Warlight

When Rose is eight, 16-year-old Marsh Felon falls off her roof during a repair and convalesces in the Williams’ home. Rose brings him breakfast, books, and supplies to make fishing lures. After his recovery, Felon remains close to Rose’s family. At university, he discovers a book by Winthrop Young on roof climbing and learns to scale buildings in the night. In London, he befriends a fellow stegophilist, or building climber, named Ruth Howard. An agent for British Intelligence, Ruth recruits him to spy on coastal towns suspected of German sympathies.

When Felon is 21 and Rose 14, he teaches her how to hunt birds, fish, and fire a shotgun. Rose learns about wildlife and chalk hills, and she bonds with Felon during her father’s absences. Years later, Felon and Rose reconnect in Suffolk. Rose lives in London with her husband and Rachel, and she is pregnant with Nathaniel. Felon is disappointed that Rose did not pursue a career as a linguist, whereas Rose sees him as the same childhood friend. Felon also lives in London and has a BBC radio program as a naturalist. Secretly, he works for intelligence and rebuilds a private cottage not far from White Paint.