“Vanna! A ring? On your engagement finger! Who gave you that?”
“Piers Rendall!”
The colour rushed in a crimson flood over Jean’s face; her lips parted in breathless, incredulous surprise.
“Piers! Vanna! You mean it? Piers? Piers and you? You are engaged? When? Where? For how long?”
“At Seacliff. A fortnight ago. But we have loved each other from the first.”
“And you never told me; you never said a word.”
“No. I have not seen you; but even if I had I could not have spoken. Remember how you felt! Could you have discussed Robert with me while you were waiting? I asked Piers not to announce the engagement until I had told you. No one has been told so far, except his mother.”
“Mrs Rendall? She knows? It is settled then? Really absolutely settled?”
“Certainly. I told you so. A fortnight ago.”
A little chill of offence sounded in Vanna’s voice. Jean’s congratulations were a trifle too long delayed; her surprise too blank to be flattering. “Aren’t you going to congratulate me, Jean?”