Beatrice had learned that plum blossoms were one of the most beloved flowers in that part of the world, featuring time and again in art and poetry going back centuries. They were admired because they bloomed most brightly against the winter snow, making them a symbol of strength in adversity, perseverance and hope. There was an old tradition of viewing them by moonlight, and Beatrice would never forget the first time she had seen them, so ghostly and beautiful and perfect against the sparkling ice.

‘The beautiful women of the forest and moon,’ James said, startling her. ‘Is that not how Ji Cheng referred to them in his journal? From the Ming Dynasty? You needn’t look so surprised. I have travelled widely in China, remember.’

‘I thought y-you only h-hunted orchids.’ Her tone was almost accusatory.

‘I am interested in many things.’

‘So, you h-have s-seen them t-too?’

‘I’m familiar with the trees of which you speak, yes. The plum juice bestows knowledge on whoever drinks it. They might become fluent in a whole new language, or an expert mathematician, or an advanced scientist.’

‘Then you m-must agree they are a w-wonder?’

He gave a slight shrug. ‘I suppose I’m very boring, but I would rather earn my knowledge the old-fashioned way. To be given it in the space of a moment, with no effort or discipline exerted at all, has always seemed to me to be rather … hollow.’

Beatrice frowned, displeased. But what did James know about it anyway? It was her garden. It was her thoughts and tastes that counted – no one else’s.

‘I think y-you are w-wrong,’ she said. ‘Kn-knowledge is the g-greatest g-gift. Will you h-hunt me the orchid?’

‘On the understanding that you will not display it in your garden,’ he said. ‘Or ever touch it yourself.’

Beatrice resented being given instructions in this way, but since it was something she had already pledged to herself to do, she gave a curt nod.

‘I hope you know what you’re doing,’ James said. ‘And, at any rate, it will take some time to find such an orchid. Hardly any exist.’

‘I h-have every f-faith in you,’ Beatrice said. ‘Y-You are the b-best in your f-field.’

She had meant it as a statement of fact rather than a compliment, but James smiled and said, ‘Thank you.’

‘There is s-something else,’ Beatrice said. ‘I n-need advice.’

‘Go on.’

‘Many h-hunters have g-great d-difficulty t-t-transporting their f-flowers back alive. You h-have a m-much h-higher-than-usual s-success r-rate.’

‘I do.’

‘If it’s p-possible to s-safely t-transport a f-flower, m-might it b-be p-possible to transport a t-tree?’

James raised an eyebrow. ‘An entire tree would present its own unique challenges,’ he said.

‘Not j-just one t-tree,’ Beatrice said quietly. ‘I n-need a f-forest.’

‘You wish to bring these plum trees back from China?’ He looked dubious.