In spite of herself, Beatrice felt warmed by the praise. Despite the fact that he was a servant, and someone she hadn’t seen in years, James was one of the few people she had ever met whom she actually respected. As for the slug orchid, Beatrice thought it the finest flower she had ever seen.

‘It is r-remarkable,’ she acknowledged.

James smiled again. ‘I am gratified to succeed in impressing you.’

‘B-But since th-there was no w-wedding,’ Beatrice said, ‘I c-cannot accept any w-wedding g-gifts.’

‘It is not a wedding gift, Lady Beatrice,’ he replied. ‘Simply a gift.’

Beatrice knew she ought to insist that he take the flower back. It would be quite improper to accept a gift of any kind, under the circumstances. But she liked it so very much. And given what she had already done today, this seemed a small impropriety in comparison. So she inclined her head in thanks.

Feeling a little awkward about the moment, she sought to change the subject. ‘I r-read an article in C-Curtis’s just this m-morning about Hawaii,’ she said. ‘And a m-man named B-Benjamin Smith. I b-believe you worked t-together in the p-past? He was an a-associate of yours?’

‘Not an associate,’ James said quietly. ‘A friend.’

Beatrice inwardly shuddered as she recalled the article. How unspeakable to be gored to death in a bull trap. It made her wonder once again why James had picked such a dangerous profession when he might have been a gardener, safe and secure at home.

‘I am v-very s-sorry.’

‘Thank you,’ he said.

‘Did it h-happen r-recently?’

‘Last year.’

‘A t-terrible way to d-die.’

‘It is something I hope never to witness again so long as I live.’

Beatrice stared. ‘Y-You were th-there?’

‘Yes,’ he said briefly, before turning away and indicating the orchard through the window. ‘The apple trees appear to be doing well.’

‘It t-took some wh-while to f-find a g-gardener who w-would t-tend them,’ she replied.

Most men wouldn’t go near the black apple trees – they were too afraid of them. James was the only one who had seen them as Beatrice did. Once again she felt a flare of anger towards him for leaving. She knew the feeling was irrational, and that it stemmed partly from jealousy, yet it was too strong a feeling for her to master.

‘I s-suppose you have s-seen f-f-far more impressive s-specimens on your t-travels.’ She dearly longed to hear about them, and even as she spoke she wondered why she could not simply invite him to tell her all about it, rather than talking in such a remonstrative way. She despised herself for the sulkiness in her tone, and yet she could not seem to soften it.