Marion wished she could stay, but she knew it was impossible. She began to gather herself and stood up. ‘Oh George, I hate not seeing you. I wish I could see you every day.’

‘Do you?’

‘Yes, I do. But this is my job for now.’ She hesitated. ‘It won’t be forever.’

‘When will you leave?’

Marion swallowed hard. ‘Well, I … I have to stay until the Princesses finish their education.’

George picked his coat up and looked at her, shaking his head. ‘That must be another eight or ten years at least.’ He held his arms wide. ‘Look at me, Marion. I will be an old man by then. Can you not see? I want to be with you, Marion. I am doing my best. I’ve taken the job at the bank so that I can come to London more often, just to be closer to you.’

‘Oh, George.’ Marion did not know what to feel; she was flattered, anxious, torn. ‘I am doing my best, but … I can’t leave them in the lurch just now.’

George put on his coat and began to do up the buttons. ‘At least I know where I stand.’

‘It’s not that …’ Marion felt wretched. ‘George, where do I stand with you?’

‘Would it make any difference? Marion, you have to work out what you want.’

‘George, I am so sorry.’ She quickly glanced at her watch. Time was running out and she had to be back soon.

He saw her and sighed. ‘There you are, you see – needing to be gone. I have to be off, too. I am on the afternoon train back home.’

Marion didn’t know how everything had gone so wrong. ‘I thought perhaps you might be here for a few more days? We need to talk. You are cross with me. George, you mean so much to me. Please stay just for a couple of days longer and I will find the time. We could have dinner and …’

‘I’ll let you know when I’m coming back. In the meantime, you look after that piece of heather. Every time you look at it, remember that I will be thinking of you.’

‘Oh George …’

He smiled at her, though the brightness didn’t reach his eyes. ‘Off you go like a good girl. I don’t like goodbyes. And don’t look back – I will be watching you until you disappear from sight.’ He put both hands on her shoulders. ‘I mean it. Now go, before I stop you.’

He did stay to watch her go, but she didn’t turn round. She didn’t see the old woman either, carrying a flat wicker basket full of heather that she was selling to the young couples and families taking an autumn stroll. She didn’t hear her telling them, ‘Genuine lucky heather. Ha’penny a bunch.’

She recognized George as he walked past, ‘Hello again, sir. Did your young lady like the bunch?’

He raised his hat to her. ‘She did indeed.’