Belinda consulted her wrist-watch.
“Unless,” she said, “you withdraw in two minutes, I shall ring for Henri to take your luggage outside.”
“Have a heart,” said Pomeroy. “Henri’s already lost half a stone over this business. If you give him an order like that, he’ll become a total wreck.”
“He’s devoted to me,” said Belinda.
“I’m sure of that,” said Ivan. “But he loathes the look in my eye. It’s the combination of devotion and abhorrence that makes him get so hot. They sort of seethe together.”
“D’you propose to interfere with his execution of my orders?”
“Not exactly ‘interfere,’ ” said Ivan. “It’ll be more mental. I shall sort of discourage him.”
Belinda drew in her breath.
“How long,” she demanded, “are you going on like this?”
Pomeroy rose.