‘The government is paying passage for as many as want to go and will give support for three months on arrival besides. They’re providing lessons in Mende, clothes, tools, whatever is necessary. You should consider it.’

‘I don’t need handouts, thank you.’

‘That’s not what it is at all, Zillah. The payment is an acknowledgement of the restitution that is owed to Black people in this country. There is a lecture this coming Tuesday at Exeter Hall. You should consider attending. There are people I could introduce you to. One woman in particular I would like you to meet, a Quaker by the name of Elvira Masterson.’

I hadn’t been planning to go when I read the handbill, but now that he was inviting me maybe there was something in it. To think, he wanted to introduce me to people. I felt myself smiling back at him, caught up in his enthusiasm, but I wasn’t going to make any promises that could give him the wrong impression. I’d only come on a whim and would have to rush if I still wanted to catch Barky on his break and find out more about what Crillick had planned for his party. I stood up and smoothed down my dress.

‘I’d best be getting back.’

‘Not to work?’

‘Actually, I have Thursdays off.’

‘You’re still performing at that theatre, though?’

‘I am.’

‘I told you to come to me when you’d thought about the role you play. Have you done so?’

‘I didn’t come looking for you. I told you, I was just passing.’

He caught my eye and held it. I had to look away. ‘The offer still stands, Zillah.’

‘I’ll think about it.’

It was like he was challenging me, but for once I didn’t know what else to say. We stood opposite each other. The moment called for something but I wasn’t sure what. I held out my hand to him. Vincent would have kissed it but instead Lucien shook it, firm as if we’d concluded a business deal, like I was his equal.

‘I’ll let you be on your way.’

‘Yes, I should go now,’ I said, but neither of us moved.

‘Would you like to know what you would say in Mende at this point? It is what you say to bid a temporary farewell to someone. Ngewor e bi mahungbea.’

I practised and Lucien smiled.

‘What does it mean?’ I said.

‘Take care or may God watch over you.’

‘Will you teach me more?’

‘Yes, next time,’ he said.

I backed away from him for several steps, then waved my fingers before I turned. When I reached the edge of the square and turned back to wave again, he was still in the same place, watching. I still wasn’t sure I would go to the lecture, but he was right, there would be a next time for us.

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