Fen held her hand up. It was a sudden, sharp gesture, almost jerky, and Pat stopped talking. They walked on, skirts rustling, feet crunching on the gravel path that ran around the lake.

“Is it terribly obvious?” Fen said at last. “Or is this just because you know him well?”

“I’d call it obvious,” Pat said. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. I knew it, really. It certainly seems obvious to Maurice Haworth, judging by the way he smiles.”

“He’s a piece of work, isn’t he? Look, I’m a friend of Jimmy’s but in a, well, a mannish sort of way. I’ve never known him with a girl. I don’t really know if he’s used to being a fiancé, or if he understands that he’s not paying as much attention as he ought.”

“Are you making excuses for him?” Fen asked. “That is, do you think I ought to disregard the fact that he barely listens to me, had nothing to say to Mr. Haworth when he insulted me last night, and very obviously finds my presence an inconvenience at his party?”

That was a deal blunter than Pat had expected; in fact, blunt enough to make one reflect that this deliciously frothy young lady’s father, at least, must be both fiercely intelligent and fiercely determined. She took a moment to adjust her expectations before replying. “I’m not making excuses, no. And I’ve no idea what you ought to do. But I’m fairly sure that if he’s disregarding you now, before your father—” She clamped her lips shut, too late.

“Before my father has made over the large sum of money that’s his reason for wanting to marry me. You might as well say it. Everyone knows it. I know it.”

“If that was his reason—or his only reason—for proposing, he’s stupider than I realised,” Pat said. “Any man ought to think himself lucky to have you, leaving the money out of the question. But, yes, it is in question, and—” Loyalty to Jimmy and liking for Fen warred for a moment, along with a weaselly awareness that she wouldn’t mind at all knowing that the engagement was off. That was unworthy, but Fen was alone and distressed and needed a friend. Pat salved her conscience with determination to be that friend. “Look, since you ask, he isn’t showing himself to advantage in the slightest, and I think you’d be advised to have it out with him before you take an irreversible step. I do think he’s capable of better,” she made herself add. “I have the impression he’s under a lot of stress at the moment. But he might need reminding of his responsibilities.”

“You’re contorting yourself to be fair to him,” Fen observed. “I don’t suppose you’d tolerate a fiancé treating you with disinterest.”