“As a matter of fact I went up to London and worked there for a while. But now I’m back, I’m pleased to say. I live at Trewoma Hall.”

“As what?” Belinda asked. I don’t think it was meant to be rude but it did sound that way. Rose’s white moon face flushed red. “As mistress of the house. I’m married to Tony Summers.”

It was Belinda’s turn to look confused. “Tony Summers? You’re married to Tony Summers?”

Now Rose’s look had turned to a triumphant smile. “That surprises you, does it? Little Rosie Barnes.”

“But I had no idea Tony came back to this part of the world.” Belinda still sounded flustered. “And Trewoma Hall? How did you wind up there? Are you renting it from the Trefusis family?”

“No. We own it,” Rose said. There was a sort of forced bravado about the way she tossed her head.

“They sold to you?”

Rose shook her head now. “No. It wasn’t like that. I don’t suppose you ever heard that Jonquil’s parents were killed in an aeroplane crash in the West Indies? Well, Jonquil inherited the property. Tony married Jonquil and unfortunately Jonquil died after only a year of marriage.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. Was it an illness?”

“An accident. She fell off the cliffs,” Rosie said. “A part of the cliff crumbled away and she fell.”

“How tragic,” Belinda said. “If anyone loved life it was Jonquil, wasn’t it?”

“You’re right. She took all kinds of risks—she used to love playing polo, hunting, and surfing in the big waves, but in the end it was her own home that killed her.”

“So Tony inherited Trewoma?” Belinda asked.

Rose nodded. “There were no more Trefusis members. Tony inherited.”

“Lucky for him. Lucky for you,” Belinda said. “How did you two meet again?”

“In London, amazingly. I had taken a secretarial course and was working as a secretary for a solicitor in London. Sharing digs with some girls in Camden Town. Rather run-down sort of place. I had treated myself to a day in the West End and I met Tony walking through Hyde Park. Can you believe the coincidence? I think he was still coming to terms with the loss of his wife and he was glad to see a friendly face. We had dinner together. And we corresponded for a while, and then one thing led to another.”

“I’m very happy for you,” Belinda said. Her voice sounded as if she wasn’t happy at all. “I expect your mother is very proud too.”

“She is. I’ve invited her to come and live with us but she likes her own life. She enjoys the freedom after all those years.” She paused. “So what brings you back here now? On a bit of a holiday, are you?”

“No, I came to see a piece of property that my grandmother left me.”