Miss Clifford answered for them.
"Yes, Thérèse, Roger is taking Miss Rowe out to dinner. It is such an excellent idea for both of them to have a bit of fun."
"Ah!"
An indescribable glint came into the wide grey eyes, and there was a brief pause before Lady Clifford smiled and gave a little wave of the hand.
"Alors—amusez-vous bien!" she said, and turned away.
Could it be that she was displeased with her stepson for paying attention to a nurse in her employ? Esther was not quite sure, but she felt a moment's awkwardness. It vanished, however, when a moment later she climbed into the Citroën beside Roger.
"I hope you don't mind this plebeian way of getting about?" Roger said as he started the car. "I somehow feel I don't like to use the chauffeur and the Rolls in case my stepmother should want it."
"What do you think I'm used to, anyway?" demanded Esther with a light-hearted laugh.
He turned his head and surveyed her critically.
"I'm not sure what you're used to," he replied. "But as you sit there you look like a million dollars, as they say in your country."