My skin grew hot and prickly with shame as I thought about how competitive I’d felt towards him recently over Sylvie. Of course Freddie had problems too.

‘Can I help?’ I asked.

He stood up and put his hands in his pockets. The coins inside jingled and I didn’t catch what he said next.

I opened my door and climbed out. ‘Anything I can do.’

‘I was going to collect her medicine,’ Freddie said, ‘but maybe I should stay with her. Would you mind?’

‘Of course not.’

‘Thanks.’ He started walking back to the house. ‘I’ll write down the address for you. It’s not the usual dispensary – Martha prefers to be discreet about it.’

‘Of course.’

The dispensary was on the outskirts of Naivasha, and looked more like a house. The door and window frames were painted pink, and the lawn was emerald green and perfect. From the back of the property I could hear a child shrieking in Swahili. A toto answered the door and silently disappeared inside without telling me what to do. I waited outside.

A man wearing a white coat came to the door. He didn’t look much older than me. He had curly black hair and a cheerful expression. When he spoke his accent was thick Irish.

‘You’ve come for Lady Hamilton’s prescription?’

‘Yes.’

‘I’ve just made it up.’ He patted his pockets and found a small brown-glass bottle; I noticed it was unmarked.

‘That’s it?’

‘That’s everything. Lord Hamilton’s already paid.’ He grinned.

I took it from his outstretched hand; inside the bottle was a fine powder. ‘No instructions? Does she have to mix it with anything?’

‘She knows what to do with it.’ He cocked his head. ‘Don’t worry, she’ll be better in no time.’

‘Okay.’ I slipped it into my pocket. Something about the set-up made me feel uneasy, but I knew Freddie wouldn’t hire a quack.

He was looking at me closely. ‘Have I seen you around somewhere?’

‘Maybe. My family lives at Kiboko.’

He snapped his fingers. ‘Do you have a sister? Always with her head boy. Very beautiful.’

‘I’m probably not the best judge.’

‘Irishmen can’t resist a red-head.’ He stuck his hand out. ‘Dr Joe Gregory.’

‘Theo Miller. And my sister’s Maud.’

He grinned again, persuasively, and I smiled back this time. ‘I’ll remember that. Hope I see you around.’