CHAPTER FIVE
LONDON, FRIDAY MARCH 24 1944
Elsie inserts the key Julia has lent her in the front door. There will be no repercussions, Julia has advised her, the landlady is a nice old girl, very progressive and all for young folk getting together in wartime and making the most of their free time. It is dark and gloomy in the hallway of this Victorian house that has seen better days. As they mount the staircase, Brian is surprised and amused to see a working gas light, hissing softly in the bracket and providing a shimmering, eerie blue flame. The last time he saw one of those was at their old Victorian terraced house in Birmingham, back in 1930.
Julia’s room is much more bright and cheerful. He looks around as they enter and notices just how big and high-ceilinged the room is. So much s
