“Going already?” she queried. “That’s not very kind to Steven. He was so looking forward to your being here.”“I’ve just left him,” Kathryn told her. “Now he’s with Dr. Brand in your bridge room.”Thelma frowned. “Oh dear, I hope they’re not going to play, instead of mixing with people. Steven has his duties as host, and I’ve got dozens of people wanting to meet Adam. Can’t you really stay a little longer? If you will, I’ll tell Steven you’re staying, and if anything is likely to lure him from the bridge table, that is!”As she spoke, one of her more brilliant smiles had taken the place of her earlier frown. To Kathryn’s surprise, she seemed genuinely anxious that she should stay for Steven’s sake. Yet Kathryn had supposed that she had been asked to the party only on Steven’s insistence, and certainly, before Steven went abroad, Thelma had been at considerable pains to keep them apart.But Kathryn felt that nothing would induce her to see Steven again just then.
