If only she could walk out and go back to the house. But she hadn’t a clue how to get there. She had lost her bearings during the five-minute motorcar trip from St George’s. The cruel words of Veronica and her cronies whirled around her brain, a constant repetition like a phonograph with its needle stuck in the groove. They thought her an unattractive woman whose husband had only married her because he couldn’t be bothered to ‘send her back’ like an unwanted parcel. Their words cut her to the quick – particularly because she recognised some truth in them. Cruel, but possibly accurate. How could she have even entertained the possibility that one day Douglas Barrington might come to care for her? How could she even have any feelings for him herself if this was how he thought of her? She couldn’t possibly love a man who was physically repelled by her. Why hadn’t she overheard their poisonous chatter a day or so sooner, when there had still been a possibility of calling off the wedding? Evie slumped forward, her head in her hands and her heart despairing. The person she missed most right now was her father and, not for the first time, she cursed him for what he’d done to destroy the family, her future and her sense of self.
‘So tell me why the bride is lurking alone in the shrubbery?’
Evie nearly jumped out of her skin.
Arthur Leighton gestured towards the bench. ‘Do you mind if I join you? You look as though you could do with cheering up.’
His kindly tone of voice was too much for her and she felt the tears spring up. She pulled out her handkerchief and blew her nose. ‘I’m sorry. I’m feeling a bit low.’ She looked up at him, and tried to force a smile to her face. ‘Just wedding jitters.’
‘I think it’s a bit more than that isn’t it, Evie?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I happened to hear Veronica and her pals talking. Soon after you apparently overheard them yourself. Knowing that little coven of–’ He hesitated. ‘Well, I can imagine they were doling out some less than complimentary comments.’ He placed one hand on her arm. ‘I’m sorry you were subjected to it. Don’t listen to them, Evie. They’re like that about everyone – even each other. Speaking ill of people is a sport to them – but it’s completely meaningless.’
‘It’s very hurtful actually.’
‘I’ve no idea what you heard them saying but whatever it was it wasn’t true. They make up for their own inadequacies by tearing others apart. You’re just the latest in a long line. I’m ashamed that my wife is one of the culprits, and I’ve long since given up trying to understand why.’
Evie wanted to say that Veronica was not just a culprit, she was the ringleader. But she realised Arthur must be only too aware of that.
He sat with his hands on his knees and she felt calmed and comforted by his proximity. He had nice hands. There was something solid and dependable about Arthur. Straightforward – what you saw and heard was what he meant – no double talking.
‘Do you think I’ll ever fit in here?’ Before he could answer she added, ‘But I’m not sure I even want to.’
‘I wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t. I often feel that way myself. I sometimes think I’m only accepted because they all feel they have to keep on the right side of me.’ He brushed an insect off his trouser leg. ‘And as they’re all terrified of my formidable wife that’s another reason they want to keep me onside.’ He gave a hollow laugh.
Evie wanted to ask him how he had come to be married to Veronica when they were so very different, but despite his warmth and his being the only person in Penang that she felt comfortable with, she hesitated to broach the topic. Instead she asked him about Douglas.
‘You and Douglas are awfully different and yet you’re his best friend.’
‘Doug doesn’t really do friendship. I suppose, if I’m being generous, I’m the person he trusts most – but if I’m being honest, I’d say it was more that I’m the person he dislikes least.’
She looked up at him, puzzled. ‘Are you saying my husband isn’t a very nice person?’
His mouth twitched at the corners. ’I’m merely saying that he’s a hard man to get to know. He’s very much a loner. Doesn’t open up to anyone.’ With a dry laugh he added, ‘Mind you, none of us men are very hot on revealing what we think or feel. One thing a public school education provides is an unsurpassed ability to suppress one’s emotions.’
‘You don’t seem at all like that.’
‘That’s probably because I didn’t go to public school. I’m a grammar school boy. It made it damned hard to rise even to the far from heady levels I have achieved in the civil service. I’m not one of them.’
‘And is Douglas?’
‘No. He’s different altogether. He went to Eton but he doesn’t behave like the rest of them. He’s very much his own man. Doug prefers his own company. He’s passionate about rubber and everything to do with his estate. Shows up at the club on the rare occasions he’s in town but the rest of the time we never see him.’
‘Is that why Felicity preferred living in George Town? Did she like the club and everything that comes with it?’
‘Felicity hated Penang. Full stop. She wanted to be back in England. There was no way that Doug would ever agree to moving back there. She found the rubber estate isolated and missed her old social life and her family. When he wouldn’t sell up and move back to England she felt he’d let her down.’ He leaned back, stretching his long legs. ‘According
