Jessica had only recently come to England from the south of France where she had been living with her grandfather, Brigadier Sir Frank Jarvis, since November 1946, so that her mother, Marie Thérèse Craven could go out to work. Her daughter was more of an inconvenience to her than a beloved child. She was very aware of the strong bond that existed between Jessica and her father, the Brigadier, and was glad of it. It meant that the child could be left in his care and out of her way.