‘I am putting them in an order,’ said Crumpacker.
‘Well stop it,’ said Frankie.
‘Order is the way we will understand the world.’
‘Order is the way you will kill my plants if you carry on. This greenhouse is not set up for consistent heat, and so the plants have to be placed where they will have the most appropriate conditions for their successful growth.’
Crumpacker appeared to abruptly cease his endeavour as understanding hit. He looked around himself for the first time, first at the walls, then at the beds, then at the glass and finallyat the plants. ‘Oh,’ he said. ‘Why didn’t you say?’ Thea hoped the tirade might be over, but it only got worse.
‘Then what are these funny marks on the pots?’ he asked, and Thea’s eyes widened. Not that. ‘Why aren’t you labelling correctly?’
Thea wondered if Frankie might actually explode. ‘Because I can’t read and write,’ she stated, obviously unimpressed at the rude man in her glasshouse.
‘Oh,’ said Crumpacker, still looking at the plants but much calmer now. ‘Then why didn’t you say that either? I will label them, and we will ensure that they are in an order you understand – but I will need you to tell me how you work.’
Frankie looked furious at this but uncrossed her arms. ‘Fine,’ she said. ‘You could have asked before coming in here and grabbing plants.’
‘I suppose I could,’ said Crumpacker, looking at her earnestly and without a hint of derision. He was unlike anyone Thea had met in her life, but she thought she had better intervene. Both Frankie and Crumpacker looked up, alarmed, when she cleared her throat.
‘I am delighted to see you have met,’ she said, giving Frankie a pointed look. ‘Frankie, I understand that Mr Crumpacker will be helping us to understand our collections more deeply, in addition to studying them to ascertain how we may add to them with interesting specimens. Is that correct, Mr Crumpacker?’
‘Yes, Your Grace.’ He fiddled with his hair.
‘And we will assist him in his endeavours, Frankie.’
‘Yes, Your Grace.’ Frankie looked sulky, but Thea knew she would embrace the new knowledge eventually.
‘And Lady Foxmore has sent for more newly-sourced plant material from a new landing which she will speak to you about when it arrives, won’t you, Lady Foxmore?’
‘Yes, Your Grace,’ said Martha, but still didn’t look at Frankie. Thea poked her with an elbow. Martha went on, grudgingly. ‘Mr Crumpacker will soon understand how the glasshouse is ordered and will work within that structure. Won’t you, Mr Crumpacker.’ Crumpacker looked up at her.
‘I will, my lady,’ he said. And actually smiled. Not a big one, but it definitely curled the corners of his mouth upwards.
‘And you will be polite to Mr Crumpacker,’ said Martha to Frankie.
‘If he’s polite to me,’ said Frankie. Martha looked like she was about to say something else, but Thea cut her off.
‘Why don’t you show Mr Crumpacker your jacobaea lily?’ she asked, encouraging Frankie with her eyes. They all walked over to the hot bed by the wall.
‘Blooming already!’ said Martha, almost forgetting how much she disliked the gardener.
Frankie broke a smile, a little cocky. ‘Yes, lady. Put it out for a cold spell. I know the duchess had her concerns but it–’
‘Did you get that idea from Neville Knatchbull?’ asked Crumpacker.
‘No,’ said Frankie, the smile fading.
‘Why do you ask?’ asked Thea, her interest piqued at the mention of Neville’s name.
‘Because he mentioned to me the possibility of doing the same,’ said Crumpacker. ‘Recently. I have not yet heard how they fared.’
Thea saw Frankie’s eyebrows twitch.
‘In fact, Knatchbull has a great many similar plants to you,’ said Crumpacker, clearly oblivious to the tension between the households. ‘But more, and better glasshouses, obviously.’
‘Obviously,’ said Thea, gritting her teeth.
‘Well,’ said Martha with an uncharacteristic cheery tone. ‘I think we could all do with a cup of tea, don’t you?’
