‘Lady Sitwell hopes you will find the visit delightful and informative,’ he said. ‘But before entering, please be aware of the three garden rules: first, touching the botanical specimens is strictly prohibited unless you are invited to. Second, guests must not leave the designated path. And finally, do not approach or pester any of the animals. If they come up to you, then you may interact with them, but you must allow them to retreat as soon as they wish. Anyone found breaking the rules will be asked to leave immediately, with no exceptions. Now, would you care for a pamphlet to guide you through the wonders you will find within?’

When it was Rosa’s turn, she took a guide from him, but found it difficult to pay much attention to it when her eyes were so drawn to the displays around her. The path the footman had indicated was made of dark-blue marble and branched off in multiple places, so that guests had to choose which to follow. It was rather like a maze, twisting and turning through the trees, making it impossible to see what was coming up ahead until you were face-to-face with it.

There were several guests already in the garden but they were moving quietly and almost reverently, with none of the usual raucousness found in pleasure gardens. Rosa quickly understood why. The extraordinary plant and animal life seemed to invite a hushed cathedral-like atmosphere somehow, as if to speak too loudly would be to break whatever spell hung over the place. Certainly the apple trees disliked too much noise, shying away and taking their light with them if people got too loud.

Rosa was glad of the quiet. It made it easier to drink it all in. At every turn there was something to marvel at – pale butterflies, mirror frogs, glowing blossom, humming tulips and even a few miniature rabbits made from delicate china. No larger than a kitten, their bodies sported an elegant blue-and-cream willow pattern, yet they hopped and frolicked in the snow as nimbly as their flesh-and-blood brothers.

Rosa longed to touch one, but recalling what the footman had said, she forced herself to keep to the path. The apple trees, though, did not stay still. They wandered about the place and sometimes temporarily blocked the way. A couple of them did so now, one up ahead of Rosa and one a little way behind, sealing off this part of the garden so that she was the only person in it.