‘Poor mite! Don’t worry.’ The young woman seemed to sense Evie’s discomfort. ‘She’ll be fine. Children at the school often come and go as their parents get posted elsewhere. Some are only here for a while before they’re packed off to board back in Britain or up in the Cameron Hills. Have you recently arrived from England yourself?’

Evie nodded. ‘My first time out of the country. Well, apart from France.’

‘It must be a bit of a culture shock. I’m British too, of course. Here since I was a small child and I’ve never been back. My father works for the Hong Kong Shanghai bank. Maybe one day I’ll get a chance to see England again.’ She laughed. ‘But enough about me. Let’s talk about Jasmine.’

Evie flushed. ‘I’m sorry but there’s nothing else I can add.’ Deciding to tell the truth she said, ’To be honest, Miss Helston, just now in the car is the first time I’ve managed to get so much as a word out of her. I imagine her mother’s death was difficult for her and … well, she’s unsure about me and my relationship with her father.’ Jasmine was not the only one unsure about that.

‘Understandable. Don’t you worry. She’ll soon come out of her shell. It’s a very friendly school.’ She twisted round to face Evie fully. ‘Look, why don’t you come to tea one day at our house? I can tell you about Penang and let you know how Jasmine’s settling in. How about next week? Thursday at four?’ She told her the address.

‘That would be lovely. The syce can drop me off after he’s picked Jasmine up.’

‘Bring her too. One of the other girls in her class lives next door to us. They can play together while we chat.’

‘That sounds wonderful.’

‘See you on Thursday.’ Miss Helston hurried away into the school building.

As Evie walked back to the waiting car a weight lifted from her shoulders. A friendly face. A warm person. A similar age to her. So different from those witches at the club. She sent up a silent prayer that maybe she had found a friend.

Returning to the house, Evie found Veronica Leighton waiting for her. Wearing beige linen ‘pyjama’ trousers, her silk blouse emphasised her small frame and the fashionable lack of breasts. As always in encounters with Veronica, Evie immediately felt ungainly in her faded cotton frock, and oversized with her ample bosom. To her irritation her guest behaved as the hostess, summoning Aunty Mimi to bring them lime juices with soda in the garden. Evie smarted, but decided to rein back her annoyance until she knew what Veronica wanted.

Expecting some kind of excuse or apology for the sniping gossip she’d overheard in the ladies’ powder room, Evie should have realised by now that wasn’t Veronica’s style. Indeed it was hard to imagine her ever asking forgiveness of anyone for anything.

Mrs Leighton draped herself over one of the large wicker garden chairs, took out a fan and gave a long sigh. ‘It’s always so damned clammy compared to Africa. I’ll never get used to it. One needs to change clothes at least four or five times a day. Such a bore.’