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It was Sean's turn to be speechless. 'That was uncalled for,' he said at last. 'But I agree that it was a mistake—and it's one that won't be repeated, that I
can
promise you.' He glanced towards the house. 'Maybe you'd better get back to your American. He's old enough to be your father—but maybe that's what you're looking for!' He let go of her wrist abruptly and strode across the lawn.

Katy was beside herself with rage. If he hadn't stopped her she would have been the one to walk away. Now it was he who had had the last word. She stamped her foot in frustration, hot tears pricking her eyelids. Well he wouldn't get away with it! She'd show him he hadn't the power to punish her—she
really
would!

Back in the drawing-room she responded to Dave Maskell's flirting wholeheartedly. From time to time she glanced across the room to see if Sean was noticing but he never allowed himself the slightest look in her direction. As she laughed and joked with Dave, returning the pressure of his hand on hers, her eyes sparkled. Her row with Sean had made the adrenalin flow copiously and it was almost as though she were high on it. She enjoyed playing the part even while telling herself that this time she and Sean had surely reached the point of no return. Tonight they had both said things that would not easily be forgotten.

It was well after midnight when Lesley Francis announced that she was ready for her bed and Claire fetched her coat and Dave's. They were staying at an hotel in Harrogate as there was no room for them at Bridge House. Jake and Claire walked out to their car with them. At the door Dave slipped an arm round Katy's waist and bent to kiss her lightly.

'Thank you for a very special evening, Katy,' he said softly. 'I hope that the next time I'm in England I can take you out to dinner.'

Katy smiled up at him. 'That would be very nice. It's been fun meeting you Dave. Goodnight.' She wandered back into the drawing-room to collect her bag and was startled to find Sean standing just inside the door, quivering with suppressed anger. Quite clearly he had seen and heard her exchange with Dave Maskell.

'Dressing up like that seems to have completely altered your personality,' he said coldly. 'I suppose you realise that you've behaved this evening like a little tramp. I hope you're proud of yourself!'

Outside, the roar of a car engine could be heard and shouted farewells. Katy stared at Sean, the only outward sign of the emotion raging inside her the rapid rise and fall of her breast. Claire and Jake came laughing back into the room and Jake slipped a friendly arm about her waist.

'Well, you certainly made a big hit with Dave,' he said happily. 'Thank you for helping to make the evening a success, Katy love. I'm beginning to think I'd better take you to the States with me to act as my PRO!'

'And you look so lovely too,' Claire told her. 'Dave has just confided to me that you are the prettiest English girl he's met so far.'

Neither of them had noticed Sean leave the room but a moment later they heard the roar of his car engine as he took off at speed down the drive. Jake and Claire looked at each other.

'What's the matter with him tonight?' Jake asked. 'He's been in a strange mood all evening.' He looked at his wife. 'Do you think he's missing Helen? They did make a perfect couple, didn't they? Time old Sean got married. It'd settle him down.'

Claire shot him a warning look and took Katy by the arm. 'Let's go and have a look at Toby,' she said, frowning at Jake behind her back. 'It's been a long day for all of us. I expect you're as ready for your bed as I am.'

'Watch
me, Daddy—look, Claire!' Toby, looking small and vulnerable in his minute swimming trunks, ran across the grass to the edge of the bank. The stretch of river that ran through the garden of Bridge House was more than six feet deep in the middle, but the edges were shallow. Crystal clear water bubbled over smooth stones and Toby tested it with one toe.

'Ooh! It's cold'

'I told you it was cooler than the pool water.' Katy was already in and waiting for him, up to her waist halfway to midstream. The cool water felt delicious as it swirled around her and she held out her hands to Toby.

'Come on, it's lovely when you're used to it. Get in and duck under like we did at the pool.'

He stepped gingerly in and began to kick at the water, sending up a spray of rainbow droplets and shouting with laughter. 'This is fun!' He stepped in further, till the water came up to his thighs, then reached out towards Katy's outstretched hands.

'That's right,' she encouraged. 'A little further, then start to swim to me.'

Toby splashed forward into the water and struck out, arriving at where Katy stood in four strokes. She caught his hands and pulled him upright.

'Well done!'

Toby turned triumphantly towards Jake and Claire. 'Did you see me? I swam in the river—I'm almost out of my depth. Shall I swim some more?'

Claire looked anxiously at her husband. 'I wish he wouldn't. I can't really believe he's safe in there. What if he were swept away on a current or something?'

Jake shook his head. 'No problem. Katy's with him. She's a strong swimmer. She won't let him come to any harm.'

Leaving Toby standing in the shallows, Katy swam to the opposite bank and back. 'It's lovely!' she called. 'It's so clear that you can see the little fishes darting about. It took me fourteen strokes. You can do that, Toby. What about having a go?'

He looked at her hesitantly, wanting badly to try but just a little unsure. 'I—don't think I can,' he said, his teeth chattering a little.

'Yes you can, and you must keep moving or you'll get cold. I'll swim beside you and if you think you want to stop you can hang on to me.' She laughed and splashed him. 'Come on, chicken. Have a try!'

'All right.' He turned to Jake and Claire. 'Watch me. I'm going to swim all the way across there!'

Claire clutched at Jake's arm. 'I don't like it— I'm afraid.' But he only smiled.

'He'll be fine. He's quite a tough little chap really. You mustn't mollycoddle him. Katy knows what she's doing.'

To his great delight Toby made it to the other bank. When he reached it he stood waving his arms and shouting. 'I can
really
swim now. I swam the river!'

Katy laughed. She had been keeping a careful watch on him but there was no sign of breathlessness. 'Now, how about swimming back?' she asked. 'It's really the only way unless you want to walk up to the bridge and back. After you've done that I think we should get out and dry off.'

'Oh, no! We've only just got in and it's fun,' Toby protested. 'Uncle Sean said he'd come and watch me this afternoon and he isn't here yet. I want him to see me too.'

'There's plenty of time for that. Come on now, I don't want you to catch a cold.' Katy swam out a little way and turned towards him. 'Come on—this time you swim in front of me. You've done well and I'm very proud of you.'

Encouraged, he swam forward while Katy trod water, waiting for him to draw level with her.

It happened when he was at midstream. He turned to her suddenly, a look of panic on his face, then with an anguished cry he flung up his arms and disappeared below the water's surface. Claire screamed and jumped up, running down to the water's edge. Katy reached Toby just as he was surfacing again and hooked an arm around his waist.

'It's all right, Toby, I've got you,' she gasped. 'Don't struggle, darling. I'll have you out in a moment.' But to her horror she soon realised the reason for his panic. He was wheezing painfully— having an attack!

Somehow she got him to the shallows and climbed out of the water with the child in her arms, helped by Jake. Claire threw a towel round the limp little body and snatched him from Katy.

'I knew something like this would happen!' she said, her voice shrill with fear. 'I said it was a stupid idea—letting him go in the river. You've nearly
killed
him you stupid girl!'

Jake took Toby from her and began to rub him dry. 'Pull yourself together Claire. It wasn't Katy's fault.'

'Please—' Katy begged, 'can we get him upstairs at once? I don't think you understand. He's having an asthma attack, not drowning!' She felt for the child's pulse and found it thin and thready. 'He may be going into shock too.' She looked anxiously at Jake, fear making her heart race. If only Sean were there, if only she were qualified—maybe Claire would have had more faith in her.

Suddenly there was the sound of a car door slamming and Claire said,

'It's Sean—thank God!'

The half hour that followed was just a blur. Everything happened so fast. Sean scooped Toby up and indoors, and within minutes was administering oxygen with Katy's help. Slowly Toby recovered, opening his eyes to peer up at the anxious faces surrounding him.

'Where's Arnold?' he asked. Katy found the bear and pushed it into his arms. The wheezing was subsiding and he was breathing easier now.

'Toby, did something happen while you were swimming?' she asked. 'Did you get scared? You knew I was there, didn't you—right behind you?'

He looked at her for a long moment, then he said, 'It was a fish—a big one—just like the one in the dream.'

Sean took Katy's arm and drew her gently away from the bed. 'I'm going to give you an injection now, Toby,' he said. 'It might make you a bit sleepy, but don't worry, you won't dream.'

'You won't go away—you'll stay till I wake, won't you, Uncle Sean?'

Sean smiled reassuringly. 'Of course I will, old chap. I'll be waiting to play a game, eh?' A few moments later Toby's eyelids fluttered and closed.

Outside on the landing the four looked at each other. Sean shook his head.

'The trigger for his attacks gets to be more and more of a mystery. I do have one last resort and I'd like to talk to you about it in a little while. First, though, I want to have another look at the diary Katy has been keeping. I'll join you downstairs in a moment.'

Claire looked at Katy who was still wearing her wet swimsuit under a towelling robe. 'You really 'must have a hot bath, Katy, you'll catch cold.' She reached out to touch her hand. 'I'm sorry I shouted at you, dear. I was just so scared. It was as though I had a sort of premonition. I just
knew
something bad was going to happen. Toby looked so small and helpless. It wasn't your fault though. I know that now.'

Katy nodded. 'I was scared myself, I know how you must have felt. And you needn't worry—I shan't dare take him swimming again.'

Jake and Claire went downstairs and Sean followed her into her room.

'I'd like to look at the diary again,' he said. 'I can't help feeling that there's something we must have missed. It's strange that the pool didn't affect him, yet the river did.'

'The pool doesn't have fish,' Katy said. 'I don't know why but fish seem to panic him into an attack—first there was the night we had the salmon that Helen brought, then the tropical fish at the dentist's—now this. He said he saw a fish in the water.'

Sean nodded slowly. 'That's right—yet how and why does it affect him?' He was silent for a while, then he said, 'This is all the more reason why I think we should see John Marquand, the friend I told you about. He uses hypnotherapy and he's had some quite remarkable results. I'm not saying that it works in every case, but in Toby's I believe it's worth a try.'

'Won't he find it bewildering—how will you explain it to him? He's too intelligent to fob off with some fairy tale.'

Sean smiled. 'You're underestimating John. There's nothing bewildering about his methods and he has a small son of about Toby's age. I'll ring him and have a talk. I'm sure he'll come up with something.' He leafed through the diary. 'I see that at one stage you thought that Claire's piano playing brought on an attack.'

'Yes, I spoke to Claire about it and she said she thought so too once. She told me about Toby's mother and how neurotic she was—how she tried to teach him to play when he was little more than a baby and flew into rages when he didn't come up to her expectations.'

Sean looked up in surprise. 'Jake never told me that. But then I suppose it's understandable. It wouldn't be something he was proud of—and after the tragedy—' He looked at Katy. 'There's a tie-up here somewhere.' He stood up decisively. 'I'll ask Jake's permission now and if he agrees I'll lay on a consultation with John as soon as I can.' He stopped at the door and looked at her. 'You will come with us, won't you, Katy?'

Suddenly the traumas of the afternoon overtook her. The shock of Toby's asthma attack and near drowning, Claire's temporary laying the blame at her feet, coupled with the feeling of inadequacy she had experienced. All at once she was acutely aware of the clammy swimsuit clinging to her body. She began to shiver, hardly able to get the words past her chattering teeth.

'Yes—of course I'll come with you.'

Sean crossed the room and put his hands on her shoulders. 'Claire was right, you know. You should have a hot bath. You're shivering.'

She shook her head. 'It isn't just that. I—I feel so responsible for what happened. If Toby had— had—
died!'
She shuddered violently as the last word came out on a choking sob. The tears that would be held back no longer began to trickle down her cheeks.

'Hey—come on now, don't cry. You've been so wonderful.' Sean reached into his pocket for a handkerchief and dabbed at her tears. She looked up at him with brimming eyes.

'What would I have done though, if you hadn't arrived at that moment? The thought of it makes me go cold all over.'

'You would have coped perfectly well,' he told her firmly. 'If we're thinking like that I might well say that it was all my fault for suggesting swimming lessons for Toby in the first place.' He frowned. 'You're trembling like a leaf!' He began to rub her back and shoulders vigorously. 'Come on—into that bath. I'll run it for you.'

'Sean—' She looked up at him. 'I'm sorry for the things I said the other night—' Her voice wavered dangerously. 'You were right—I had no right to speak to you in that way.'