Iman said she was not too warm. She did not know where the costumes she had worn earlier in their visit had gone and she was not interested in finding out. Cleopatra, the princesses, Cinderella – she had passed that stage. Now it was Padmé Amidala, the White Witch and other warrior figures. The choice was either to wear these new costumes or her own clothes. It seemed a long time since she had worn her own clothes. She wondered how Ibrahim would react if he saw her dressed like Padmé with a lightsabre in hand, her hair cut short in a bob. Conjuring him up in her mind, she found her sadness turning into anger.

Salma looked out of the window and suddenly asked, ‘Shall we brave the rain and go for a walk? We need to practise for when we visit Lady Evelyn’s grave on Sunday.’

‘Better wait a bit,’ said Iman. ‘It might clear up.’ She turned to look at Moni.

Moni hesitated. Perhaps if they now went out for a brief walk in the rain, it would substitute for a long and potentially exhausting one in good weather. Instead she said, ‘Being in the cottage is part of the holiday, we paid for it. It would be a waste not to enjoy it.’

‘All right,’ said Salma. ‘Iman wants to stay so we’ll stay.’ She smiled at her younger friend.

‘I can’t believe you just said that.’ Moni’s voice rose. ‘I also said we should stay. Salma, why are you acting as if I hadn’t spoken?’

Salma turned towards her. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. I agree with what you said. The cottage is part of the holiday. We’ll stay.’

‘That’s not the point,’ said Moni. ‘Why do you treat Iman like a child? It’s not helping her. She’s a grown-up, perfectly capable of fending for herself. Yet you pamper and infantilise her. Like a pet. You don’t even do that with your own kids!’

‘I’m here, Moni,’ said Iman.

‘I know you are.’

‘But you’re talking about me as if I’m not here. I’m perfectly capable of talking for myself.’

‘That’s what I mean,’ said Moni. ‘Why this special treatment as if you’re delicate china about to break. There is nothing physically wrong with you.’

‘You don’t know,’ said Salma. ‘You don’t know everything that Iman went through during the war.’

‘No, I don’t know,’ said Moni. ‘But surely her dependence on you isn’t solving the issue.’

Salma spoke in a calm voice. ‘I think you’re jealous, Moni. Because you don’t have a special friend. Or any other special relationship. You’re aloof with everyone. You keep your distance. Don’t want to get too close, don’t want to get involved, don’t want to get your hands dirty . . .’