But Langham had seen the recognition pass between Cabrera and me. He was no fool, and would have guessed in that second that my past was murkier than I had let on. It went the other way too. Langham knew Cabrera. Knew him well enough to telephone him, to be concerned with ‘trouble’. What was Langham’s business?

When I finally emerged from the bathroom, I knew what I would find. Bouzid was waiting in the kitchen, his face as calm as ever. He had served the dessert of iced apricots and candied rose petals without me.

‘Monsieur Langham,’ he said, ‘is in the lounge.’

I nodded. Silently, I shed the apron and pulled on my jacket. Words and excuses crowded to the front of my mind, ready to come spilling out. They would do me no good; Langham had asked for loyalty and now he had found out that I had given him less than the truth.

I opened the door of the lounge without knocking. It was dark in there, as always, lit only by candles and the lamplight that crept from the veranda. I could hear the guests out there, Lady Bailey and the other woman laughing softly, could smell their bitter smoke and kif.

‘Monsieur?’ My voice was barely audible.

Langham was standing at the piano, turned away, his hands clasped behind his back. He was twisting the ring on his little finger around and around. I had never seen him do that before.

‘Why are you here?’ His voice drifted to me, like the smoke.

‘To be your cook, monsieur.’

He didn’t turn around.

‘Are you working for someone? I will find out if you are lying.’

Any excuses dried on my lips. We had been spinning such brilliant, unspoken truths between us, he would know a lie in an instant. I clenched my hands behind my back.

‘I don’t work for Cabrera, if that’s what you’re asking.’

He turned his head a fraction. ‘But you admit that you know him?’

A bloodstained jacket. And you? I wanted to ask.

‘I don’t know him. I only met him once.’ I took a step forwards. ‘I carried a bag here for a man in La Atunara, named Bautista, in exchange for new papers. Cabrera was the man I delivered it to. I haven’t seen him since and I’ve no wish to again.’

Let that be enough. I stared at the edge of Langham’s cheek, at his sharp jawline, at the shadow of stubble beginning to show. Be satisfied. I did it to get to you.

‘Why would you tell me that?’ His voice was soft.