The small theatre was outfitted with navy velvet chaises rather than chairs, the walls and ceiling were crimson velvet-covered acoustical panels, and a large screen was spread across an entire wall. A small, well-stocked bar took up half the back wall, the overhead lighting blue and yellow hand-blown glass depicting abstract flower shapes. Clearly the work of an artist.

After seating Kate, Dominic stood beside her. ‘Soda, mineral water, a drink?’

‘I always have a Coke with ice. What about you?’

Usually lots of whisky. ‘Me too – Coke.’ When he came back with their Cokes a few minutes later, he gestured at the door. ‘I’ll get the popcorn.’

Smith greeted Dominic with a smile as he entered the butler’s pantry. ‘Good morning, sir. The film just arrived. They finally found a copy in Kowloon.’

‘Thank you for going to the trouble. Miss Hart likes this particular movie.’ Dominic glanced at the tray on the counter.

‘One bowl of plain butter popcorn, sir, one butter and cheddar. The chef added some spiced nuts, a few cookies and sweets. He thought the young lady might enjoy the sweets.’

‘I’m sure she will. Chocolates?’

‘The truffles you ordered, sir.’

‘Excellent. Tell Liang I need a car brought round at five thirty.’

‘There’s a great deal of bustle up at the house.’

‘No doubt. Have you heard how the chief executive’s wife is doing?’

‘She’s come through so far, sir. Everyone is hopeful.’

‘Good news. I’m assuming flowers were sent?’

‘Yesterday, sir.’

‘Good, good. It does make one appreciate one’s health.’

‘Indeed, sir.’

Dominic picked up the tray, dipped his head in farewell and walked through the door held open by a houseboy.

‘The master is in good spirits,’ Smith observed as the door closed on Dominic. ‘Unusually fine spirits.’

The houseboy grinned. ‘He likes the lady. She’s not like the others.’

Smith sniffed. ‘The others were only distractions. Miss Hart is keeping him company.’

‘The house staff bets not for long, though.’

‘We won’t have any such talk,’ Smith said crisply. ‘And no one will be betting. Mr Knight deserves some pleasant companionship, no matter the duration. He’s been alone too long.’

The houseboy respectfully nodded. But he wasn’t old like Smith; he’d already bet twenty Hong Kong dollars on three days.

When Dominic returned to the theatre, he set down the tray next to the chaise, slid behind Kate, drew her back against his chest and flicked on Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette. He half watched the movie, more interested in the lady seated between his legs, a bowl of popcorn in her lap, her attention focused on the screen as though she hadn’t seen the film before.

He handed her the tray from time to time so she could select a cookie or candy, he ate some himself, which he rarely did, and he even enjoyed what he saw of the movie, which surprised him. Perhaps unrequited love and star-crossed lovers struck some enigmatic sensibility, or perhaps just holding Miss Hart in his arms made any movie enjoyable. Strangely, the thought didn’t disturb him. In fact, the simple pleasures, a movie, popcorn, a beautiful young woman in his arms enthralled by this love story, the kind of homespun companionship they were sharing was peaceful, ordinary and for him, exceptional. It made him think of fields of daises and singing bluebirds, he thought and smiled to himself.

After the movie, they dressed in jeans and sweaters and went out into the walled garden. The vine-covered walls protected them from the wind, the gradient of the sun widespread enough to warm the air. Feeling that Kate was comfortable enough to meet one of the houseboys, Dominic had high tea brought out, along with a chessboard. After serving Kate tea, Dominic pointed at the tiered caddy that held three plates of traditional sandwiches and pastries: cucumber sandwiches on white bread, potted shrimp on dark bread, cheese and tomato on rye, scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam, shortbread, colourful petits fours, lemon tarts, poppy seed cake. ‘And champagne if you like,’ he added with a nod at the bottle of Krug in a silver ice bucket on a stand by the table.

She did, as did he.

They spoke of innocuous subjects while they ate.

Dominic mentioned his sister and named her children when Kate asked.

‘I’m surprised you remember them all,’ she said. ‘Middle names too.’

‘Melanie has a thing for names. They’re all pretty nice names, actually.’

‘Do you see them often?’

‘Quite a lot. They live in the Bay area, not too far from me. My sister and I were always close, best friends. We still are. In fact, I learned how to get along with women from her,’ he said with a smile.

‘And you learned well,’ Kate teased. ‘You can anticipate.’

‘I don’t know about that,’ he said modestly, and changed the subject. ‘What was it like growing up without siblings?’

Kate grinned. ‘I was the adored only child. First with my parents, then after they died, with my grandparents. I had unconditional love pretty much all around.’

A dark shadow flickered briefly in his eyes, before the mask slipped back into place. Dominic raised his glass. ‘Lucky you,’ he said.

She immediately felt guilty for being so unfeeling. ‘I’m sorry. That was rude of me.’