‘You should make the effort,’ George said. ‘She must be especially anxious to keep in touch with you and Sarah, after all the changes in her life.’

‘What could I say to her?’ Camilla said, angry and defensive. ‘It was my mother who caused the upheaval that landed Hannah in some Rhodesian dorp that she hates. It was dear Marina who destroyed their future at Langani. What can I say that will make any difference now?’

‘It wasn’t your fault, my dear,’ he said. ‘You shouldn’t use the misplaced idea of guilt as an excuse not to stay in touch. Those two girls have been like sisters to you over the years. No one can afford to throw away friendship like that. And I’m sure the van der Beers feel nothing but affection for you.’

‘You don’t know that at all,’ said Camilla. ‘You can’t even begin to understand what this move has done to them. And you obviously don’t understand what I feel about it either.’

‘Your mother made an unfortunate mistake that night.’ George’s expression was bleak. ‘She was jealous and unhappy, and—’

‘An unfortunate mistake?’ Camilla’s frustration exploded into the room. ‘I don’t know why you always have to protect her. Why can’t you see Mother as she really is? Why don’t you get a divorce, Daddy?’ She saw her father recoil, stepping back to distance himself from her, but she could not stop. ‘You’re not happy together, and she’s angry and bitter all the time. She’d be better off on her own, and then you could get on with—’

‘Camilla, that is a matter for your mother and me, and no one else.’ George turned abruptly, his face stony. He reached for his car keys and opened the front door to let in the sullen London morning. Then he hesitated and swung round to embrace his daughter, making an attempt at a smile. ‘I won’t be back until very late, and tomorrow is going to be a bugger of a day. But we’ll do something together at the weekend.’