“Mrs. Huggins, you are an angel in disguise, sent from heaven to bring me happiness,” Noel said.

Mrs. Huggins blushed charmingly. I wondered whether she might have landed herself a permanent job as Mr. Coward’s cook and what Granddad would think of that.

“Noel, are you sure you’re not Irish?” Mummy said. “You are full of blarney.”

Noel reached for the decanter and poured himself a glass of red wine. “I speak from the heart, Claire.”

“Darling, you don’t have a heart. Everyone knows that.” Mummy reached forward to pour herself a large glass of red wine. The steak and kidney pie, served with cauliflower in a parsley sauce, was absolutely delicious, as was the jam roly-poly that followed.

“Good simple English cooking at its best,” my mother said. “How I long for this sometimes, when I am stuck with that rich German food.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” Mr. Coward said. “There are times when one simply can’t face another schnitzel, or even another bite of caviar. Of course, it’s really the longing to go back to the security of the nursery, isn’t it?”

We finished the meal with coffee and nuts and dates around the fire.

“This really is most delightful,” Mummy said. “I shall be loath to leave and travel back to those big drafty rooms at Max’s house and all that entertaining and boring German parties.”

“You know, Claire, I really do believe you’re looking for an excuse to leave that brute,” Noel said.

“He’s not a brute.”

“He’s a German and all Germans are brutes at heart.”

“He adores me, Noel, and you know how much I like to be adored. And he is very rich and generous. But you’re right. There is only so much time that one can spend in Germany without longing to escape—especially now that that dreadful little Hitler man seems to have taken control.”

“He won’t last, my darling,” Noel said. “He can’t last. He is comic beyond belief. You’ll see. Someone with more military bearing will arise and topple him. Maybe even your Max might like to take over—then you could be Frau Führer.”

“If you’re in Mr. Coward’s play then you’ll be stuck in England, won’t you?” I said. “It’s bound to be a hit and then it’ll run forever.”

“Of course it will. Anything I write is a hit,” Noel said. “And then we’ll take it to America, where everyone will adore us.”

“Oh, yes. Do let’s.” Mummy’s face lit up. “I really do think it’s time I went back to the stage. It’s been so long. Do you think my public will have forgotten me?”

Noel took her hand. “As if they could, my darling. They have been yearning for your return.”

I glanced at my grandfather and he winked.