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slightly. ‘It was just … well, I was just thinking how much I would like to paint you. Which probably sounds odd coming from a businessman and one who is a stranger to boot.’
    Her laugh came in a burst that he thought surprised her as much as it surprised him; he had not expected such sweet richness, the hints of earthly pleasure. He thought perhaps here was a woman bound up so tightly by life she’d almost forgotten how to breathe.
    ‘I’m most flattered,’ she said. ‘James did tell me that you dreamed of spending your days in an artist’s loft, painting – although he said that your preference was for women
without
their clothes on.’
    It was Edward who laughed loudly then, and heads at the table next to them turned to smile at what must have looked like a happy family enjoying each other’s company over afternoon tea. ‘He told you that, did he?’ Suddenly that Christmas in Venice seemed like yesterday, as if time had foldedand now held that day so close to this one that they rubbed together slightly. ‘Yes, I suppose I did dream of a different life – but the one I have has not been altogether unkind to me.’
    ‘It does not always work out as we planned, does it?’ Juliana said, her smile soft.
    ‘No,’ he agreed, ‘it does not, but we have to make the best of what we are given. I’m sorry if meeting me has reminded you of your loss. That was not my intention.’
    ‘It has been several years now, and time does heal, no matter how deep the grief. I am glad of your visit. James was very fond of you, even though you did not know each other for long. I would love to hear your stories of him – I think he aspired to be a little more like you. He always described you as “carefree”.’
    ‘Well, he would probably be very disappointed to find that I did indeed follow my father’s wishes and go into his business – and now it is my business. Thankfully, I am a better businessman than I was a painter, hence my visit to England.’
    ‘I’m glad you found time to look for James. He would have been glad too.’
    She smiled again, and as he watched her lips part slightly nervously over her perfect teeth, he thought that she was the kind of woman who never smiled in the same way twice. He might have changed somewhat from the rebellious young man who had been so keen on a life of freedom, but his love of women had not faded, and her sad beauty touched him. He wondered how she would look with that red hair free over her shoulders, and her body released from the confines of her tight corsetry. How would she smile in the moments after her lust was sated? How would she smile first thing after waking?
    Suddenly the formal atmosphere in the hotel tea room wasstifling. ‘I have an idea,’ he said, and leaned in towards James. ‘If you are both free for an hour or so, why don’t we go to the museum? I would particularly like to see the Egyptian Room – what do you say, young sir? Shall we go exploring?’
    The little boy’s eyes lit up and any protest Juliana might have been about to make was lost in his reaction.
    ‘That’s settled then.’ Edward smiled across the table.
    *
    By the time they had explored a section of the exhibits in the vast building, the atmosphere between them had relaxed. As James called their attention to first this artefact and then that, Edward made up bold stories to explain them that left the boy almost breathless with excitement and rosy-cheeked, dispelling his normally pallid hue, and even Juliana fell under the spell of Edward’s exaggerated tales of pirates and grave-robbers as they took new and increasingly outlandish turns.
    She was still laughing when they emerged into the evening hubbub of London, and she touched his arm as a hansom pulled up for them. ‘You must come for dinner – tomorrow,’ she said. ‘As a thank-you for this lovely afternoon.’
    ‘That I would like,’ he answered and tipped his hat to her before ruffling James’ hair and picking him up to