‘Who is it?’ Maud asked.

‘Sylvie.’

‘You must have good eyesight.’

‘Maybe it’s because I don’t strain them reading all the time,’ I said, beginning to row us back to shore.

‘I didn’t know you could read?’

‘Very funny.’ I caught sight of a monkey-sized figure scampering between Sylvie and the edge of the jetty. ‘Look – she’s brought your husband with her.’

Sylvie waited until the boat had bumped gently against the jetty before standing up in one slow, supple movement.

‘Is it nice out there?’ she asked. ‘It looks so peaceful.’

‘Do you want me to row you out?’

‘Another time.’ She was looking straight at me, and I passed a hand over my face, feeling the roughness of new hair growing around my mouth and below my ears. I was glad my voice had finally settled.

‘I came to invite you to see our new house,’ she said. ‘Well – our land, anyway. The house isn’t completely built yet.’

I moored the boat and jumped up onto the landing stage. ‘Is it nearly done?’

‘So the builder promises us.’

I stared at her perfect teeth and those soft-looking lips. She stared back, smiling.

‘Theo,’ Maud called from the boat. ‘You know I need help.’

Sylvie laughed. Maud held out her hands and I lifted her onto the jetty. Roderigo jumped into Sylvie’s arms and she kissed his head. ‘Shall we find your mother?’ she asked us.

‘Lady Joan came to see her for lunch,’ Maud said. ‘They’re out on the porch now.’

‘The Governor’s wife?’ Sylvie peered back at the house. ‘That’s lucky – I haven’t met her yet.’

I wondered if I should warn her about Lady Joan’s opinion of the Happy Valley set, but she’d already started walking, Maud trotting next to her. I hurried to join them.

When we reached the house a greyhound was shivering in the sunlight at the bottom of the stairs, and Abdullah was standing nearby, like a protective parent.

‘Thank you for looking after Fairyfeet,’ Sylvie said softly to him. She crouched down and stroked the dog’s ears, shushing it when it whimpered. ‘She’s so scared all the time – Nico’s almost given up on her.’

My mother came down the steps. ‘Good afternoon, Countess de Croÿ.’

Sylvie straightened up again. ‘Oh – call me Sylvie, please.’ She looked at Lady Joan, who was still sitting on the porch. ‘It’s nice to –’

Lady Joan cut her off with a wave of her hand. ‘No introductions necessary. Are you still with the Hamiltons?’

‘We’ve bought our own place actually – I’m here to invite the Millers to tea.’