instead she tightens her grip on Tom’s shoulders and persuades herself that Lady Allingham has no idea who she is. She has no idea at all.

She sends up a silent prayer that it will stay that way.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Jack

July 1939