‘Golly. Life must have been very difficult for them.’

Arthur shrugged. ‘You could say that.’

They lapsed into silence. After a few minutes he leaned forward. ‘Evie, I may be speaking out of turn but you’re so different from Felicity and I’m sure you will adapt well to life here. You don’t strike me as the kind of woman who wants to spend her time playing bridge, gossiping and hanging round the tennis club. But you have to be aware that living on a rubber estate can be very lonely.’

‘I’m used to being on my own,’ she said brightly. ‘As long as I have books to read I can keep myself occupied. And there’ll be a house to run, Jasmine to care for and maybe, God willing, in time some children of my own.’

He looked away, then nodded. ’Doug is very much a free spirit. You’ll need to be patient. He’s not the easiest of men to get along with. And…’

‘And what?’

‘Nothing. I’m sure it will all be fine.’

Evie glanced at her wristwatch. It was already almost six. ‘She jumped up. ‘Aunty Mimi is preparing dinner for seven o’clock. Any chance of you rousing Douglas from the bar? I’m not allowed in there.’

Arthur’s lips stretched into a tight line. ‘I’ll do my best. Wait here. No need for you to face the rabble again tonight.’ He went into the building.

Evie could still hear the buzz of conversation and laughter, but now there were also the strains of jazz music coming from a gramophone somewhere inside. Light spilled out from the tall open windows onto the darkening lawns.

Arthur emerged after a few minutes. ‘I’m sorry, Evie. Doug says he’s going to be a while. He wants you to take the car back with Benny and he’ll see you at the house later.’ His face was solemn and he looked as mortified as she felt.

It was like a punch in the stomach. Evie slumped back onto the wooden bench and looked up at Arthur. ‘Is he really going to leave me alone while he stands at a bar and drinks himself insensible? Does he expect me to go home and have dinner alone yet again? On my wedding day.’ She could barely get the words out, she was so choked with emotion.

‘I’m so sorry. It’s unforgivable, but it’s how Doug is. You need to give him time.’

‘Time for what? I’ve barely shared more than a few sentences with him. He drank his way through half a bottle of scotch on the first night, before walking out on me to come here. Since then he’s failed to show up for dinner at all. What have I done? Why did I ever agree to go through with this?’

Arthur said nothing but she could see his fists were clenched so tightly his knuckles were white.

‘I thought at least today of all days he’d deign to break bread with me. After we stood there side-by-side and made those vows.’ At last she could hold back no longer and began to cry. Tears of anger, frustration, loneliness and fear.