‘You taught her to be curious.’

‘I suppose. She discovered it was a good feeling to find things out.’

‘And then Mrs Black died.’

Isobel nodded. ‘And Mr Black was very sad for a long time.’

‘From your voice it sounds as though there is more to say about that.’

‘No one else was sad. No one.’ Isobel folded her arms. ‘Why are you asking me all this?’

‘Because I needed to know. Mr Black wants the children to call me Mother, but Ann is refusing to do it. He is cross with her and thinks she is being stubborn for no reason. Ann wants to call me Ursula.’

‘If you don’t mind me saying, Mrs Black, I think that’s a great compliment. It’s possible that, in her mind, Mother is not a good word.’

Ursula nodded. ‘That’s what she said and I didn’t fully understand why.’

‘What are you going to do now?’

‘I want to speak to Finlay. And after that, I need to talk to my husband.’ She paused. ‘Are you making fruit scones?’

‘Cheese.’

‘Good. I’m hungry.’ She took a plate down from the dresser. ‘Eighteen different birds? Perhaps I need to go to the library too.’

Chapter 24

July 1911

Ann lifted the heavy watering can and struggled down the garden with it. The prolonged dry weather meant her little patch of ground was thirsty. Last year’s rosemary bush, grown from a cutting from the postman, had survived, and her carefully sown birthday seeds had already germinated and grown into a carpet of tiny plantlets. There were two sections: a flower bed and a herb patch, and she was most concerned about the herbs because she knew Isobel liked to use them to cook with. She didn’t hear Finlay coming up behind her.

‘Hello, Annie Bee.’

‘You shouldn’t creep up on people like that!’

‘Sorry.’ He pointed at the watering can. ‘Would you like me to fill that back up for you?’

‘Please.’ She handed over the grey galvanised can and bent down to rub the fragranced rosemary spears and the little furry sage leaves between her fingers.

‘Shall I water them for you?’ he said, when he came back.

She shook her head. ‘I know you gave me all these seeds, but you don’t know what you’re doing. It needs to be done properly.’ She took the watering can from him. ‘What do you want?’

‘I was wondering if you’re looking forward to seeing the new King and Queen next week. It’s going to be quite a spectacle, I think. There’s a big procession planned, all along Princes Street.’

‘I’m not going.’ Ann leaned over to inspect the smaller seedlings.

‘But they might never come back to Edinburgh!’ Finlay couldn’t keep the astonishment out of his voice. ‘Not ever.’