Who was she, anyway?Robert Tenby saw the announcement and gritted his teeth. He had been feeling he wanted Chloe more than ever, now he had lost her to another man. He dashed over to the Soameses for sympathy. They, knowing the truth but under oath not to reveal it, did the best they could. Alaric suggested that probably it wouldn’t work out, Dominic was older than Chloe and wedded to his archaeology, perhaps Robert would come back from his cruise and find it had already been broken off.Robert was willing to believe that. He cheered up and after several pink gins felt sufficiently restored to accompany the Soameses to a cocktail party at the artillery mess in Tigne. He was a volatile young man, easily up, easily down. The Soameses, kindly but clear-sighted, didn’t take his heartbreak too seriously.It was the Valmontez relations who were most excited—Louise had been right there, too. Who was this girl? They must telephone dear Olivia and find out immediately. They must visit her at Santa Clara—if she was well enough to receive them.
