‘I could only judge from the outside. What seemed the main house was dark stone, leaded windows, coal-coloured slate roof. Then at right angles there was a sort of barn but again stone-built, each end whitewashed. A series of outbuildings stretched off, piggeries and stabling, I imagine. It was a decent-sized complex. If it wasn’t for the idea of Kareem as a working farmer being absurd, it would have been just a farm in the middle of nowhere. But his demeanour and the security made it seem like some sort of cult centre.’

‘Yes, I can imagine. Sorry, I interrupted.’

‘It was odd. After all the bravado, it fizzled out. Kareem said he would fetch Maryam – as he called her – and asked us to wait outside. His greatest anxiety was that we shouldn’t go inside. I felt he’d made a quick decision. He wouldn’t fight to keep her. When he reappeared through the front door with her a few minutes later, she was carrying a suitcase. He turned to her almost off-handedly; “Here is your father, Maryam, he has come to collect you.” As if she wasn’t worth the fuss and he didn’t care too much. She’d served her purpose and he’d wrung her dry.’

Elizabeth raised her glass with an unsteady hand and drank. ‘You’re the first person I’ve described it to in such detail. There was never a reason to. Marion was just another of life’s casualties.’

‘Did she speak about it?’ asked Sara. ‘At the time, I mean. Before the shock fully set in.’

‘No. That was the sadness. On that four-hour journey home, she didn’t say a word. Not one. I sat in the back trying to engage her. She let me put an arm round her but that was it. I noticed her wrists were heavily bruised and asked her why. She didn’t reply. Then, just as we turned into the drive at home, she looked up at me, said, “I’m going to have a baby,” and started to cry.’

Elizabeth’s eyes glistened and a single tear crept down a cheek. She reached for a tissue, wiped it off and blew her nose. ‘I’m so sorry,’ said Sara.

‘Don’t be. He’s a nice boy. She just hasn’t been able to be a mother to him. He’s at boarding school now and I look after him here during holidays. So I’ve got to stay alive till he’s grown-up.’ She smiled at Sara through shining, wet eyes.

‘Did Kareem ever get in touch about the boy?’

‘Never. If you’re thinking he might not have realised, I know damn well he did.’ It was the first time Elizabeth had shown anger.

‘Yes,’ said Sara with a certainty that surprised her; she shouldn’t have let it escape. ‘And there was no thought of going after him to take responsibility as a father?’ she continued quickly.