With a swift movement, Anne sprang forward and closed the door behind the other woman. Standing with her back against it, she looked at Ellen with a mixture of command and appeal.
“Did you think I was never coming?” she asked. “Do go downstairs again and tell the others I’ll be there directly. I’ll explain later.”
With a keen glance into Alexis’ face, a lazy smile upon her lips, Ellen lounged into the room.
“Won’t you introduce us first? Don’t worry, I won’t give you away!” she purred. She sat down, prepared to light a cigarette.
Anne concealed her anger beneath a casual smile.
“There’s nothing to give away, as you call it, Ellen. This gentleman is calling upon me on private matters. If you will excuse us, I’ll come down as soon as he has finished telling me what he came to say.”
Ellen rose, a quizzical gleam in her eye.
“Sorry to have interrupted a business conference,” she waved her unlighted cigarette languidly. “Since when has Mr. Petrovskey given up music for stocks and bonds? Mr. Petrovskey, won’t you please become my adviser, too?”
She turned towards Alexis, good-natured mockery in her large, infantile gaze.
He stepped forward with a rueful laugh.