“Oh good, Tony, you’ve come home,” Rose said. “We have guests, darling. Two old friends coming to stay. Isn’t that wonderful?”

Tony Summers crossed the foyer toward us. He was wearing a Harris Tweed jacket and riding boots. “You didn’t tell me anyone was coming, Rose, or I’d have spruced myself up first,” he said. He came toward us, hand extended. “How do you do? I’m Tony—” He broke off as recognition dawned. “My God,” he said. “Belinda!”

Chapter 10

OCTOBER 16

AT TREWOMA

Golly, I really wish we hadn’t bumped into Rose Summers. It already feels uncomfortable staying here, even though we are being well looked after. Mrs. Mannering is too perfect. I’m so glad she’s not my housekeeper.

“Hello, Tony,” Belinda said in a remarkably even voice. “How lovely to see you again.”

“You recognized her,” Rose said. “I’m impressed. She certainly didn’t look like that when she used to stay at her grandma’s and we used to launch those rafts from their dock.”

“No, I’d say she’s improved since then,” Tony said. His voice had that smooth, almost lazy quality of the Eton educated and I noticed how his gaze lingered on Belinda. “So what brings you to this part of the world?”

“I’ve come down for a few days with my friend Lady Georgiana,” Belinda said. “We wanted to inspect a property I’d been left, but it turned out to be White Sails.”

“White Sails?” he asked.

“The old fishing cottage,” Rose interjected. “You know. After you go around Little Rumps.”

For some reason hearing this again made me grin like a schoolgirl. I’d really have to learn to look grown-up and sophisticated now that I was married.

“Oh yes.” Tony nodded. “With that strange little harbor. Hardly the sort of place for a city girl like you, I’d have thought. Will you sell it?”

“I haven’t decided yet,” Belinda said. “We obviously can’t stay in it the way it is. It would need considerable remodeling, but it might be nice to have a cottage in Cornwall to retreat to occasionally.”

“Yes. That might be nice.”

I was watching the way he looked at her. He was clearly hinting it might be nice to have her as a near neighbor. “So do I take it you’ll be staying with us?”

“I invited them,” Rose said. “I hope that’s all right?”

“It’s your house too,” he said. “And I’m always delighted to have guests, particularly attractive ones. You must let me give you a tour of the estate. And the home farm. They are coming along splendidly. We’ve a herd of Jersey cows and you must taste the clotted cream. I’m trying to find a way to export it to London.”

“Coffee is ready in the morning room, Tony,” Rose said. “Shall we go through before it gets cold?”