‘Well, I can’t imagine why you’d want to be back there.’ Susan Hyde-Underwood shivered visibly. ‘Those poor young men sacrificing their lives.’ She shook her head, her eyes grave. ‘But we must be thankful that the Germans have lost more pilots than our boys.’

‘Yes, the lads put up a terrific fight.’ Frank lit a cigarette. ‘Can’t help feeling guilty when all I do is fly around in my Brewster Buffalo looking down on endless empty jungle.’ He frowned. ‘Present company excepted, but I get very cheesed off when I see so many people out here acting as though there’s no war. The bombs are dropping back home and here they sit in the sun, sipping scotch all day and playing bridge.’

‘Not all of us.’ His brother looked affronted.

‘I did say present company excepted. People like you, Reg, and Mr Barrington are doing work that’s absolutely essential to the war effort. But not everyone is.’ He looked at Mary again. ‘Remember that dreadful woman we met at the Penang Club? The drunkard you rescued me from.’

Mary looked uncomfortable.

‘I saw her again the other day. A few of us were having dinner in Raffles in Singapore and she came into the restaurant. Sloshed again. Slurring her words. She managed to knock over one of those enormous flower arrangements. She screamed abuse at the maitre d’ when he tried to steer her out of the dining room. No sign of her husband – I wouldn’t blame him if he’d buggered off and left her. She’s an absolute disgrace.’

‘I don’t think we want to talk about Veronica Leighton, Frank.’ Mary’s tone was quiet but firm.

They were interrupted by the ringing of the telephone inside the house.

Evie sighed. ‘That will be Doug to say he’s been delayed.’ She hoped she didn’t sound as annoyed as she felt.

She started to get up but Benny came out onto the terrace and addressed Reggie. ‘Tuan, you must come to the telephone.’

Reggie went into the house.

His wife, looking pale, said, ’I dread to think what that might be. Reggie’s assistant at Bellavista is a first rate fellow who would never dream of calling unless it was an emergency he absolutely couldn’t handle himself.’

Mary and Evie made reassuring remarks until Reggie returned, his face ashen.

‘There’s been an accident.’

Susan gasped. ‘What? Who?’

‘That was Batu Lembah.’ His expression was grave. ‘It’s Doug. He’s had a fall.’

‘A fall? How? What’s happened? Is he hurt?’ Evie was on her feet.

‘I don’t know the details. Just that he fell into the shaft of a disused tin mine. He’s still down there. Frank, can you come with me? I need to get over there to help organise a rescue party to get him out.’ Looking at Evie, he said, ‘I’m sure he’ll be fine.’

Evie’s heart lurched in her chest and she struggled to breathe. ‘I’m coming with you.’

Mary moved to her and put an arm around her shoulders. ‘Evie, you’d be better staying here. The baby needs you.’