‘So, what do you think I should do?’

‘Nothing. Jasmine will probably have forgotten soon. Maybe when it starts to look obvious you can tell her the baby’s in there. But she’s far too young to be told how it got there.’

Evie laughed. ‘Oh goodness me! I certainly wouldn’t go that far - she’s only recently turned eight!’

Dragging Jasmine and Penny away from the pools was quite a challenge, but Mary was keen to get most of the drive back to the ferry done before it fell dark. The little girls chattered away in the back seat and to Evie’s relief, there was no further mention of babies.

After about an hour in the car, Jasmine announced that she needed to go to the lavatory.

‘I told you to go while we were in the changing rooms. There’s nowhere around here. You’ll just have to hold on, darling,’ said Evie.

‘I didn’t need to go then but I’m desperate now.’

‘You drank too much pop.’

‘Please Mummy! I don’t want to wet myself.’

They were passing through a kampong and there were many Malays about.

‘Once we’re out of the village I’ll try and find a place to stop and you can go behind a tree.’ Mary glanced over her shoulder at the little girl.

Just then, Evie saw a sign at the roadside. Batu Lembah. Barrington Rubber. ‘Turn off here, Mary. It’s my husband’s estate. We can call in and Jasmine can use the bathroom. Better than having to go by the roadside.’

Mary swung the car onto the gravel track. ‘Looks like the bungalow and offices are over there,’ she said. ‘It’s good we don’t have to go far.’

A few hundred yards ahead, the rubber trees gave way to a padang that Evie guessed was where the musters were held. A line of wooden dwellings ran along each side of the open grassy area, and just beyond was a small building raised above the ground in the traditional Malay style, with a veranda running around it and stairs leading up to the open front door. It had a shabby air of neglect.

Mary parked the car at the side of the house and Evie and Jasmine jumped out. ‘We’ll only be a few moments. I won’t hold us up,’ said Evie. Thinking better of it, she added, ‘Tell you what. Why don’t I get the housekeeper to make us some tea before I go? You can meet my husband.’

Mary flicked the ignition off and she and Penny followed them out of the car.

Jasmine was already running up the steps, excited at the unexpected chance to see her father. Evie followed close behind her.

Douglas didn’t notice them at first. He was sitting at the table, his head turned towards the woman standing behind him. Bare to the waist and shoeless, he was wearing a sarong and the woman was massaging his neck and shoulders.

Evie froze on the threshold as Jasmine cannoned across the room, bouncing up and down. ‘Daddy, Daddy, I need the bathroom. I’m bursting and I’m going to wet myself.’