Camilla made no comment, but when he took her hand she moved closer to him and leaned against him, listening to the sounds of Africa all around her, filled with the wrenching sadness of Piet’s death, conscious of the tendril of excitement and fear that crept into her as Anthony put his arm around her shoulders.

Sarah stood at the grave with Hannah’s wedding bouquet in her hand. Her eyes blurred as she looked down at the white stones and heard the whistle of birds in the acacia tree.

‘This is for you, Piet,’ she said, her voice low but steady. ‘It’s to tell you that I love you today and every day. And to let you know that Lars is strong and Hannah is happy, and that they are here beside you on their wedding day. Camilla is with us too, and we will always look out for one another as we promised when you were with us. We’re trying to build our lives again now. But we’ll never forget, and we will love you as long as we live.’

She bent forward and laid the flowers on the cairn. When she looked up it was to see a young male impala, his head crowned with lyre-shaped horns, high and proud. He stood motionless and perfect in his beauty, watching her from the edge of the trees, his coat shining, burnished and coppery in the morning light. They gazed at each other for a timeless moment, and then he turned and bounded away across the rocks to vanish into the bush.

Glossary