“I'll wash it off. Thanks awfully, Violet. Could you also find a couple of stamps, and stick them on my letters? Top drawer of my bureau, I think.”
“Yes, I'll see to them,” said Violet soothingly. “Hurry up and wash and get your cloak.” She found the stamps, after a little search, fixed them to the letters, and said with her slow smile: “Rather a miracle to find a stamp in this house. Tell Tony I've taken the letters and will post them on my way home, will you, Mr Carrington?”
“You are not going to the ball?” Giles asked. “I thought-”
“No, I am not going,” she replied. “I shall spend a quiet evening at home instead. I hope you enjoy your theatre. Good-night!”
He escorted her to the front door, and opened it for her. As he shut it again behind her Antonia came out of her bedroom, her evening-coat tumbled over her arm. He took it from her, and helped her to put it on. “Violet has gone,” he remarked. “I thought you told me she was going to the Albert Hall show after all?”
“Yes, but she changed her mind, and came to tell Kenneth so just now. So the balloon went up good and proper. Have you got my letters?”
“Violet took them.”
“Oh, that's all right then. I've been writing a pretty thank-you letter to Roger.”
“A what?” demanded Giles.
She grinned. “Yes, I thought you'd be surprised. But it had to be done. According to Rudolph, he drifted into the Shan Hills office this morning, and sent for Rudolph, and told him it was all right about cooking the accounts, and said he wasn't going to do anything about it. Rudolph rang me up at lunch-time, and I must say I think it's extremely decent of Roger - particularly as he doesn't like Rudolph. And if only we can clear Rudolph of suspicion of having done Arnold in, I can break off the engagement with a clear conscience,” she added happily.