Rachel sat down opposite her and the heat of the fire and a scent of something that had violets and mignonette in it—a scent that was always in the room—stifled her so that her head began to swim and the rings on the Duchess's hand to hypnotize her.
"There's a great party going on downstairs," she said.
"Yes. I know. John came up for a moment and told me about it—and how are you?"
"Very well, thank you, grandmamma. Roddy and I have been ever so sociable lately, given several dinner-parties and one musical thing."
"You're not looking very well. Roddy here?"
"Yes."
"Hope he'll come and see me before he goes. Hasn't been to see me much lately."
Their eyes met. Rachel held her ground and then, beaten as though by a physical blow, lowered her gaze.
"Oh! hasn't he? He's been here a lot, I thought. He's been very busy over some horses that he's had to go up and down to Seddon about."
"H'm. Well—I dare say he'll remember me again one day—so we're in for a war?"