“All done and dusted,” Fenella said brightly as she rejoined them. “Bella at first wanted us to take her carriage, but I managed to persuade her that we would manage with a hackney. Come, lean on my arm, Petra. Diana, take her other arm.”

Thus supported, Petra managed to stumble from the foyer and out into the warm night. “Where shall we go now?”

“I’m a little peckish,” Fenella said. “Dinner seems like a long time ago.”

“Opera will do that,” Petra told her. “Let’s go to Gunter’s. I need an ice for my head.”

Diana hailed a passing cab and the women climbed up, squeezing onto the single bench. “Gunter’s in Berkeley Square,” Diana instructed the cabbie on the box in front.

“Berkeley Square,” Diana mused. “Maybe we’ll run into Guy Granville.”

“I doubt it,” Petra replied. “He’s engaged with friends in Curzon Street.”

“Curzon Street. Isn’t that where the vi—” Fenella broke off as Diana pinched her leg.

“Where who?” Petra asked. “What’s the matter?” she demanded, seeing her friends’ discomfiture. “Where who?” she asked again.

“Clothilde Delmont has a house on Curzon Street,” Diana told her.

“So what if she does?” Petra looked directly at Diana. “It’s nothing to me where she lives.”

“No, of course it’s not.” Diana was rarely flustered but her usual composure deserted her. “I’m sorry, Petra. I don’t know why I’m making such a mess of this. It’s just that . . . that we—”

“That we’re very curious to know how things stand between you and Guy,” Fenella broke in. “You never talk about it, or at least not beyond the merest commonplace. And, well, it’s only natural that in the absence of fact we’re going to speculate.”

“Oh, is that all?” Petra said with a laugh. “If I’d known you were so curious I’d have answered all your questions. But you haven’t asked any.”

“No,” Diana agreed. “We were rather waiting for you to volunteer the details.”

“When we get to Gunter’s,” Petra promised. “How are the arrangements going for Ascot next week?”

Diana accepted the changed subject. “Very well. Rupert and I are still arguing about whether to have poached salmon or roast partridge for lunch. What’s your opinion?”

“Have both,” Petra replied. “That way you’ll please everyone.”

“I’d rather come to that conclusion myself,” Diana said.

“Russian salad and caviar,” Fenella put in. “Perfect for a summer lunch.”

“Strawberry shortcake and sherry trifle,” Petra added. “Oh, this is making me hungry. I need something more substantial than just an ice. We can get a light supper at Gunter’s.”