Arthur handed her an unused napkin.

Through her tears she said, ‘Why am I saying this? I don’t really want to lose the baby! I don’t. Even if it has to grow up without a father. I couldn’t bear to lose it. I just don’t want him near it. He’s an unfit father. A lying, cheating, faithless man.’

‘Look, Evie, it’s because of the baby and Jasmine that you must let him talk to you. He wants to explain. He’s a mess. Distraught. Please, give him a chance. Just listen to him. I’m saying all this because I care about you. Because I want the best for you. And the best thing is that you and he manage to patch things up and look for a way forward.’

‘You mean him, me and his Malayan whore?’

‘She’s gone.’

‘Gone? Where? Back to her kampung down the road where he can visit her when he pleases? I don’t want to know about his sordid arrangements. I don’t want to hear his feeble excuses. He’s a liar.’ She dragged the napkin over her eyes then flung it down on the table. ‘Why the hell didn’t he marry that girl in the first place and have lots of little half-breed children instead of dragging me across the world?’ Turning to look at Arthur, she added, ‘No, don’t bother to answer that. It’s not the done thing, is it? All right for the Dutch or the French to marry local girls but the British frown on it, don’t they? What’s the expression? Infra dig, that’s it, isn’t it? No, they wouldn’t like it at the Penang Club, would they? They wouldn’t approve of that at all.’

Arthur said nothing, but put his hand back on her arm.

‘I wish to God I’d never agreed to marry him. If I’d stayed in Hampshire I’d have had a quiet uneventful life, but at least it wouldn’t have been one of utter misery. I’ve put everything into this fragile chance of happiness. I’ve worked hard trying to make this miserable marriage work.’

She glanced at him quickly, before looking away. ‘Even though, ever since that day at the beach, I knew I couldn’t love him, because of loving you. But I put you out of my thoughts and I tried so hard, so incredibly hard, to be the best possible wife to Douglas. I refused to let his moods get me down. I put a brave face on when he used my body but showed me not an ounce of affection. I took an interest in his damned rubber business. I cared for his daughter. Not once did I complain about his absences. I tried every minute of every day to love him and hoped and prayed that he might come to love me.’

Arthur waited patiently, his face anguished, saying nothing, until eventually Evie spoke again.

‘Where is he?’

‘Waiting outside in his car.’

She slumped forward. After a few moments she sat upright. ‘Very well. Let’s get it over with.’