She waited for him to offer up some sort of explanation as to why he was giving her a riding lesson she’d never asked for, but it didn’t seem to be on his mind or his lips.

‘What are we doing?’

He glanced at her. ‘We’re riding.’

‘I mean – why?’

‘I thought you might enjoy it. And I fancied some company.’

He fancied some company? She couldn’t quite believe she was hearing this. ‘You said we weren’t to see one another.’

‘I know.’

‘So then . . .?’ Her tone was confrontational.

There was a pause and he sighed. ‘It just seems a little extreme, don’t you think? Rather dramatic that we should have to go around avoiding one another.’

‘That was your decision. Not mine.’

‘I know. And I was wrong. I was just a little . . . thrown, that’s all. But I’ve got my head around it now. We can be friends, of course we can! We should.’ He sounded like he was trying to convince someone.

They walked on in awkward silence. It wasn’t exactly the rapprochement she’d yearned for. She couldn’t keep up with him and the way he blew hot and cold. He was more changeable than the wind. How could she trust him, after everything she’d been through? Was still going through? He had no idea what his presence in St Kilda had meant for her last May.

‘Do you like it here?’ he asked.

It seemed an odd question but she just shrugged. ‘There’s a distinct lack of mountains.’

‘Yes. Sadly no mountains. My ancestors couldn’t quite manage that.’

Moving mountains was seemingly the only thing beyond their reach, Effie thought as they hacked past groundsmen who all tipped their caps. The determination to subdue nature was an ongoing commitment. Billy had told her there was a maze somewhere, too; apparently that was the most impressive feat.

They could both see Henry on the other side of the terrace, walking the cheetah.

‘Does Lady Sibyl always travel with her?’ she asked, more from curiosity than any sophisticated desire to make conversation.

‘Margaux?’ he sighed. ‘Yes. It’s such a bore. She’s been barred from Claridge’s, you know.’

She didn’t know. ‘Who’s Claridge?’

He laughed as though she’d said something funny. ‘You are a breath of fresh air, Effie Gillies.’

She still didn’t know what was so amusing, but there was something in his sudden laughter that pulled at her, an echo from another time that cracked the glaze of her new shell. She didn’t want them not to be friends. When they weren’t trying to fight, everything was so easy and natural between them.