They were her last words. Her eyes blinked for a moment as the mascara was applied and her hair was brushed. She made a gasping sound in her throat and lifted a thin hand in alarm. And then she was gone.

George looked round as his daughter came into the room some minutes later. She knew at once that it was too late. He came towards her and held out his arms, and she hugged him fiercely as he sobbed out his remorse and his sorrow. Then they rang the bell for the nurse, putting into motion the mechanical things that would have to be done before Marina was laid to rest.

The invitation came on the day of the funeral. Camilla saw the Kenya stamp immediately. She opened the envelope and read the words with pleasure. Lars and Hannah. She was smiling as she tucked the notice into her black handbag. Throughout the service she was aware of its presence, its power.

She stood close to George at the reception afterwards, receiving words of consolation from friends and strangers, listening but not hearing, thinking of the card in its envelope waiting for a response.

‘I think we can leave, darling,’ Edward said. ‘Almost everyone has gone, and George has a few close friends around him. Let’s go home.’

‘I’d like to go to my flat,’ she said to him, pleading with her eyes not to try and persuade her otherwise.

Inside the door she took off her hat and kicked off her high-heeled shoes. ‘I’d like to go away for a while,’ she said.

‘I think you should. You need the break,’ Edward agreed, handing her a drink. ‘And then we’ll take care of your scar. Remove it once and for all, so that no one will ever know it was there. I’ll take time off afterwards, and we’ll go somewhere quiet for you to recover. It’s only the first few days that are at all sore. The rest is patience. An ideal time to take a very private holiday.’

‘No. I don’t want to think about my scar. It’s not important.’

‘Not immediately. But we’ll need to talk about it when you’re rested and recovered from all this.’ He felt the grateful pressure of her fingers. ‘Would you like me to stay with you?’ he asked.

She shook her head. He kissed her and smoothed her hair, and left her alone. She saw him emerge into the square below and hail a taxi. Camilla sighed. He was kind and strong and successful, and he offered her love and security. He would never let her down or humiliate her.

When she got through to Langani it was Hannah who answered. She wanted Camilla to be there. And Sarah had come down from Buffalo Springs. She was here at the farm. Hannah would put her on the line.

‘Will you come for the wedding?’ Sarah asked.