‘Ah, but you must understand that it isn’t as simple as that,’ Miss Tyler twittered. ‘We have a responsibility to the child.’

‘Like you had when she lived at home and her father interfered with her?’ John spat and the little woman paled as her gloved hand rose to her mouth.

He leaned towards her then to tell her in no uncertain terms, ‘Peggy is happier here than she ever was in London. She’s safer too because we live in a village so have less chance of being bombed. It’s taken her a while to get over the deaths of her brother and family and now you turn up out of the blue and tell me that you know what’s best for her? I don’t think so! You’ve never even met her!’

‘Really, Mr Willerby, there is no need to take this attitude,’ Miss Tyler stuttered. ‘We are only here in the best interests of the child.’

‘In that case leave her where she is,’ he retorted. ‘My housekeeper is a fine, upstanding woman who is longing to adopt the girl. I would myself but I realise that I’m a little old to be taking on a child of her age.’

‘I … I see.’ Miss Tyler had well and truly had the wind taken out of her sails. ‘Well, I would of course have to assess this woman to see if she was suitable.’

‘Of course,’ John conceded and then turning to the gentleman he said shortly, ‘And you, sir. Your establishment must be full of orphans at the moment? Would a generous donation help towards some of their keep?’

‘Well, er … yes, it certainly would,’ the man babbled, his greedy eyes lighting up. ‘Of course,’ he added hastily as Miss Tyler glared at him. ‘All donations go towards making a better life for our poor unfortunate orphans.’

Hm, and I bet some of them end up in your back pocket, John thought wryly.

However, his voice was calm as he asked Miss Tyler, ‘Would you like to meet Edith? She has been with me for many years and should she be allowed to adopt Peggy they will have a home here where Peggy is settled for as long as they like.’

‘Yes, very well,’ Miss Tyler answered doubtfully. ‘But you must understand the decision would not be up to me alone. I would have to take her details back to the department and there would have to be meetings to consider if it would be a suitable place for the child.’