She thought Olivia was about to speak again, but there came only a clearing of her throat, then silence. She was still beautiful, Anna thought, the dark eyes in that lined face.

‘D’you mind if I smoke?’ Anna asked timidly. She knew it would help keep her alert.

‘Do what you like,’ Olivia said absently.

A moment later, she said, ‘May I have one?’ Anna stood up and gave her a cigarette, clicking the lighter for her, the cigarette tucked between her dry lips.

‘I’ve never seen you smoke before.’

Olivia dragged hungrily on the cigarette. ‘I have – on and off. For years.’ There was a pause, then she said, ‘Katie must have told you about my father?’ She narrowed her eyes, breathing out smoke. ‘I ruined his career. I know Kate thought he’d do anything to advance himself, but it wasn’t true. He was as soft as an egg inside. When he lost me he just lost his spirit. Gave it all up – the politics, public life. Packed me off to London. He was sweet to me after the baby. Sweet and tender. He cried. My mother didn’t cry – not in front of me, anyway. But he couldn’t bear to have me near him, not the way I was.’ She shook her head slowly. ‘He got such comfort from me, you see, all those years. My mother worshipped him – really, genuinely worshipped him. Couldn’t stand herself you see, so she poured it all out on him. But she closed down emotionally. I was the only one who loved him properly. I’ve never felt quite as much for anyone as I did him.’ She looked round sharply at Anna. ‘I don’t want to give you the wrong idea. He never laid a finger on me in any way he shouldn’t have – nothing like that. He was very honourable in his way, and besides, he was far too busy touching up all the maids or anyone else who came his way. It was more that I was an idea, a fantasy. Something he saw as pure, that he could love without all the humiliation he went through with my mother. Sometimes, the way he held me – the two of us warm and safe together – it shielded us from anything else. I should have just gone on loving him like that. But I couldn’t. I spoilt it, you see. I’d seen too much, heard too much of things I shouldn’t have heard or seen. I lashed out. I was dirty.’

Anna wondered if she would become emotional but she gave no sign, just stubbed out the cigarette in her saucer. Not knowing what else to do, Anna said, ‘I’m sorry – for all you had to go through.’

What seemed much later, as the light was lifting the colours round the room and the birds were coming to life outside, Olivia said, ‘You were such a darling, darling baby, Anna. So sweet and pure. I wanted to keep you from it all, you see, keep you as you were. You and Krishna.’