It was later that evening. Lawrence and Estelle and the children had arrived for the eve-of-wedding dinner – Lawrence was Alexander’s best man – but they had all retired to their rooms, Lawrence being tired after the journey. Now it was just Rose and Alexander, and Arabella and William, having a last cup of coffee along with glasses of brandy for the men in the drawing room. The atmosphere had been convivial and for once William had appeared relaxed and even jolly, and Rose had almost asked Alexander to say nothing about the rose, but it was right that they knew.

Alexander had been enraged earlier when Rose had taken him aside, but she had asked him to say nothing for the time being until they could talk privately to his parents. She had played the matter down in front of Betsy, merely telling her daughter that someone had kindly sent her the flower but that unfortunately, no doubt because of the hot weather, it must have died en route. Betsy had accepted this quite happily and Rose had disposed of the box and its contents before Arabella’s return, harassed about the mess on the veranda and her mind now occupied elsewhere.

That the dead rose was a threat, Rose was in no doubt. Nathaniel was telling her she was still in his sights. She hadn’t expected anything else if she was being truthful, not after seeing him that day and looking at his face in the moments before she had turned and left him, but the calculated reminder of his presence on the eve of her wedding was still upsetting. Alexander had called him insane but she didn’t think Nathaniel was mad, at least not in the way the poor unfortunates locked away in the lunatic asylums were. He was more dangerous than that. Outwardly handsome and charming when he wanted to be, but inside dark and foul and capable of anything. She was frightened of him, terrified. She didn’t like her fear and though she could do nothing about it, maybe in a way it was a good thing? she told herself. It meant she wouldn’t take any chances and would always be on her guard.

Alexander had just explained about the rose and William stared at them both. It was clear to him that this Nathaniel fellow was a blackguard, but he still had his doubts as to the part Rose had played in it all. She was a beautiful woman, and when all was said and done, women liked to flirt and even lead a man on now and again.