It was late afternoon the following day by the time Nell escaped Willow Lodge, scampering down the meadow path to Fenley Farm. Rumor had it that after Barlow’s arrest, the Ministry of Agriculture had sent down a farm manager to oversee the farm. With him came the relocation of an Italian POW who was causing problems in the farm just outside Canterbury as no one spoke Italian.

She knew what that meant. Paolo’s plan had worked. They had moved him back.

I just want to see him, tell him about the contest, about Mrs. Quince, she thought as she gazed over the old farm.

Then, taking a deep breath of the damp autumnal air, she broke into a run down to the farmyard.

It was deserted, although it looked different, tidier, the tractor parked to one side, the older machinery put away.

There, in one of the stables, stood a few of the POWs—none of whom were Paolo. She darted out, back through the yard and into the field behind, where she could see a handful of men picking potatoes out of the soil. She crept into a copse of trees alongside them and peered out from behind a bush.

Among them, she made out the unmistakable form of Paolo. He was bending down, filling a sack beside him. After a few minutes, when the bag was almost full, he picked it up, tied the top, and carried it over to a trailer that was being loaded, ready for a tractor to cart away.

    He threw it in, then stood upright, stretching his back, his hands on his hips, his face tilted up toward the sun.

Holding herself back from running toward him, she lingered behind a row of bushes, wondering how she could get his attention.

And at that moment, as if he’d heard her, he looked around, his eyes meeting hers. There was no shock or surprise at seeing her there, only a smile widening over his face.

Without delay, he went to the guard, explained something—they laughed a little—and then he made off in her direction.

Quickly, she vanished back behind the bushes. But when she poked her head out again, she only saw Paolo striding toward her.

“Nell,” he whispered once he was behind the bush. “Where are you?”

Slowly, she came out, shaking a few twigs and leaves off her as she trod across the soft earth to meet him.

A grin covered his face, his eyes gleaming, as he rushed forward and took her up in his arms. “Nell, I can’t believe I see you again.” He laughed, his eyes searching hers.

“I—I missed you,” was all that she said before his soft lips enveloped hers. His gentle arms held her tightly, his sweet scent surrounding them.

As they pulled apart, she asked, “How did you get away from the guard?”

He grinned. “I told him I had to relieve myself.”

She laughed, hugging him tightly. “Paolo, you’ll never guess what happened. I won the contest.”

“Well done!”

“It was your cacciatore. It won the second round.” She felt elation well up inside. “I’m going to be on the radio.”

“You are not moving to London, though? Now I am back, it would be so sad.”

    “No, I’m staying here. I can take the train to town when I need to, and the others need me to help with the business when I can. Ambrose has been giving me elocution lessons to help me with my public speaking. He says I’ll be the finest presenter in London one day. Well, besides him, of course. I’m living at Audrey’s house now, in the village. It’s much better than the hall.” She looked at the ground. “Mrs. Quince, she died.”

Without a moment’s pause, he put his arms around her. “I’m so sad for you, dear Nell. I know how much you loved her. You must be heartbroken. At least you won the contest. It shows you that you can cook on your own now. That is because she teach you so well.”

“But I’m so lonely without her.”

He pulled her into a kiss. “Now I am back, so you don’t have to be lonely anymore.”

Aware of time running out, she pulled away, eyeing the guard in the field. “Will it be hard for us to meet now, with the new farm manager?”

With a shrug, he said, “Everything will be all right. You forget, I am good at hiding and planning, talking my way around them.”

“But remember what happened last time.”

He pulled her toward him. “This time I will be careful. We need to stay together.”

They fell into another embrace, overjoyed at the wonder of humanity—the magical thrill of togetherness. And as they stood in the pink-red light of dusk, she felt as if she were truly living, that this breathtaking moment was the first moment of the rest of their lives.

When she got back to Willow Lodge, the kitchen was still a hive of activity, even though it was getting dark outside. With the contest over, it was back to business as usual for the women, making up for lost time. Nell quickly nipped to the sink to wash up the gathering bowls and pans.

The nights were coming earlier, the cold, damp air creeping into the hot kitchen beneath the back door. With the blackout curtains drawn, the women whisked around between sink, pantry, and kitchen table, occasionally interrupted by the boys sneaking in for a spare fruit scone.

    Gwendoline came in, just off the telephone. Her face was serious, quiet. She had taken to telephoning Mr. Alloway every few days for news about Sir Strickland’s arrest. If they released him, it would cause problems for all of them, Gwendoline especially.

“Well, what did he say?” The others gathered around.

Gwendoline let out a long sigh. “It turns out the police had been looking into his business affairs for a few months. Even I wasn’t aware of the extent of my husband’s criminal activity. He’s been embezzling government funds. Now that they have proof, he’ll stand trial. He won’t be able to get out of this—it’s far too serious. I know I should be glad”—she looked down, swallowing hard—“but I can’t help feeling ashamed that I was ever part of his life.”

“No one blames you, Gwendoline,” Audrey said. “Nobody will think you were party to his shady deals.”

Gwendoline sighed. “At least they’ve given Willow Lodge a reprieve. The police asked me about the draw of money to pay off Willow Lodge’s mortgages and loans, and I told them it had been a gift.” She smiled. “They seem content to leave it at that, so, Audrey, you are now officially free of debt. Willow Lodge is yours, utterly and completely.”

“Could it be true?” Audrey sat stock still. Her eyes opened wide with incredulity, as if it were a dream come true. Her hand, trembling with relief, reached forward to her sister. “Quite honestly, Gwen, that is the very best gift you could ever give me,” Audrey gasped, tears in her eyes. “My mind will be at peace. I’ll be able to sleep—and my family, my friends…” She reached around all of them and pulled them in. “We’ll all be able to stay here, rent free, forever—whatever happens.”

A cheer went up, and Audrey did her best to stop bursting into tears.

But with pies needed for the morning, there was little time for celebrating, and soon enough they all got back to work: Gwendoline and Zelda at the sink washing pots, Nell and Audrey making pastry cases.

    After a few minutes, Zelda slid down into a chair, her damp dishcloth slipping to the floor.

“Are you all right?” Audrey said.

“It’s nothing. I just feel a little tired, that’s all,” she said. “Too much food,” she added, trying to smile. But her hand clutched the side of the table.

Audrey exchanged glances with Gwendoline. “Maybe the baby’s coming.”

Everyone stopped what they were doing, looking at Zelda, but she promptly quelled it. “It’s fine.” She scooped up the dishcloth. “The baby’s not due for a few weeks. In any case, I feel better now.”

They drifted back to work, except for Audrey, who watched her quizzically. “That might have been a contraction.”

“It was just a little thing, indigestion probably.” Zelda stood up, going back to drying pans.

But after a few minutes, Nell suddenly looked up from the sink. “I think we need to watch Zelda. She looks like she’s about to—”

At that moment, Zelda staggered back to the chair, Gwendoline pulling her soapy hands out of the sink to grab her under the arms.

“I don’t feel well at all,” Zelda murmured, her face contorting with pain.

“I knew they were contractions.” Audrey glanced at the kitchen clock. “That was about five minutes, so we still have a while to go. Zelda, we need to get you upstairs as soon as this contraction has stopped.” She glanced up. “Gwendoline, call the midwife.”

Together they helped Zelda up the stairs, and on Audrey’s directions, laid her down in Audrey’s room. “It’s the biggest and the best bed we have,” she said.

Gwendoline put her head around the door, beckoning Audrey and Nell outside. They went out onto the landing, carefully closing the door.

“The village midwife is attending another birth. She’ll come as soon as she’s free, but it might be a while.”

    “She can’t have the baby with only us to help her.” Nell had gone pale.