page18 (1/2)
‘Afternoon tea’ turned out to be an exact replica of what hest standard, and she was not slow to say so Her praise drew a giggle from Princess Fatima
‘My brother flew in the pastry chef froredients with him to bake the scones just as you arrived!’ Her dark eyes twinkled ‘Now, tell lishwoman, what is the correct order in a cream tea? Jam first or clotted cream first?’
Diana gave a laugh ‘Oh, that’s an ihness In Devon, I believe it is one way, and in Cornwall the other—but I never remember which! I’m afraid I do jam first’
‘So do I!’ cried the Princess delightedly She sether when I am next in London?’
‘I would be honoured and delighted,’ Diana said immediately
Nikos smiled ‘If it pleases the Princess,’ he said, ‘afternoon tea at Greymont would be our pleasure’
Diana’s fingers tightened on the handle of the priceless porcelain tea cup she was holding A small but distinct sense of annoyance flared in her that Nikos had presumed to offer her home in his invitation to the sister of thebusiness here Greymont was hers—and she would choose who to invite to it
But he’d clearly said the right thing, and it obviously did please the Princess Her eyes lit up ‘I adore English country houses,’ she exclaimed in her enthusiastic manner
‘So ht my sister one only last year,’ her brother interposed dryly
‘And so he did—he is the ed
A chill replaced the flare of annoyance that Diana had been feeling
If I hadn’t ht have been snapped up as the latest amusement for an Arabian princess
It was a sobering re here, in a royal palace in the Persian Gulf, next to thesmall talk with an Arabian princess about her latest acquisition
The Princess rattled on in her bubbly reat houses used to be run and how best to furnish them in a style to look authentic Diana contributed as best she could, estions which the Princess seemed to value
As she talked to the Princess, all the while taking delicate bites of the lavish cream tea laid before them, she became aware that the Sheikh and her new husband hadthe economic development of this particular Gulf state