‘It’s Russian for “friend”. There is a difference, you know.’ Felicity was doing it on purpose, he was convinced of it. She was trying to get at him. ‘No, no second thoughts, my dear. No reason why I should have changed my mind, is there?’

‘Clarissa says she’ll move to La Sorcière permanently. Grenadin clearly agrees with her.’

‘Clearly. It doesn’t agree with me. Thank God we only got invited once. So hot – and all those mosquitoes! I don’t suppose we were their sort of people. We don’t seem to scintillate.’

‘I wouldn’t have said the Hunters scintillated exactly. Louise Hunter is so fat. The Hunters lack – what is it they lack? A significant something.’

‘Charm? Unity? An edge?’

‘That’s it. No edge.’ Felicity nodded. ‘I have known beach balls with more edge to them than the Hunters.’

‘I believe they are frightfully mismatched. Louise is dire, I agree, but I don’t think there’s anything really wrong with Hunter.’

‘I don’t suppose I could ever like Louise Hunter, not even if she were to save me from drowning or death by fire.’

‘I feel sorry for Hunter. He is a first-class farmer. I wouldn’t be able to do half the jobs he does. He understands cattle… When was it we saw my brother on the box? Was it last year or the year before?’

‘Last year – you mean that ghastly documentary, don’t you?’

‘Yes. It was ghastly, wasn’t it? Roderick’s teeth didn’t seem to fit and he never for a moment took off that ludicrous hat. He seemed peculiarly rejuvenated, didn’t you think?’

‘People always look different on the box,’ Felicity said dismissively. ‘Would you get me a Scotch, Gerard? With plenty of soda.’ Kicking off her shoes, she sat on the sofa. ‘I am chilled to the bone. Hate funerals. The trawl from Remnant Regis to the crematorium was unbearable. It’s a miracle I survived.’

‘I know exactly what you mean. I feel as stiff as a varnished eel myself.’