‘Maybe one day you’ll meet someone else. Someone worthy of you, Mary.’

‘That won’t happen. I’m fully reconciled to spinsterhood. I would never trust another man.’ She pulled her shoulders back. ‘It’s not so terrible. I love teaching. I love the kids. There are much worse lives than mine.’

8

Evie had no idea how long Douglas had been sitting on the side of her bed, watching her. As she became aware of his presence, her first emotion was relief. He’d come back. He hadn’t abandoned her. He was still her husband. These thoughts were rapidly followed by the realisation why he was there – that all he wanted of her was to give him a child. No doubt in a few minutes he would begin doing again the thing he’d done to her last time, causing her pain, while at the same time reinforcing her loneliness. There was no point getting upset – she’d signed up for this with her eyes open. Douglas hadn’t lied to her; he’d always made it clear exactly where the cards fell. She could have walked away. She’d chosen not to do so.

‘What’s the time?’ she asked.

‘Just before eleven. I wasn’t sure you were awake.’

‘I am now.’ She pushed her resentment away and added, ‘Are you joining me?’

Douglas said nothing, but quickly removed his silk dressing gown, letting it fall in a heap on the floor. He was naked and she averted her eyes as he got into the bed beside her.

This time, although what he did to her was devoid of any tenderness and gave her no pleasure, it was mercifully less painful. When he’d finished, he rolled off her and she realised he intended to go back to his bedroom, back to what she thought of as his shrine to Felicity. ‘Don’t go,’ she said, grabbing his arm. ‘Stay here with me tonight.’

He grunted, but didn’t move from the bed. ‘I thought you’d be more comfortable on your own. Cooler.’

‘No. I’d like you to stay. Please.’ She bit her lip. She ought to feel humiliated having to ask him like that, but she didn’t. She felt defiant. Stronger.

They lay in the dark, side-by-side, divided by silence. Evie hated the way – even after what they’d just done, after the shocking intimacy of the act – he closed himself off from her, cloaking himself in a wordless concealment she couldn’t penetrate. She swallowed. Her stomach felt hollow.

What did she have to lose? The worst he could do was ignore her. If she didn’t try to get through to him now it would be too late. She’d end up in years to come with a husband who came to her bed every couple of weeks, ignoring her the rest of the time.

If she were able to give him the child he wanted, wouldn’t that make a difference? But that might mean he wouldn’t come to her at all. She’d be no different from Aunty Mimi – a servant – just the amah to his children. No. She had to keep trying to break through to him.