“And yet your house, despite its size, is quite cozy.”

“But the gas bill would be enormous if the staff didn’t turn off the heat when I’m not in residence. I have to give them a couple of days’ notice that I’m coming.”

Viv was quiet for a moment. “Rose seems nice,” she said.

“Oh, she is.”

“I didn’t mean in bed. I meant, generally speaking.”

“She is that, too.”

“How did you meet?”

“I was involved in a minor accident in Scotland . . .”

“You mean the one in which you totaled Felicity’s Aston Martin when it fell twelve feet off a bridge?”

“Well, yes.”

“How did you happen to have Felicity’s car?”

“She drove it up there on an inspection tour of the camp. She loves to drive. I was to drive it back for her. I like to drive, too.”

“I’m sorry, how did the accident involve Rose?”

“I came to in their infirmary and she . . .” He stopped and thought for a moment. “I was going to say that she was in charge of treating me . . . but she wasn’t. There was a male doctor in charge, but I didn’t see him again after she arrived on the scene.”

“What was she doing at a training camp for MI-6?”

“She was on a locum. That’s where one doctor fills in for another, while he’s on vacation.”

“What was the place like?”

“Not what you’d call comfortable,” Stone said. “In fact, the training seemed designed to make everyone uncomfortable. It was very military.”

“And why would Rose want to do a locum at such a place?”

“You’d have to ask her that. Her reasons never came up in conversation.”

“If I know you, Stone, there wasn’t a great deal of conversation. On any subject.”

“Now, now. I can be quite chatty, you know.”

“Well, you’re a great chatter-upper, as the Brits would say, but conversation?”

“You and I are having a very nice conversation, aren’t we? And I’m holding up my end.”

“I suspect that you spent most of your time holding up her end,” Viv said, archly.

Stone laughed. “You remind me of Felicity sometimes.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“You should.”

The door opened and Rose and Dino came in, still in their riding clothes.

“Dino,” Stone said, “where on earth did you find the riding gear?”

“In the village,” Dino said, “at your suggestion, the last time I was here. I just left it in the closet when I went home, and when I came back, it was still there, cleaned and pressed.”

Geoffrey came in and announced lunch, and they moved to the table.

“Rose,” Viv said, “Stone was just telling me you did a locum at the training camp in Scotland.”

“I did,” Rose replied.

“And where are you based in London?”