“I’m sure you’ll find something to your satisfaction,” she said, her voice warming. “You’ll get a decent soup or sandwich at any of the places around here, but if you’re looking for a hot meal I’d head to one of the pubs. Friend at Hand is probably the best. Or you could try one of the Ministry of Food’s British Restaurants—they’re rather good.”

It had stopped raining, but it was still windy, and the morning’s chill had lingered. Theo puffed on an imaginary cigarette, blowing condensation through pursed lips, which made her smile seemingly against her will. “Which way is it?” he asked, buttoning up his expensive navy coat and adjusting his fedora.

“This way,” she said, and started to walk.

As they fell into step beside each other, he decided it was time to draw a line under this missing woman, forget about her or replace her, so they could all move on to more important issues. “I know you’re busy, so I’m just going to ask you outright. What’s she like, this Alice? I mean . . . what kind of person is she?”

“What kind of person is she?” Ursula repeated, sounding surprised. “Well, she’s kind and caring, and she’s not the sort of person who would run off with trade secrets, if that’s what you’re thinking.” Ursula cast him a sharp glance and scowled, and he tried not to smile. “She’s as passionate about books and about Partridge as the rest of us are, and there’s no way she’d do anything to jeopardize the company.”

They reached the busy main road and crossed over to where two cafés stood next to each other in a parade of shops. As they stopped outside, he turned to face her. “So, why hasn’t Alice been in touch with anyone?”

“I really don’t know. She was a little preoccupied the last time I saw her.” Ursula frowned. “She was worried about her cousin, who was expecting a baby and had just lost her husband.”

“You said earlier that she went to look after them—”

“Yes, but that was only supposed to be temporary. We thought she was coming back, but it’s been five months now.”

“And you really have no idea where she could be?”

“No, I’m afraid not. She’s certainly not back in Dulwich with her mother, but I do know for sure that she would be here, unless something more important was keeping her away.”

“Why can’t she be replaced? There must be hundreds of girls suitable for her job.”