We ate in the bedroom. Samson prowled around the room, trying to snaffle little bits of unguarded food. When Freddie went to sit down, Samson snuck up behind him and tried to trip him up as he was carrying the cold chicken.

‘Samson!’ Nicolas whispered. ‘Méchante bête!’

Sylvie smiled and burrowed her face in his mane.

Other than cold chicken, there were devilled eggs then baked ham with potatoes and cheese and salad, and caramel custard to finish. The food was delicious, but Nicolas picked at it, leaving most untouched. ‘This is my home,’ he said more than once.

Freddie kept the drinks flowing. ‘Don’t think of it as the end, Nico,’ he said. ‘You can have an adventure in Europe instead. Just think of Venice. Beautiful Venice. And London, and Pamplona. You could even go across the pond to where the savages live.’

‘No one ever built a wall to keep us out,’ Sylvie said.

‘Now, now,’ Edie said. ‘You’re both savages.’

‘They can’t make me leave,’ Nicolas said.

‘We’d much rather you were alive in Europe than dead out here,’ Freddie said.

Sylvie held Nicolas’s hand. I felt guilty about the relief that coursed through me every time I thought about her returning.

‘Who’s going to take care of the animals while you’re away?’ I asked her.

‘We’re taking them with us,’ she said. ‘Samson and Roderigo, anyway. They can live with Nico in Paris so he can have a little bit of Africa in Europe. The neighbours said they’ll take care of Fairyfeet.’

Nicolas burst into tears again.

‘Let me get everyone some more gin,’ Edie said.

Sylvie followed her out. Nicolas started talking as soon as she’d left the room. I thought he was feverish, until Freddie answered him and I realised he’d been speaking French.

‘You have to look after her, you two,’ Nicolas said, switching to English.

‘Of course we will,’ Freddie said.

We waited until Nicolas nodded off, then went out into the sitting room. Sylvie looked pale.

‘You have to do what’s right for you,’ Edie whispered to her.

‘I know,’ she said. She clenched and unclenched her fists, looking around the room at the half-finished packing.

‘I’d better …’ She trailed off.

‘I’ll do the guest rooms,’ Freddie said. ‘Take your time out here, you’ve got hours left yet.’

Edie looked at me. ‘Theo – why don’t you join me outside for a cigarette first?’

I followed her onto the veranda. Edie lit a cigarette and stood facing the mountains.

‘How are you, darling?’

‘Alright.’

‘It won’t be the same without them, will it?’

‘No.’

She pulled a face. ‘I hope she doesn’t divorce Nico. I know Rupert – he won’t marry her. His parents will be dead-set against it.’

‘Does she have to remarry?’