But the confession happened in the car, on the way home, and it is the moment my old life ended.

Delphine climbed into the SUV with her makeup streaked and her face feral, Auberon scrambling into the back row and jamming headphones over his ears to escape the coming blast.

“Drive,” she screamed at the chauffeur, and the heavy car lurched into the glowing arteries of the city.

“I cannot fathom what is wrong with you,” she hissed, striking her handbag against her knee.

“You humiliated me.