‘To Samson,’ I said, raising my glass.

We drank again, and Nicolas topped up our glasses. From outside came a low, buzzing sound.

‘Sounds like Freddie,’ Sylvie said, her face flushing.

It got nearer and louder then, through the open front door, we saw his car braking abruptly to a stop a few yards from the house. He didn’t bother to open the car door, just lifted himself up and over it. Sylvie laughed.

‘What’s this?’ Freddie called. ‘A party you didn’t invite me to?’ He ran up the porch stairs. ‘Theo – Maud. What a lovely surprise.’

‘What are you doing here?’ Sylvie asked, leaning back on the sofa.

‘I came to see if you’d like a spin.’

‘You came all this way without telephoning first?’

‘I thought it was worth the risk.’ He came into the room and the light changed, as if he was giving off his own. He shook hands with Nicolas, then me, then kissed Maud’s hand. ‘So what about it?’

‘Do you mind, darlings?’

I shook my head, trying to keep the disappointment out of my face. I didn’t want either of them to go. Freddie clapped me on the back.

‘Nico can drive you back to Kiboko,’ Sylvie said. ‘Unless you want to stay the night?’

Maud looked at me.

‘We should get back.’

‘Quite right,’ Freddie said. ‘We can’t keep you out too often – your mother’ll start to think it’s our fault.’ He winked at me.

‘Let me fetch my hat,’ Sylvie said. She kissed Samson again and pushed his head off her lap. He yawned, and moved to lay it on Nicolas’s instead.

She disappeared into the back of the house, and Freddie went to stand by the door.

‘I’ll have her home by midnight, Nico,’ he said.

Nicolas shrugged. ‘I’m sure she’ll want to stay out later,’ he said. He fondled Samson’s ears as he spoke, and the lion nuzzled his hand. With Freddie in the house, Nicolas seemed smaller, and paler somehow, even with his pet lion.

‘I’m ready,’ Sylvie called, reappearing in a floppy hat. ‘I’ll see you later, darlings.’

We stood, and she kissed each of us on the cheek, then followed Freddie outside. He opened the passenger door for her, vaulted over the driver’s door and started the engine. I suddenly felt alone. I realised as I watched Freddie and Sylvie that they belonged together, and it hit me hard in my stomach. They belonged together in a grown-up world that existed alongside my own, but was different all the same. I wanted to be old enough to go with them, but as soon as I got older, they would too, and I trembled with the idea that I’d never catch up with them, never be their equal.

‘Let Nico know when you need to go home,’ Sylvie called, waving.

‘Drive safely,’ Nicolas called back.