And then, in a clear ringing voice that carried cleanly over the music and the murmur of the room, he asked the simplest question in the world.

“Dad, who is she?” Chloe gave a startled, flustered little laugh, and recovered as best she could.

“I’m a senior consultant at your father’s firm, sweetie,” she said.

Leo did not look away from her.

He glanced down, deliberately, at Julian’s hand, which was still resting on the small of her back, and then he lifted his eyes and looked her full in the face.

“Does my dad hold all his consultants like that?” he asked.