‘You all right?’ he asked in a tone that implied little interest in her response.

‘Yes,’ she said, relieved it was over.

‘It’ll be easier next time. The first time is hard for a woman.’

He slid off the bed and moved across the darkened bedroom to the door. ‘Goodnight,’ he said, leaving her to weep silent tears into her pillow. After a few minutes, she got up and went into the bathroom to wash him away.

Next morning, daylight showed her the blood-stained evidence of the loss of her virginity. Evie burned with embarrassment at the thought of Aunty Mimi changing the sheets and knowing what they’d done. She felt exposed, invaded, defiled. Facing Doug over breakfast would be an ordeal. But better to get it over with.

In the dining room there was only Jasmine at the table.

‘Where’s your daddy?’

The little girl said nothing, just stared solemnly at Evie with big round eyes.

‘Tuan go to lubber estate.’

Evie jumped in fright as the voice came from behind her. She’d never get used to Aunty Mimi’s approach. One moment she wasn’t there, then she’d materialise from nowhere, a tiny spectral presence, her footsteps making no sound.

‘Oh,’ said Evie, unsure whether she was disappointed or relieved at her husband’s absence, then deciding she was annoyed. Why did he do this? Disappearing like that without telling her? Didn’t she deserve the common courtesy of him informing her of his whereabouts? It was intolerable. She was his wife. After what he’d done to her last night that was incontrovertible.

Forcing a smile to her face for the little girl’s benefit, she said, ‘Why don’t we do something nice today, you and I?’

Aunty Mimi answered for the little girl. ’Jasmine go school. Benny waiting in moto car.’

Of course the child would have to go to school, but Evie didn’t even know where the school was – presumably somewhere here in George Town as Jasmine was no longer to board with the nuns on the mainland.

‘I’ll come with you in the car today, Jasmine. I’d like to see your new school and meet your teacher.’

The child remained mute, staring at Evie as though still unsure who she was or why she was here.

‘Mem no need go. Benny take Jasmine.’ Aunty Mimi moved towards Jasmine and took the girl by the hand. ‘School expecting her. Tuan he allainge it.’

‘Thank you, but I intend to go all the same. At least today. I want to meet Jasmine’s teacher and find out where the school is.’ Her heart was thumping. Why did the woman intimidate her so much? If Evie didn’t assert herself now, at the beginning, it would be too late.

Aunty Mimi scowled, but raised no further objection.

6

Evie climbed into the motor car behind Benny. Jasmine sat beside her, maintaining a wide gap so that she was closer to the door than to Evie, sitting back in the seat, her skinny legs stretched in front of her. The child remained silent, pressing herself into her corner like a frightened little mouse.