Evie was astonished. Fearing he might change his mind again if she hesitated, she hurried through her breakfast, put on some sensible flat shoes and they set off.

The road to the rubber estate was rough and winding, slowly climbing up through the hills at the centre of the island. Instead of the sleek vehicle that she had been driven in by Benny, they travelled in a battered old truck, its interior full of clutter and smelling of diesel. They drove past traditional stilted houses, the scent of fruits and spices heavy in the air – lime, mango, coconuts, nutmeg – and chickens and goats wandering free by the roadside.

Despite his evident change of heart since the previous night, Douglas had resorted to his usual silence. Evie was nervous about speaking up again and risking his anger once more. Eventually, unable to stand the silence any longer, she told herself that he was her husband and she had to focus on the fact that last night he had spoken more to her than ever before. Surely that was something to build upon?

‘The island here’s very steep,’ she said, thinking she must sound fatuous.

‘Bellavista’s on an escarpment so it’s terraced and that means a lot more maintenance and effort. That’s why I bought the estate near Butterworth. There was jungle to be cleared there – still is – we’ve barely touched the reserves – but the land is lower and flatter and easier to work and there’s more of it.’ He sounded relaxed, friendly even.

‘You expanded onto the mainland since coming to Penang?’

‘Yes. The previous owner wanted to return to England and I believed I’d got it for a good price.’ His voice lowered and the enthusiasm was suddenly absent. ‘Then the price of rubber collapsed and soon hit rock bottom. The big producers started laying men off right, left and centre. I thought I was going to lose everything. I couldn’t have got out even if I’d tried. But I didn’t try. I was determined to hang in and make a go of it. I knew things would eventually get better.’

‘And have they?’

‘Things are better. But it’s taken years. The reason it’s improved is because of the likelihood of war. Every country wants rubber for aircraft and lorries. But we’ve got a damned quota system now. They’re trying to keep the prices high by keeping supply low. It’s like trying to run a business with your hands tied behind your back.’

‘Who’re “they”?’

‘All the rubber producers.’

‘Why do you have to take notice of them? Aren’t they your competitors?’

He gave a dry laugh. ‘That’s just how it works. You have to join the industry body if you want to sell anything. You have to abide by the rules. And like most rules, they’re dreamed up by a committee. If you want to trade, you have to go along with it. Simple as that. But you can’t possibly be interested in any of this?’