“Yes. The sun is shining,” she vouchsafed, slightly off balance.

She stretched out her legs in front of her, tapped on the chair arm, completely ignored me.

Now I was wearing her own transparent trousers, the only women’s trousers in the place, incompetent as they were. And over that one of Smahil’s black officer’s-shirts, which are long enough to serve the gentlemen as nightshirts when not tucked in their breeches. I found the gold jacket and skirt too bright and stiff. Curiously enough, the combination made quite a smart effect if you didn’t look too closely at the skirt: so I felt perfectly at my ease with her, and was sitting relaxed when Smahil came in.

She immediately jumped to her feet. I went on filing my nails.

Terez embraced him, her bell-shaped skirt swinging up behind her as the front was flattened against him. She really has a terrific body, at the same time rounder and more muscular than mine. She was not wearing very high-soled shoes, presumably because it was him she was coming to see, and so she was only about half an inch taller than him, a few inches taller than me.

“I’m not dancing this evening so I thought I’d give you a treat,” she said, expertly winding herself about him that she was kissing the back of his neck before I could see how she’d managed it. “This odious army business, we have not met each other for so long.”

He caressed her so boldly that I was shocked.

But he had still not disillusioned her about her new status as his ex-official-mistress. Perhaps he really meant not to forgo the pleasures she could bring now she was here, but in any case it was obvious it was not her but myself that he was in a hurry to get jealous.

“I’ll go and get you both some refreshment before I go for my walk,” I promised with cordial grace, and made for the door.

“Ah, don’t bother,” she sighed disdainfully, meaning “I want none of the fruits of this household’s kitchen.” As I went she turned to look at me and she saw my trousers. Her eyes widened.

“I like the gold tracery on your ankles,” she said expressionlessly.

“Do you?” I smiled my nicest delighted-smile and closed the door on them. I felt so happy for some reason as I went down the stairs.