Caroline took down two mugs from the Welsh dresser as Granny poured boiling water into the teapot.

“It was really hard for me, coming back to England, having spent the war years in India,” Granny went on. “Servants to do everything. And of course your grandfather was in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp much of that time. I was stuck miles from home, never knowing if I’d see my husband again. Poor man—he didn’t know for two years that our son had died.”

“I didn’t even know you had a son,” Caroline said.

“I don’t talk about him much. It was a painful episode in my life. I was stuck in India when the war broke out. Your grandfather was called up into the army. And then our little boy got typhoid.”

“Oh, Granny. How awful for you. You poor thing.” Her thoughts immediately went to Teddy and the ache in her own heart. If anything happened to him, how would she bear it?

“I survived.” Her grandmother gave a sad little smile. “Most of us survive the hardest things. We are quite resilient.”

“I am trying to be,” Caroline said. She carried the two mugs over to the table by the window. Rain was now sweeping across the expanse of lawn. They sat facing each other. “Will you be all right for money now that Aunt Lettie is gone?”

Her grandmother looked down at the tea she was stirring. “I have to admit that her pension did help with expenses.”

“Then I’ll definitely move in with you. I think Teddy should go to the Church of England primary school, don’t you? If you want me here, of course.”

“Want you here? My darling child, I can’t think of anything nicer than having you and Teddy here. And don’t you worry. He’ll be back soon.”

“God, I hope so.” Caroline stirred her own tea savagely. She took a sip. It was naturally too hot, and she put it back on the table. “Granny, Aunt Lettie was trying to tell me something. Did you hear what she said? Could you understand it?”

“I couldn’t really hear,” Granny replied. “I heard her, but I couldn’t tell you what she was talking about. Her speech was affected, wasn’t it? Talking out of one side of her mouth. And she couldn’t find words. I found her like that when I brought in her morning cup of tea. She said, ‘Think I’ve had a stroke. No hospital. Caroline. Want to tell Caroline . . .’ And she repeated that when the doctor left.”

“Gosh,” Caroline said. “I wish I knew what she had wanted. It sounded like something about sketches. I couldn’t really understand. Perhaps her mind was already gone.”

“Before I forget,” Granny said, “Lettie left everything to you. She made a will, and you are her beneficiary.”

“Really?” Caroline flushed with embarrassment. “But that’s not right. Everything should go to you, Granny. You’re the one who has taken care of her all these years.”