‘Don’t feel bad about it,’ I said. ‘He debates for fun.’

‘How can you bear it, Theo?’ she asked.

‘What do you mean?’

‘I mean the people.’ She lowered her voice. ‘What do you see in them? They’re rude and shallow, and it’s all old-fashioned, insular rubbish, everything they stand for.’

I was taken aback by the sharpness of her tone. ‘Even Freddie and Sylvie?’

‘Sylvie is different.’

‘Freddie is different too – he just knows what people want to hear.’ I looked across at where he was standing, his arm clapped across Byrne’s shoulders. Byrne was shaking his head and smiling at something Freddie was saying.

‘I can’t …’ She removed her hand from mine. ‘The way they treat the Africans, the way they think about them. Doesn’t it bother you?’

‘Waweru’s devoted to Freddie.’

‘Theo, you can’t really be so blind.’ Her face was plum-coloured. ‘Not about this.’

‘Pardon?’

‘I need to go to the bathroom,’ she said, and left.

I knew I should go after her, but by the time I’d collected myself she was already out of the room. I moved to an empty corner instead, feeling guilty that she wasn’t enjoying herself, and hurt that she’d taken it out on me. Even more than before I wanted to finally get Sylvie to myself; she’d make me feel better, I knew, but the neighbour had caught her now. I heard him explaining the perfect bridge hand to her. Freddie saw me and came over to refill my wine glass as I stood alone.

‘She’s looking marvellous still,’ he said.

‘She is.’

‘You’re aching to comfort her, aren’t you? Kiss her little injury away.’

His tone irritated me. I could tell he thought I was chasing Sylvie fruitlessly. He probably thought she was still in love with him. I wondered if she was, and felt bile rising in my throat.

I looked down at my glass. ‘I hate to tell you,’ I said, ‘but I think your wine is corked.’

He staggered backwards, clutching his chest. ‘My dear boy, how could you be so cruel?’

‘I’d have a word with your wine merchant.’

He was shaking his head, his eyebrow cocked and his gaze meeting mine. ‘Cruel,’ he murmured. ‘Cruel, cruel, cruel.’

I felt a strange thrill at hearing those words from his lips. ‘So now you know.’

Freddie walked us to Sylvie’s car when we left. ‘It’s good to see you,’ he said to her. ‘How’s The Farm these days?’

‘Come visit me and find out,’ she said.

He laughed and put his arms around her. I wanted Sylvie to push him away, but she lifted her face for his kiss instead.