She looked down at her clothes, smiling ruefully. “I was in something of a hurry.”

“There’s another cup in the pot,” I urged. “And I believe there are some biscuits in the cupboard. Have you had any dinner?”

“I don’t remember. When I last ate, that is. Yesterday?” She accepted the second cup of tea and even one of the biscuits.

I had set my satchel down at the door, and I went to fetch it and put it in my own room. Opening the door to Diana’s, I said, “This should do. The sheets are clean. Mrs. Hennessey sees to that for us. The bed’s quite comfortable, and a good night’s rest makes sense. Tomorrow…” I shrugged. “Everything looks better in the daylight, doesn’t it?”

Biting back tears, she said, “Yes, all right. Thank you very much. I don’t like to be a burden, but I dread going back outside. You’re very kind.”

I smiled. “You would have done the same for me, I think, if you had found me on your doorstep with nowhere to go.”

She nearly laughed at that. “My doorstep?” she began, then broke off, shaking her head. “I live in the country,” she added after a moment. “We seldom find strangers at our door.”

Then she was not from London. What had brought her here? Or perhaps I should say, who had brought her here? I waited, hoping she might tell me more, but the moment had passed.

I went to fetch soap and towels, setting them on the table beside her. “You’ll find a fresh nightdress in the tall chest, middle drawer. You and Diana must be of a size. If not, we’ll look for one in Mary’s room.”

I busied myself clearing away the cups and filling the pot for tomorrow morning. I knew what my father and Simon would have to say about taking in a stranger, most particularly one who might be hiding from the police, but my mother would have understood that leaving her to the streets on a night like this was unconscionable. There was no way this woman could have guessed that I would be coming home tonight. She had simply chosen a doorway in which she could find a little respite from the wind. And perhaps, as well, shelter from whoever had struck her such a blow.