The Forgotten Garden

In Tregenna in 1975, Nell gets her first glimpse of Blackhurst Manor. She attempts to climbs the metal fence to take a closer look, intending to tell the inhabitants that she’s an antique dealer. The new owner, Julia Bennett, discovers her and invites her in. As Nell walks through the rooms, she waits for some flash of memory, but nothing happens. Later, while exploring the grounds, she comes to Cliff Cottage, where her consciousness immediately splits in half. She is simultaneously a 65-year-old woman and a 4-year-old girl. She sees her father emerge from the cottage with the Authoress who gives her a mysterious smile. In a flash, the little girl is gone from her consciousness: “As Nell dug the stick in before her and started back towards the village, a peculiar sense of duality, not unwelcome, followed her all the way” (256). 

At Blackhurst Manor in 1900, Rose is contemplating the arrival of Eliza. Rose thinks it will be pleasant to have a protégé who will do exactly as she’s told. Her expectations are shattered the moment Eliza arrives with dirty fingernails and dressed in ragged boy’s clothing. At first, Eliza won’t answer any of Rose’s questions. She leaps around the room, examining everything.