As December arrived, Evie wondered what her first tropical Christmas would be like. She’d disliked the festive season since her father’s death. All it did was reinforce her own isolation and loneliness, especially in the knowledge that so many families were happy and rejoicing in each other’s company.

Mrs Shipley-Thomas had always spent Christmas at the home of a friend in Haslemere, leaving Evie to her own devices. Once Evie had got past feeling sorry for herself she’d at least enjoyed having the freedom of the house, able to please herself until her employer returned the day after Boxing Day.

But here in Penang, Evie had a husband and a child to spend the holiday with. She had extracted a promise from Douglas that he would be at the house in George Town for four days over the holiday season, and Jasmine was already showing growing excitement. For Evie it seemed bizarre to be talking to the little girl about the forthcoming arrival of Father Christmas, when the absence of winter, not to mention chimneys for Santa to climb down, made it a greater stretch of the imagination than would usually be required. In the end, she told Jasmine that the sleigh would land on the roof and Father Christmas would skim down the drainpipe and enter the house via the drawing room windows.

‘Isn’t the kid a bit old for all that?’ Douglas shrugged when she explained her strategy.

‘She’s only seven, Doug! Not exactly an adult yet.’

He rolled his eyes. ‘I suppose I’d better give you some extra money to buy her presents.’

‘What should we give her?’

Douglas shrugged again. ‘Your department. Don’t ask me.’ He reached in his pocket and pulled out his wallet. ‘Better get something nice for yourself too. Jewellery or something.’

Evie was about to protest. It summed up his attitude to her – unwilling to spare the time to get her something personal for Christmas. She felt her annoyance rising but bit her lip and looked away. She didn’t want him to see that she was hurt. It was almost five months since she’d arrived in Penang and in all that time he had shown not a sign of affection. That he had made it clear she wasn’t to expect it, when they had struck their bargain, didn’t alleviate the pain.

Once Douglas had gone, Evie decided to put on a brave face and enjoy spending his money to make Jasmine’s Christmas a special one. As to buying a piece of jewellery for herself, she would have none of it. She wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction. Should anyone enquire as to what her husband had given her as a Christmas gift, she’d tell them he hadn’t. In fact it was hard not to relish the thought of shaming him that way. And she wasn’t going to buy anything for him either.

Returning in the car with Benny, the seat beside her laden with gifts for Jasmine, Evie softened a little. The festive atmosphere had got through to her. She wasn’t going to use Douglas’s money to buy him a gift, but there was nothing to stop her making him one. It would be more personal. It would be a demonstration that while he might be uncaring of her, she was still trying her best to make the marriage work.