‘I’d prefer it were you.’

‘Reggie’s more than capable. I’m needed over at Butterworth.’

‘Butterworth?’

‘My estate on the mainland is near there.’

‘I didn’t know you had two estates. I thought it was just up in the hills here on the island.’

‘I inherited Bellavista, here on Penang, but when a chance came up to buy land on the mainland I took it.’

‘I could come over to Butterworth one day. It’s only twenty minutes on the ferry to the mainland. Or I could come with you and stay in your bungalow for a while. Just for a few days.’ She tried to keep the pleading out of her voice. If he agreed and she liked it there, maybe they could eventually live there together.

‘Out of the question.’

‘I just want to see the place. Isn’t that where you and Felicity lived when you were first married? I might like it. I’m not the same person as her.’

‘No, you’re not.’ He flung back the sheet and got out of the bed, gathered up his discarded dressing gown from the bedroom floor and putting it on, moved to the door.

Evie was open-mouthed at the sudden violence of his reaction.

‘Goodnight,’ he said and left the room, closing the door behind him.

Left alone in the bed, Evie began to shake, suddenly cold, despite the warmth of the night. She pulled the sheet back over herself and curled into a ball. How had that happened? More to the point, why had it happened? All she had done was express an interest in his life and his work. Just as she’d believed she was beginning to make some progress in getting to know Douglas, in penetrating his indifference. Why had she rushed it, pushed him into a corner? Why hadn’t she shown more patience, bided her time until he was ready? Or raised the subject over dinner? But there had been something about the intimacy of being here in bed that had made her bolder. And it had been going well.

She rolled onto her other side and punched the pillow with her fist. It was unfathomable. He was so touchy. One minute he’d seemed amused, interested, relaxed, then he had snapped shut like a clam. It must have been the mention of Felicity. Four years on, he was still clearly grieving for his late wife. Evie cursed her own stupidity. They were back to square one. She’d handled it clumsily. How was she going to regain his trust? She could never replace the beautiful Felicity, but she had to find a way to make him comfortable in her presence, to get him to see her for herself and not as a poor substitute.

9

When Evie came down for breakfast the following morning she was surprised to find Douglas still at the table, reading the Straits Times. After their argument last night, she’d expected him to have risen early and already left, avoiding an embarrassing encounter.

He looked up as she came in. ‘I’ve given Benny the day off once he’s dropped Jasmine at school. We can drive up to the estate at Bellavista and collect her on our way back.’