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'The fish—' he mumbled as his breath returned. 'It was the fish.'

Katy shook her head. 'What do you mean, darling—the fish we had for dinner?'

He shook his head. 'I dreamed about a fish. It was looking at me with those funny eyes—it was alive and—and—swimming around inside my chest so that I couldn't breathe.'

Katy hugged him. 'There—it's all over now. You don't have to worry about it any more. Let's get you back into bed, shall we?'

Tucked back into bed, slightly propped up by extra pillows, Toby looked much better and Katy smiled at him. 'Try to get back to sleep. I'll leave my door open in case you need me again, but I'm sure you won't.'

'It won't come back if I go to sleep again, will it?' he asked anxiously. She shook her head firmly.

'No, Toby. It won't come back—I promise.'

Back in her own bed she thought about it. Why had Toby dreamed about the fish? And what had been so disturbing about it that it brought on an asthma attack? It was something she must write down in her report and discuss with Sean when she saw him next.

At breakfast the following morning Helen announced that she was off to Raikeside Lodge for the day.

'Sean was telling me about the thesis he's writing and he seems to be getting into rather a muddle with his notes,' she explained. 'I offered to go and do a little secretarial work for him this morning and in return he's going to show me some of the local scenery this afternoon.'

Jake looked up from his morning paper. 'Well I like that! Here's me gasping for a good secretary and you're off to help Sean! A fine girlfriend you turned out to be!'

Helen laughed. 'You have a wife—Sean hasn't. You should have married me instead of Claire. You can't have everything in this life, my lad.'

'Ah—that's the way of it, is it?' Jake said with a twinkle. 'Sean is
available
! I wondered what a highly-paid magazine editor was doing pounding a typewriter—now I understand!'

Claire looked shocked. 'Jake! Really!' But Helen laughed good-naturedly.

'It's a good job I know and love you so well, Jake Underwood,' she told him. 'If I didn't, I might think you were one of the worst male chauvinists I'd ever met!'

Katy listened to all this good-natured banter thoughtfully, wondering if there could be any truth in what Jake said. Was the typing really an excuse for them to spend a day together? Sean certainly hadn't wasted any time, she told herself bitterly.

Jake threw down his paper and walked to the window. 'I'm having the day off!' he announced suddenly. 'Last night I reached the halfway mark in my book and I think I've earned a treat.' He turned to face them. 'How about it, Toby—shall we go exploring?'

Toby's little face lit up. 'Ooh, yes please, Daddy.' He turned to Claire. 'Are you coming too?'

She shook her head, smiling. 'No. Today is just for you and Daddy. When we took this house for the summer I promised to keep the garden in good order so this will be a good opportunity to get down to it.' She looked at Katy who was wondering where she fitted into the day's plans. 'Would you like to give me a hand, Katy? Does gardening appeal to you? We could have our lunch out there if the weather stays fine.'

'I'd love that,' Katy told her. 'I was brought up to help with the gardening and I've really missed it since I left home.'

The house seemed quiet after the others had left—Helen for Raikeside Lodge in her elegant sports car, and Toby and Jake in the family saloon, complete with picnic basket, heading for a certain celebrated ghyll with a hidden waterfall.

Claire heaved a sigh and looked at Katy with a smile. 'What do you say we have a coffee first,' she said. 'We'll have it on the terrace where it's nice and quiet and we can have a good chat.'

Over the coffee Katy told her about the attack Toby had suffered during the night and mentioned the dream about the fish. Claire shook her head.

'We've thought of all sorts of things that might trigger these attacks. You know, at one time I was convinced that the sound of the piano upset him.'

'Why should that be, do you think?' Katy asked.

'Didn't Sean tell you that Monique, Toby's mother, was a concert pianist? I'm afraid she was rather a neurotic woman and when Toby was three she started to try and teach him to play. He didn't come up to her high ideals and I'm afraid she gave him rather a bad time of it.'

Katy was thoughtful. 'Three—that would be about the time he first contracted his asthma.'

'Exactly. Of course all that was a long time ago—long before Jake and I met and he doesn't like talking about it very much. But he did once tell me a little about the rages Monique used to fly into. Luckily Toby seems to have forgotten all about it now, Monique was killed in a plane crash when he was five and it was almost as though he blocked her out of his memory from that day. It's often the way, I believe—when something is too painful to remember and cope with, the mind simply blacks it out, but from what I've been reading on the subject, the subconscious has a nasty way of throwing up these forgotten memories when one least expects it.'

Katy was silent for a moment as she studied Claire's face. Did she know her well enough to say what was in her mind? She decided to risk it. 'When Sean told me about Toby's asthma returning after you and his father married I did wonder whether having a stepmother might be the cause,' she said. 'I'm just about to acquire a stepmother myself and even at my age it can be traumatic.' She glanced quickly at Claire. 'Though of course I can see for myself that Toby has accepted you very lovingly.'

Claire sighed. 'I only wish it were something as simple as that.'

Katy enjoyed working in the garden. She had always found it restful and therapeutic, working in the open with plants and getting gloriously grubby with what her father called 'honest dirt'. As she worked she wondered where Sean and Helen were and what they were doing. Later, as they refreshed themselves with a pot of tea brought out to them by Mrs Benson, Claire voiced thoughts on the same subject.

'I'm glad Sean and Helen seem to be hitting it off so well. She's a lovely person, don't you think?'

Katy felt her cheeks colour and she bent to brush some imaginary dirt from her jeans, afraid that Claire might see and guess the reason. 'Yes,' she muttered. 'She's very smart and sophisticated.'

Claire laughed. 'I know what you mean. She always makes me feel like a frump! But of course she's always off to Paris and Rome—viewing the latest collections. I'm only surprised that she hasn't married before this, but she seems dedicated to her career. I don't mind admitting that when I saw her and Sean together last night I—' she broke off, looking closely at Katy. 'But there—I suppose because I'm so happily married I'm turning into a matchmaking old busybody.'

Katy bit her lip hard. Had Claire guessed the way she felt? She was hopeless at hiding her feelings— especially those she had for Sean. Not for the first time she cursed her colouring. Why did she have the kind of complexion that blushed in this awful tell-tale way?'

Jake and Toby had still not returned by half past five and Katy thought she would walk down to the gates to meet them before going up to shower and change. It was cool among the trees and as she walked she suddenly glimpsed what she thought to be late violets growing in the peaty shade of the rhododendron bushes. She ducked under the low branches to look closer and as she did so she heard a car come round the curve of the drive and draw up close to where she stood, hidden by the shrubs. Thinking that it would be Jake and Toby she began to step forward, then she heard Sean's voice.

'I'll drop you off here if you don't mind, Helen. If Claire sees me she'll expect me to stay and I really must do some work this evening. I'll see that the wheel is changed for you and bring your car back tomorrow.'

'Thank you, Sean. It's very good of you.' It was Helen's voice. 'You must get a mechanic on to it and send me the bill. I can't have you doing it yourself.'

Sean laughed. 'It's nothing—won't take me more than ten minutes. It's the least I can do for you after the help you've given me today.'

'Nonsense, I enjoyed every minute. I think this project of yours is fascinating. If you need any more help while I'm here, just let me know.'

'I will,' Sean assured her enthusiastically. 'I feel terrible, you know. I promised to show you the local scenery and we've done nothing but work all day. Look, will you let me take you out to dinner tomorrow night to make up.'

'There's no need—really.'

'I rarely ask a girl out because there's a
need—
not that kind anyway.'

Katy could imagine the expression on his face as he said it—cool and amused. But the sophisticated Helen wouldn't be floored by it! Her leg ached with standing still and she transferred her weight to the other foot. A twig snapped under her shoe. There was a pause, then she heard Sean say,

'Wait a minute—I do believe that little monkey Toby is hiding in the bushes. I'll teach him!' And before she could do anything the branches were parted and she found herself looking into his surprised face. 'Katy! What on earth are you doing hiding in the bushes?'

As she stared speechlessly at him she heard Helen call: 'Thanks for bringing me home, Sean. I'll see you tomorrow.'

As her footsteps retreated Katy stood staring at Sean, her cheeks scarlet and her mouth open. He repeated his question.

'Why are you skulking in there?'

'I am not
skulking!'
she said between clenched teeth. 'I'm not hiding either. I just happened to come in here because I thought I saw some violets. I didn't
want
to listen to your attempts at—at-— wooing!'

He looked at her coolly. 'I see—violets, is it?' He looked her up and down. 'What on earth have you been doing with yourself—you're covered in dirt— or are they freckles?'

Anguished, she rubbed at her nose with the back of one grimy hand. 'I'm not, am I?'

He burst out laughing. 'Now I can see that they're freckles—and you've just added a rather fetching smudge to go with them! Don't tell me gardening is another of your talents.'

She looked up at him. 'I can type too,' she told him. 'If you'd asked me I would have helped you type your notes—' She broke off as he looked intently at her, the smile fading from his face.

'You have enough to do, Katy,' he said quietly. 'I wouldn't have presumed on your free time.'

She turned away, misery eating at her heart, but he caught her wrist and held her.

'Katy—what is it? You're not—jealous of Helen, are you?'

Her temper saved her. Her green eyes blazed at him, scorching him with their fire. 'Jealous? Why should I be jealous—because of the attention
you're
paying her, I suppose! As if
I
care who you take out. Your—your—philandering doesn't affect me in the least. I could see the sort you were right from the first—that's why I decided not to have anything to do with you.'

He stared at her for a moment. Then he burst out laughing. 'Katy—you're priceless! Where do you get all these antique words from?
Wooing—philandering—
you make me feel like a character from Shakespeare!'

'Huh!
Romeo,
no doubt! And I'm glad you think it's funny.'

'Well it is. You must admit it. Here we are arguing in the bushes with you all covered in dirt and freckles.' He took both her wrists and pulled her towards him. 'And what do you mean—you decided to have nothing to do with me? That wasn't the impression I got when—Ow!' His hand flew to his cheek as she pulled one hand away to deal him a ringing slap. 'Ow—you little—'

But Katy fled, Stumbling through the bushes and back towards the house. Her anger and humiliation would be contained no longer and she was determined not to let him see their effect.

Helen
showed no sign of wanting to go home to London and Claire was obviously glad to have her company. It seemed that she had four weeks' leave from her job and had spent only a week of it in Scotland. Sean took her out on several occasions and she went to Raikeside Lodge to help him with his work twice more. On the evenings he came to dinner at Bridge House Katy kept out of his way as much as possible and one evening when Claire came up to say goodnight to Toby she mentioned this.

'Katy—there's nothing wrong between you and Sean is there?'

Katy shook her head. 'Nothing at all.'

Claire sat down on her bed. 'I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I can't quite believe that my dear. When he's here you and he hardly speak. I just thought there might be something I could do to put it right.'

Katy winced inwardly. 'No—as a matter of fact we had a—disagreement and I lost my temper. It was stupid and unforgivable. I suppose I shall have to apologise. I'm sorry if it's made an atmosphere,' she concluded miserably, sinking on to the dressing-table stool.

Claire looked at her closely, frowning. Suddenly she put out her hand and touched Katy's arm. 'Oh dear—you're in love with him, aren't you? I was afraid that might happen.' She shook her head in exasperation. 'Damn the man! He seems totally oblivious to the effect he has on young, vulnerable girls like you. It's all right for people like Helen—she can cope.' She pressed Katy's hand. 'Is there anything—anything at all—I can do to help, love?'

'Nothing at all,' Katy said bleakly. 'And don't worry, I shall cope in my own way—I certainly shan't go running off or anything silly like that.' She didn't add that she had nowhere to run to, or that unhappy or not she still preferred to be in Sean's company rather than out of it. 'Anyway, he's far too old for me—positively
middle-aged,
really!'

Claire laughed. 'Watch it, girl! Sean is two years younger than me, I'll have you know.' Then, seeing Katy's confusion, she added, 'Not that I don't feel middle-aged at times.' She reached out to pat Katy's shoulder. 'Anyway, I'm relieved to hear that you don't have plans for running off. I know it would break Toby's heart to lose you now.'