Settling into Charleston has not been easy. The house has no running water or electricity, and many of the rooms remain bare despite the furniture Maynard has sent us. I have distempered the walls, mixing Indian red and cobalt to soften the whiteness, but apart from this I have had little time to decorate. With the shortages from the war increasing and Duncan and Bunny out at work each day my priority is the garden. Sometimes, as I look up from my weeding or planting, I imagine one of the rooms as if it is a bare canvas and try out a design in my mind. I plan a frieze of blue and yellow moons above Duncan’s window, and a contrasting echo of green and brown circles below the sill. I find a stick and sketch a vase of lilies and poppies for his door. I wonder if my flowers are a recompense for all the plants I have pulled up in the garden. Food is in such short supply that we need every inch of soil to grow vegetables and fruit.

I survey my work. I have told Clive I do not want to send the boys away to school and that I will educate them here. I have taken on a governess, and extra pupils to help with the cost. I dig up a dandelion that has seeded itself amongst the carrots. I am worried about Julian. Quentin applies himself readily enough to lessons, but Julian sabotages whatever I ask him to do. He fidgets whenever my back is turned and appears jealous of any attention I give to the other children. Only yesterday when I helped Anna-Jane with her still life he knocked the dish of fruit to the floor.