Piet was waiting up for them, and they sat by the fire and drank mugs of hot chocolate before Lottie decided to turn in. Then he kissed Sarah and led her to her bedroom. They lay down together and he ran his hands over her, holding her close to him. She heard him groan a little as she unfastened her dress so that he could stroke her, exploring her bare thighs and her stomach, caressing her breasts, leaving her breathless with desire. Her skin was on fire and she felt drunk with the intensity of the sensations that he created in her, unwilling to let him go as he leaned back and away from her, and finally stood up. He stooped once more to kiss her and to whisper his words of love in her ear, and then he closed the door and left her. She lay awake and burning, in a state of confused longing, wondering why she had asked him to wait. They were meant for one another, they would always be together. Why deny their hunger now? But she wanted to thank God for the precious gift of him, her one wish, now miraculously granted. She wanted it all to be right, and besides, it would not be long.

They exchanged Christmas gifts after breakfast. When they had finished unwrapping the presents, Piet took a small box from his pocket and asked Sarah to hold out her hand. The diamond glittered through her happy tears as he slipped it on her finger and kissed her, while everyone crowded around to wish them joy. There were telephone calls to Jan, and to Sarah’s family in Ireland. But there was no answer from Camilla’s flat, and she was soon forgotten, eclipsed by the dazzling spotlight of Piet and Sarah’s happiness. Later in the day Sarah found herself alone, and again she dialled the operator to ask for the London number. But thousands of miles away the phone shrilled in an empty room. Sarah hung up sadly, resolving to write to Camilla before the day’s end, to persuade her to return to Langani for the wedding. They had made a promise, and in her heart Sarah knew that their friendship must stand firm and that somehow she would make it so.

Chapter 24

Kenya, December 1965