“Dr. Elliott? How nice! Do you like him?”
She watched Claire narrowly as she spoke.
“Yes, very much,” said the girl naïvely. “I promised to go out to the theater with him next week.”
“That’s right. You might as well amuse yourself,” said her mother-in-law carelessly, “seeing Alexis is taken care of. By the way, has Mrs. Schuyler a husband?”
Claire turned away to hide her smitten face.
“No, I believe she’s a widow.” Her voice was harsh.
“Ah!”
Mme. Petrovskey drew a long, hissing breath. “She seems to be very well off, doesn’t she?” she persisted.
“Very,” said Claire shortly. A vision of Anne, jeweled and sumptuous in the Kolinsky evening wrap rose before her aching eyes. “I think if you don’t mind. I’ll go to my room and lie down a little while.”
She turned and walked down the long hall.