It was time. Adelaide took a final look at herself in the mirror, running her hands down her pretty lavender-colored dress, her favorite, and staring into her own eyes for a moment. Can I actually go through with this? She was about to go on a picnic with Wolfgang, just the two of them, and all her earlier confidence had drained away. Her hair was softly curling over her shoulders, longer than usual, but she’d kept it that way during the war because she’d decided she liked it. She’d used a little rouge on her cheeks and pink lipstick, but she felt too young as she stared at her reflection, not grown-up enough to go on a proper date, even if she did turn twenty in a few days’ time.

Elise tapped on the door then and she quickly looked away, not wanting to be seen mooning at herself in the mirror.

“I thought maybe you could wait for him near the door, so he doesn’t have to come in,” Elise said softly, her head against the door jamb as she considered her. “You look absolutely beautiful, Addy. As gorgeous as Mama when they used to leave us and go out for dinner when we were little.”

Adelaide did a little twirl and they both laughed. “You really think so?”

“I do.” Elise came in and lifted the perfume bottle from the dresser, taking Addy’s arm and dropping a little to her wrist. “And now you can smell like her, too.”

Adelaide watched as Elise dabbed a little to her own wrist before setting the bottle back down.

“Addy, I know I said that I didn’t approve, but I do believe in you, and I know I can’t tell you what you can and can’t do. If it were my choice, you wouldn’t be seeing him, but . . .”

Adelaide picked up her jacket and slung it over her arm, nervous all over again as she waited for Elise to finish her sentence.

“Well, perhaps you could try to find out more about the current situation, what happened at Dunkirk and so on?” Elise suggested. “Don’t make a fuss about it, just act interested if he starts to talk about the war. Make out like you know very little, just play along and get as much out of him as you can without being obvious.”

“You really think I can manage it?” she asked. “I know you don’t think I owe Harry, but I still feel like it’s all my fault, what happened, so—”

“Hey, Harry’s hurt, that’s all. And you don’t ever have to feel like you’re obligated to do something for him. He’s in our home, and that’s the greatest kindness of all.”

Elise had tears in her eyes, and Addy wished she hadn’t been so angry with her. She’d been right to worry.