He was standing beside the car at Miss Dearling’s gate, and Esther was upstairs putting on her hat. She had protested twenty times that she did not really want to go; she had begged June to take her place; she had implored Micky to take June instead; but they had both refused.
“I’m not keen on motoring when it’s cold,” June declared. “Besides, I’ve got my business to see to, and I don’t want Micky. You go, Esther, and amuse the poor soul!––just to please me.”
Esther said “Very well,” and tried to look as if she were not anxious at all, but she was really looking forward to another drive.
“Didn’t you really want to come?” Micky asked as they drove away.
Esther laughed. “Of course I did; I wanted to come so badly I had to pretend that I didn’t just for decency’s sake.”
There was a little silence.
“Did you have good news from Paris yesterday?” he asked deliberately.
He felt as if he must speak of Ashton to in some way check the wave of joy that had filled his heart at her words; it was not to be with him that she had wished to come, but for the drive and the comfort of the car.
He saw how her face clouded at his question.