Maisie Dobbs

The narrative returns to Maisie’s present in the summer of 1929. Maisie journeys to the Comptons’ London home, where Carter, still the butler, takes her hat. She tells him she will visit the cook, Mrs. Crawford, before joining Lady Rowan. The cook does not approve of James’s melancholy, noting that men of other classes lack the luxury to dwell on their losses.

Maisie goes to Lady Rowan, who is eager to hear all about her work. She promises to see Maurice, who now lives at Chelstone, where Maisie’s father still works with the horses. Lady Rowan is anxious about James, and Maisie senses the atmosphere of grief and frustration in the home. Over dinner, Lady Rowan explains that James is eager to live on a farm in Kent with other veterans. Lady Rowan explains that the men pool their funds and give up their first names, according to the rules of the founder, Adam Jenkins.

This revelation establishes that James is planning to live in the same place at which Vincent Weathershaw died. Lady Rowan is particularly relieved that while James has some personal wealth, he cannot sign over the family property.