She didn’t know if that was true. He was staring at her in a way that made her feel his eyes were emitting a sharp and piercing light that went right through her clothes, right through her skin. She swallowed hard and took a gulp of tea to ease the constriction in her throat.

‘Here, open Betsy’s first.’ He passed her the larger of the packages and then leaned back in his seat again, straightening his broad shoulders and raking one hand through his thick hair.

Carefully she put down her cup and just as carefully she slowly opened the package wrapped in fancy paper. It was a doll and clearly expensive, with beautiful clothes and a porcelain painted face topped with a mass of chestnut-brown hair the same colour as her own. It wasn’t a toy for a baby but a much older child, she thought, as he said, ‘There was one with blonde hair but I liked this one better,’ his voice deep and meaningful.

She kept her eyes on the doll in her hands as she said quietly, ‘It’s lovely, Nat, thank you.’

He didn’t speak as he slid the other parcel towards her. She unwrapped it even more slowly and when the silk scarf in a pale shade of green with dusky-pink roses embroidered on it was revealed, she took a deep breath. ‘I can’t accept this.’ She raised her eyes and his gaze was waiting for her.

‘Of course you can.’ He smiled, his brilliant blue eyes fixed on her face. ‘I told you, Davey knew what I’d got you.’

‘No, I can’t, really. It’s far too expensive.’

‘Don’t be silly, Rose. It’s just a small Christmas present to cheer you up, that’s all.’

Did he think anything – anything – could ‘cheer her up’, the way she was feeling? Besides which, that remark gave the lie to the fact that he’d bought the scarf before Davey died, or was she being overly suspicious? Whatever the case, she couldn’t accept it, not now Davey was gone. Everything had changed, didn’t he realize that? A man didn’t buy a single woman presents of this nature, not unless she was a sister or aunt or mother. He must know that. Her voice sounding prim even to herself, she said, ‘It wouldn’t be right, not now. It’s beautiful and it’s kind of you but I can’t take it.’

‘I chose it especially, with the roses an’ all.’