After a pleasant breakfast, in which Vladislav ate pancakes, and drank tea with Beatrice, hers with no sugar, they went outside together.

Vladislav had already tidied the kitchen, as he had told Beatrice previously, he disliked mess, and wanted to keep things tidy at all times.

‘If you are willing’ Vladislav said to her, bowing gently and placing a hand over his chest, his other one offered for her to take, ‘I would like to take you for a walk through the garden.’

Beatrice stared up at him in confusion, not knowing what was expected of her.

‘If you would like to explore the garden with me’ Vladislav clarified, ‘then please take my hand and walk with me.’

‘I have a choice?’ Beatrice mumbled, quickly pursing her lips.

‘Of course my dear’ Vladislav replied, hand still extended. ‘You can refuse if you are uncomfortable, or simply if you don’t want to.’

‘I do want to’ Beatrice said, taking his hand at last in her own. ‘I want to see the garden.’

[END OF CHAPTER] 

Beatrice allowed herself to be pulled gently to her feet. Vladislav led her towards the front door.

‘I have some outdoor slippers for you’ he told her, letting go of her hand and opening a secret compartment in the wall.

It was concealed to look like the rest of the wall, but there was a hatch that slid forwards. Behind this were three simple shelves. There was an assortment of plastic slippers here. Vladislav paused, looking down at Beatrice’s feet, before facing the shelves again, reaching for one pair in particular.

‘These should fit you’ he told her, placing them on the floor before her.

Beatrice had been bare-foot otherwise, sleeping barefoot, walking around the home barefoot.

‘You will tell me if your feet get cold’ Vladislav said to her, ‘won’t you?’

‘Yes’ Beatrice said. ‘They are fine now but…’

‘I don’t want you walking bare-foot outdoors’ Vladislav told her. ‘While my home is what I would consider safe, I do not have full control over the outside. There could be thorns, sharp rocks, unsuspecting insects…snakes…’

Beatrice pursed her lips.

‘Nothing I can’t protect you from of course’ Vladislav added hastily.

Beatrice let out a sigh.

‘Come now’ Vladislav told her. ‘Let me show you the gardens…’