In the shade of the tall hardwood trees, they ate the little savouries and slices of cake that Aunty Mimi had prepared for them. Mary pointed out landmarks and told Evie how the funicular railway had only opened fifteen years earlier. Before that, if someone wanted to get up here they had to climb up – unless, like the wealthy British and Chinese, they could afford to pay for half a dozen coolies to bring them up in a sedan chair.

They chatted for a while, Evie fascinated to hear about the history of the settlement. After some time, a lull in the conversation encouraged her to ask the question that had been on her mind.

‘Do you know the Leightons?’ she asked, certain of the answer. ‘Veronica and Arthur.’

Mary’s lips stretched tightly. ‘Everyone knows them.’

A brief silence followed and Evie was thinking perhaps she shouldn’t have raised the subject, when Mary continued. ‘May I be frank?’

‘I’d expect nothing less.’

‘He’s all right. In fact he’s rather a good egg. But she’s not someone I like at all. In fact, I loathe Veronica Leighton with every fibre of my being.’ She brushed an insect off her skirt.

‘Well, that’s a relief. You’re not alone in that. I can’t bear her either.’

Mary frowned. ‘If I were you, I’d give her a very wide berth. She’s poisonous.’

‘I must admit when I first met her, in London, I was awed by her, but now, I’ve realised there’s nothing admirable about her. I’ve always made it a rule to look for the best in everyone and I tried to find it in Veronica but I’ve failed. And I think she despises me.’ Evie gave a rueful sigh. ‘But, you see, Arthur Leighton is a close friend of my husband, so avoiding Veronica is impossible. She turns up at the house without warning. She bosses me about. Makes me feel stupid and inadequate.’

‘No one can make you feel that way, Evie. Not unless you choose to let them. Don’t let her get under your skin.’

‘Easy to say.’ She looked up at the sky, a spread of blue, unbroken by clouds. ‘Veronica was best friends with Felicity and takes every opportunity to tell me how fabulous Felicity was and by implication how decidedly unfabulous I am.’

Mary made a little snorting sound. ‘Best friends? Hardly. Veronica Leighton collects people then discards them. Felicity Barrington included. Everyone’s terrified of Veronica so they all suck up to her. But I doubt anyone actually likes her. And that will have gone for Felicity too.’

Evie told her how she had overheard Veronica and her coterie talking about her in the ladies’ powder room at the Penang Club, but omitted the details of what had been said. ‘It was humiliating. So personal. Venomous.’

‘I told you. She’s poison. So what did you do?’

‘I came out of the cubicle and made my presence known.’

Mary laughed. ‘Good for you. I bet that shut them up and made them squirm.’