As the last car vanished down the drive with its cargo of nettled guests Linda sat down abruptly in an armchair and blew her nose. Sutane stared at her.
“We’ll sell the damned place,” he said.
She shook her head. “They’ll get over it in time.”
“So I should hope.” Sutane was contemptuous. “Good heavens, they must have seen we were taken by surprise. Surely they don’t imagine anyone in his right mind would ask two hundred people to tea one Sunday afternoon and provide them with forty cups between them?”
Linda looked up.
“They think we might,” she said. “They’ve always suspected we were a little queer and now I’m afraid they’re convinced of it. The trouble is they think we’re rude as well. They’ve gone home thinking it was just slackness.”
Sutane remained looking down at her, his face g
