Over dinner I told my father about my engagement.

He was delighted. “We—your mother and I—could not be more pleased,” he said. “It is what we have always hoped for. Robert is a wonderful young man. Not appreciated by some, because he is so modest. Such people are often taken at their own estimation, which can be a great mistake. Robert’s family will be pleased also. Perhaps Belinda would have liked a duke’s daughter for her son, but at least she is gratified by her daughter’s elevation to the aristocracy. At one time, your mother and I thought that you and Marcus…”

“Oh, no, it was Annabelinda for him.”

“I’m glad. There is no one we would rather see you marry than Robert Denver.”

“I know…but I’m afraid because he’ll be out there…in the thick of it.”

My father nodded his head gravely. “Robert has always struck me as a survivor, in his calm, quiet way,” he said.

I could not bear to think of Robert’s being in danger and my father changed the subject quickly. He said, “By the way…you haven’t seen anything…?”

I knew what he meant and replied, “No, and I can’t imagine who could possibly get in there.”

“I think it is certain that someone has been in there.”

“When?”

“Within the last few days.”

“I have been watchful.”

“You can’t be everywhere at once. The essence of this is secrecy. You must not let anyone see you are on the alert. I don’t like that key being in Mrs. Cherry’s possession. Not that I suspect her. But of course she doesn’t realize the importance of that key, and I can’t tell her. It’s a pity the room has to be cleaned.”

“I wonder if I could get the key?”

“How?”

“I mean, ask Mrs. Cherry to give it to me. Suppose I offered to clean the room?”

“Wouldn’t that be rather unusual?”

“Well, everything about it is unusual. Your study’s having to be kept locked, for one thing…no one but Mrs. Cherry having the key. I don’t see why I shouldn’t clean the room. If I had the key we could be sure no one could get in.”

“I think it would arouse too much suspicion if you asked Mrs. Cherry for it.”

“I’ll think of something.”

“Lucinda, be careful. You do realize how important this is, and if there is someone in this household…someone who is working for the enemy…well, such people could be dangerous.”

“I do know, but I am sure I can make it all seem natural.”

“I certainly don’t like the idea of there being a key that is not in my possession. I don’t like the thought of Mrs. Cherry’s going in. While she is working, the door will be open. She could be called away suddenly….I am certain that someone is getting into that room.”

“Well, I am going to find out, and the first step is to get the key, without which no one can get into the room, unless they come through the window, which is always locked; and as the room is on the second floor, an intruder would need the agility of a cat to get in. There’s not so much for me to do here as there was at Marchlands. Walk in the park…and play with Edward. I really don’t see why I should not clean that room. After all, there are not many servants in the house now. I could make that excuse. Leave it to me. I’ll get the key and that will set our minds at rest on that score.”

It was not so difficult to manage. I had always been on good terms with Mrs. Cherry, and Edward had made a special bond between us. She had thought the story of my bringing him from France was very “beautiful.” It was heartwarming, she said, like something in a novelette.

“Some would have left him behind. I mean to say…a young girl bringing home a baby like that. Well, of course, there was Mrs. Greenham. She’d never turn anyone away from her door, let alone a little baby. So I reckon it’s a beautiful story. And there he is, the little mite, as cocky as they come. What would have happened to him if he’d been left to those terrible Germans?”

She had always been fond of my mother, and now I had become almost a war heroine in her eyes, so I was on especially good terms with her.

I began by asking her for the key to my father’s study as there were some papers he wanted me to look out for him.

“Oh, that key,” she said. “It worries me a bit. Your father says I am never to let it out of my sight.”

“And you don’t, do you? It is just because he doesn’t want his papers moved about, you know.”

“I never touch papers. Besides, I thought they were all locked away.”

“Oh, yes, they are, I believe. But let me have the key.”

“I’ll get it for you.”

“Where do you keep it?”

“In the dresser drawer…right at the back of the cloths and things. It’s well hidden away there.”

She went to the drawer and produced the key, which I took from her.

“Mrs. Cherry, shall I keep the key?”

“Well, there’s times when I have to go in to clean.”

“You could ask me for it then, and I’d come and help you with the room.”

“You, Miss Lucinda!”

“I used to do all sorts of things at Marchlands. The hospital, you know. There’s not much for me to do here. I’d enjoy it. We could have a little chat while we worked.”

“Well, miss, I don’t right know what to say. Your father did tell me…”

“I’ll explain everything to him. I’ll keep the key and when you want it…just let me know.”

“Well, if that’s all right with you…”

“I think it will be. Let’s try it, shall we? I don’t like having too little to do.”

I put the key in my pocket. I thought, I shall always keep it with me. I went to my room telling myself I had managed that rather cleverly.

Alone in my room, I took out the key and looked at it. Things could fall out of pockets. I found a strong gold chain and hung it around my neck, tucking it down the bodice of my dress. There it would be safe.

When I told my father what I had done, he was clearly pleased.

“I shall feel much happier now,” he said. “And if anything else happens, we shall have to consider whether someone has a key to the room besides ourselves.”

“How could anyone come by that?”

“If they had stolen it from Mrs. Cherry, they might have had another made.”

“Wouldn’t they have to keep it some time to do that?”

“Not very long, I suppose.”

“She would have missed it. She was certainly worried about having it and was glad to pass it over to me. I shall see that no one goes into that room without my knowing.”

“It’s a comfort to have you here, Lucinda.”

I was susceptible to every sound in the house. I was sleeping lightly. Often a creaking floorboard would awaken me. I would imagine I heard someone creeping down the stairs…the sound of a key in a lock. Then I would feel for the key which I kept around my neck, even in bed. I realized that I was oversensitive. But there was a night when I thought I heard noises. I put on my dressing gown and went down to the study. I turned the door handle. The door was locked. I stood there listening.

Then someone called. “Oh…it’s you, Lucinda.”

I looked up. Andrée was leaning over the banisters.

“Is everything all right?” she asked.

“Yes. I thought I heard someone down here.”

“False alarm?” said Andrée.

“I’m sorry I disturbed you.”

“I’m a light sleeper…particularly since I’ve been looking after Edward. The least sound and I’m awake….”

“I must be the same. It’s chilly here. We mustn’t get chilled. Good night.”

I went into my room and shut the door. How foolish I was! Yet, on the other hand, if someone had been there, I should have caught him…or her. I had to be on the alert.

Spring would soon be with us. There was a certain hope in the air. We were forcing the enemy back with some success. The battle for the Somme had started and the fighting was fierce. Robert was constantly in my thoughts and I was tortured by speculations of what was happening out there. There was not much news, but the German successes which had occurred in the beginning were definitely halted. People were saying that we were winning the war of the U-boats and it would not be long before we were triumphant on land.