I was no stranger to a gift from a gentleman, but when Vincent bought me things, he consulted his own taste. It was a bit of a thrill to choose for myself. I bent down closer to get a better look at the sweets. There was an apple, a pear, a peach, all hand-painted down to the tiniest detail. Then I made my mind up.

‘One of these,’ I said, pointing to a strawberry.

Lucien reached into the counter and drew one out for me. He would have placed the sweet in a bag but I stopped him.

‘I’d like it now.’

I pulled off my right glove, held out my hand and he placed it in my palm. For a brief moment his fingers connected with mine. We both stared at the strawberry as I raised it to my lips and bit into it. The taste of almond exploded into my mouth and I looked up just in time to see him turn away.

‘It is my usual custom to take a walk around the square at this time. Would you like to join me?’

I hadn’t heard him mumble before, or maybe it was just because he was facing in the opposite direction, reaching for his hat and coat, which hung on a stand near the door.

This was taking a chance. All well and good coming to see his shop, but was it wise to go for a walk with him? Careful, Zillah. But while my head said one thing, I heard my voice say out loud, ‘Yes. I don’t have long, but a walk would be pleasant.’

We walked down the road, crossing over Haymarket, and on until we reached St James’s Square. Through the glossy black railings that surrounded it I saw neat lawns and flower beds of lilac-petalled pansies and bell-shaped salvias. I never usually went into places like this. The gate, the railings with their spikes were, to me, a warning to keep out, but if Lucien noticed he wasn’t troubled by them.

‘I find a turn around this time sets me up for the afternoon,’ he said.

I nodded, only half-attending, my thoughts returned to the comment he had made about my name. Shade, shadow, darkness. My mother wouldn’t have chosen that for me. Compared to hers, my skin was fair. Did that mean it was my father who had picked it? A little joke he’d indulged himself with, perhaps?

I’d stopped without realising it and Lucien looked at me with concern in his eyes.

‘Are you well, Zillah?’

‘I was just thinking, that’s all.’