Violet carried her own cup over to the table and sat down opposite her. “I heard the explosion, but I thought it was a seagull landing on a mine. Where do you think the German went, then?”

“I have no idea, but I think if it were me I’d have made a beeline for the woods. Goodness, is that the time? I had no idea it was so late.”

Violet followed her gaze to the mantelpiece clock above the huge fireplace that had once housed an oven and had served as the only means of cooking meals. The Manor House had been built early in the seventeenth century, and except for the addition of modern plumbing and electricity, remained much the same as it had been for three centuries. The kitchen, with its huge bay windows and warm brick walls, was one of Elizabeth’s favorite rooms.

“I was getting quite worried about you.” Violet gave her a critical stare. “I told you not to go down to that shop. You should have waited for Marlene to come up here.”

Elizabeth patted her hair. “I was beginning to look straggly.”

“Looked fine to me.” Violet got up from the table and picked up the cups and saucers. “Did you get it cut after all that?”

Elizabeth frowned. “Can’t you tell?”

“Not really. I could have done a better job than that.”

“No doubt you could, but I didn’t want to bother you. Now that you have all this extra work with the American officers moving into the east wing, you have your hands full.” It was a good excuse, and one Elizabeth felt comfortable using. To her relief, Violet seemed pacified by her words.

“Oh, it’s not that bad,” she said, dismissing the suggestion with a wave of her hand. “Polly has been working pretty hard.”

Elizabeth looked at her in surprise. Usually Violet didn’t have a good word to say about the young housemaid. “Polly? I’m happy to hear that.”

Violet nodded. “Surprised me, too. Don’t know what’s got into her, rushing up and down stairs and in and out of rooms like a squirrel hunting nuts. She was finished in half the time it usually took her to do the job before the Yanks moved in. Maybe she’s trying to impress them.”