“Hmmm,” Ursula murmurs, taking another drag on her cigarette and half closing her eyes in a curiously feline expression. “I was wondering whether you learned about more than art with Ben.”

I take another swallow of my drink. “Nope. In fact, we barely spoke about anything. I’m not sure if we like one another very much.”

Ursula gives a small, unwilling laugh. “I cannot tell if you really believe that or not,” she says.

“Of course I believe it,” I say, pushing down my doubt. I hesitate. “We did have a bit of a strange moment just now.” I decide I need to share it with someone, and that someone might as well be Ursula. “He asked if he could kiss me and I said no. But that was the end of it.”

Ursula stubs the cigarette out in the chipped china saucer on the table beside her and shrugs again, a shrug that shimmers through her whole body. “I just think that perhaps someone should warn you about him.”

“Warn me?” I ask, startled.

She settles back in her chair. “Yes, warn you.” She reaches for her cigarette packet and toys with another cigarette before leaving it untouched.

“Ben is charming.” She pauses at my snort of derision here. “Or at least he can be,” she concedes, “but he’s not the sort to settle down, Bea.” Her voice is surprisingly gentle now. “He is kind, yes, he really is – but ultimately he is selfish. In short…” This time she does pull the cigarette loose from the packet and lifts it to her mouth. “He is not for you.” She says this with finality, and she turns away to light the cigarette.

“Well, I don’t want him,” I say, irritated suddenly. “So your point is irrelevant. And,” I add, making some quick deductions, “I think perhaps you’re the one who wants something more from him.”

She glances up at me. “I do like you, Bea,” she says, smiling suddenly. “I didn’t think I would. But I do.”

I eye her warily, but in her gaze I see nothing but a blunt forthrightness.

“Perhaps I did hope for more from Ben at one time,” she says slowly. “But now we are good friends. That is why I am well qualified to pass on this warning. You have obviously never been in love before… Believe me when I tell you that Ben is not a sensible place to start, unless you wish to be nursing a broken heart.” She exhales another stream of smoke. “I have given you my advice. What you do with it is up to you.”

I sit for a moment, absorbing what Ursula has said. “Look,” I say finally, “you don’t need to tell me that Ben doesn’t want to settle down. What I don’t understand is why you would think that’s something I want either?”