CHAPTER 32Howland had gone and they were all at lunch, when Allegra turned one of her rather vague looks upon her husband and said,
“Did I tell you that Miss Falconer and her friend are coming to tea?”
Geoffrey started. His fresh colour was less in evidence than usual, and his thoughts appeared to have been wandering.
“What did you say?”
“I just wondered if I had told you that Miss Falconer and her friend are coming to tea.” Allegra rather dropped than raised her voice.
“No, I don’t think you did. I didn’t think we were having anyone just now.”
“I thought it would be nice for Ione. Miss Falconer knows so much about the house.”
“And she has had two years to tell us what she knows!” said Geoffrey Trent.
It was the first time that Ione had seen him put out about a domestic matter. All
