The gentlemen from the next estate, who had participated in the shooting, had brought their wives over for lunch. Florence was a pretty little thing, blonde and bubbly. Roberta, by contrast, was dark, tall and slim. Eleanor enjoyed talking to both of them; it made a change from being monopolised by Lord Darlington. After lunch, it being a fine afternoon, the three women went for a walk in the park, while the men played billiards.
Florence, who was the sort of girl who would ask anyone anything, asked Eleanor if she planned to get married soon. Evidently she had deduced that James was a likely candidate as a husband. Eleanor was never coy with women; asked a straight question she would give a straight answer. She replied that such a thing was possible, but not certain “Apparently,” said El
