Beatrice didn’t object again. It wasn’t as if her reputation wasn’t already in tatters, thanks to travelling alone with him in such a way. She simply didn’t care. She knew James wasn’t a threat to her and she trusted him.

She had cause to be thankful of her choice when, a few days later, she woke in the middle of the night to the rough press of a hand over her mouth, and Horace Johnston’s greedy eyes gleaming at her in the soft glow of the plums.

‘Don’t shout,’ he whispered. ‘I just want to talk.’ He removed his hand and jerked his head towards the trees. ‘Tell me what they can do.’

Beatrice knew at once that she would not be able to utter a word. To her horror, she recalled that tonight, of all nights, James wasn’t there. He was playing poker with some crew members and she had no idea when he’d be back. Perhaps Johnston already knew this, maybe it was exactly why he’d picked tonight to sneak down here.

He gripped her arm, squeezing it tightly. ‘Speak, woman!’ he growled.

She could smell the reek of alcohol on his breath and, for the first time in her life, felt truly afraid. She knew they docked at Hong Kong the next day, and suspected that Johnston meant to take some of the plums and try to sell them. He gave her a little shake, causing a shock of adrenaline to race through her like electricity and silence her speech even further.

‘Don’t stare at me like a halfwit,’ he snarled. ‘Tell me about the plums or I’ll—’

‘Take your hands off her,’ said a cool voice from the doorway. ‘Now!’

Beatrice felt a sob rising in her chest at the sight of James standing in the doorway, a pistol in his hand.

‘Don’t be a goddamned fool!’ Johnston sneered. ‘You’re just as likely to hit her as me.’

James tilted his head slightly, but kept the pistol aimed steadily at him. ‘Is it possible you don’t know who I am? Allow me to introduce myself. The name is Sheppard.’

Johnston gave a small gasp and released Beatrice as quickly as if she’d just turned poisonous.

‘I … I meant no harm,’ he stammered. ‘I’m just interested in the trees, that’s all.’

James ignored him and looked at Beatrice instead. ‘Did he hurt you?’

She shook her head, although her arm still throbbed where he’d grabbed it.

James turned his attention back to the orchid hunter. ‘Who gave you a key to the hold?’

Johnston took a step away from Beatrice, both hands raised before him. ‘I b-bribed a crew member.’