Evie began to wonder where all this was leading, but listened intently.

‘Ralph got a big promotion and was moved to a plantation near Kuala Lumpur. We decided we could set the date for the wedding.’ She closed her eyes and clenched her hands into tight fists.

‘If Veronica Leighton hadn’t stepped in and wrecked it all, I’d have been married. Perhaps we’d have started a family. Ralph always said he wanted children. Three or four of them. ’ Her voice broke. ‘Sorry, Evie. Talking about this is still so painful even though it was years ago.’

‘I can imagine.’ She took Mary’s hand and squeezed it gently.

‘When Veronica Leighton wants something she has to have it, regardless of whether it belongs to someone else. That goes for men too. She decided she wanted Ralph. He didn’t stand a chance. He must have known she had a terrible reputation. Affairs right, left and centre.’

‘Does Arthur know about the affairs?’

‘He must do. She doesn’t exactly keep them secret. But she always goes back to him. Every man she picks up she drops in the end.’

‘Is that what happened to Ralph?’

‘More or less. Once she’d seduced him and got him eating out of her hand. She was only interested in the chase, then she was ready to move onto her next victim. Apparently, it all started at some “do” at the istana of the Sultan of Selangor. I was in blissful ignorance. Ralph’s letters had become less frequent but I put it down to the pressure of work and the responsibilities of his new job. Then he came to see me. Completely out of the blue.’

Mary stared ahead into the distance, evidently reliving the scene. ‘He turned up at our house. Led me out into the garden.’ Her voice wobbled. ‘I could see Mum and Dad watching at the window. Mum must have guessed what was coming from Ralph’s face when she let him in.’

Mary took a big ragged breath. ‘He didn’t beat about the bush. He came straight out and told me he had fallen in love with Veronica Leighton, that she was leaving Arthur and once her divorce came through he was going to marry her.’ Mary closed her eyes. ‘I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. It was so out of character for Ralph. He said he was sorry, that he didn’t want to hurt me, but his mind was made up.’

Mary thumped her fist down on the bench. ‘It was like a bad dream. I pleaded with him – at that point I thought we could find a way through the mess. I thought he’d eventually come to his senses. After all, Veronica was more than ten years older than him. I convinced myself it was just a flirtation that had gone too far. Until he told me that to all intents and purposes they were already man and wife, that they’d…’ She gave a little sob. ‘You see…he and I…we’d never… We’d decided to wait until we were married.’