I stood watching her go with that strange hollow longing that always came over me when I met my mother. And then I realized that she had left me with three people I had no wish to talk to: two men who had behaved badly and a dark, sultry girl who was far too beautiful and sexy. Was she now my replacement in the girlfriend stakes? I could feel Darcy’s eyes on me, and forced myself not to look around. I was trying to move away, giving the impression that there was somebody I simply had to speak to, when I was snagged by Gussie.

“Long time no see, Georgie,” he said. “How have you been?”

“Well enough, thank you, Gussie,” I replied coolly. He seemed to have forgotten that the last time we met, I had had to fight him off, while he tried to remove my knickers.

He moved closer to me. “You know I was hoping we could maybe pick up where we left off last,” he said, proving that he hadn’t forgotten at all.

“You mean when I was saying ‘Get off me, you brute’ and you weren’t listening?”

He chuckled. “All the girls say no, but they don’t really mean it. It’s just to appease their consciences. Afterward they can say ‘I tried to fight him off but he was just too strong for me.’ ”

“I really meant it.”

“Oh, come on, Georgie,” he said, turning slightly pinker. “Everyone likes a bit of the old rumpy-pumpy from time to time, surely. I mean, it’s awfully good fun, isn’t it?” He looked at my face. “You mean you don’t? You haven’t?”

“Frankly that’s none of your business,” I said haughtily. “But if you really must know, I intend to wait until I meet someone I can love and respect,” I said.

“Good God.” He studied me as if I were some kind of exotic species of unknown animal. “Oh, well, let me know if you find such a being. And if not, I’m always available if you change your mind.”

Darcy and the dark girl were moving off. My gaze followed them.

“Now there’s someone who doesn’t follow your rules,” Gussie said.

“Who is she?”

“Name’s Conchita. Spanish, I believe, or is it Brazilian? Father owns plantations. Oodles of money. Paolo persuaded her to invest in this latest madness. She and the Yank are funding it, and Paolo’s driving it.”

“And what about you?”

“Oh, I’ve just come along for the excitement,” he said. “And I promised Father I’d write him up a column for one of his daily newspapers. Oh, there’s Hugo come back,” he added. “I knew he couldn’t stay away long.”

I spotted Hugo Beasley-Bottome, moving through the crowd as if looking for someone. “He’s been up here before, has he?”