“Oh, I don’t blame them,” Yootha answered with a hard smile. “One has to pay the penalty of notoriety, even though the notoriety may have come unsought. I dare say I shall live it down,” and she gave a little shrug.
A tiny boat was sailing past, and the young man seated in the stern of it hailed Preston.
“Can I come aboard a moment?” he called out. “I want to speak to you.”
“Come along,” Preston answered, though without enthusiasm, for the young man was Archie La Planta. Half a minute later the little boat was alongside.
“I hope I am not intruding,” La Planta said, discovering suddenly, or pretending to discover, that nobody else besides Yootha was aboard. “I heard you had a luncheon party. By the way,” he added, “have I to congratulate you? I heard the news only to-day.”
“Thanks,” Preston said, concealing the annoyance the unlooked-for intrusion caused him. “Who told you we were engaged?”
“Oh, one or two people. That last race was a fine finish—what?”
“Very. Did you say there was something you wanted to ask me?”
“One or two things. The first is a message from Jessica. She wants to know if you and Miss Hagerston will come to tea on her houseboat—it’s that big boat, The Apex, disguised to look like a warship, with guns and all complete. They’ve a jolly party aboard and Jessica says she would love to see you both. I was instructed not on any account to let you say ‘No,’” and he laughed.
Preston did not answer for a moment.