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Since Toby's attack on the night of Helen's arrival Toby had not had another. Katy had scrupulously recorded anything she thought might be of significance in the diary and continued the peak-flow chart, night and morning. But over the past two days another problem had cropped up: Toby had complained several times about toothache and when she had looked into his mouth she had discovered that one of his temporary molars had a large cavity. She mentioned it to Claire.

'It seems to be causing him quite a bit of discomfort and it looks to me as though there was once a filling there that has dropped out.'

Claire nodded. 'The dentist at home was keeping an eye on that one. Maybe we should pay a visit to a dentist here. I'll ask Mrs Benson if she knows a nice kind one.'

An appointment was made for Toby for that afternoon, much to his disgust, and Claire said that she would drive him and Katy into Harrogate, promising Toby a treat afterwards. They set off after an early lunch, arriving in good time, and were shown into the waiting-room by a brisk receptionist. Unlike many waiting-rooms that Katy knew, it was tastefully furnished in bright colours. On three of the walls were cheerful prints and on the other was an aquarium with colourful tropical fish swimming in and out of waving vegetation. The whole thing was illuminated with concealed lighting and as soon as Claire saw it she exclaimed with delight.

'Oh look! What a good idea. Just the thing for a dentist's waiting-room. Look Toby.'

Toby
was
looking. Fascinated by the pretty little creatures, he stood staring at them almost as though hypnotised while Claire and Katy sat down with selected magazines from the pile on the table in the centre of the room.

'This month's
Vogue!'
Claire exclaimed. 'This is a dentist after my own heart!'

There was only one other patient in the room and presently the receptionist came in to escort him to the surgery. A moment later a sound made Katy look up. Toby was wheezing. He began to cough, going into a paroxysm, his little face red and distressed, his shoulders heaving. Katy scrabbled in her handbag for his inhaler, but this time it seemed to have little effect. Claire stood looking anxiously on.

'What on earth can have brought it on?' she asked. 'He's never been that worried about a visit to the dentist before. Isn't there anything I can do, Katy?'

Katy looked up at her. 'A glass of water might help.' Above Toby's head she mouthed, 'Ring Sean!'

The dentist's brisk receptionist acted with great presence of mind and moments later, as they waited for Sean to arrive, Toby was receiving oxygen administered by the dentist in his surgery. At last the attack abated and by the time Sean actually arrived they were all drinking tea while they tried to recover from the shock. As usual Toby was completely himself the moment the attack was over and persisted in reminding Claire that she had promised him a treat. Sean looked at Claire.

'You take him, he'll be all right now. I'll take Katy home.' His tone was firm and with a sinking heart Katy guessed that he would use the opportunity to talk to her. As she got into his car her knees shook. He drove out of the car park and on to the road, silent as he waited for the lights to change then manoeuvred into the correct lane. When they were safely on their way he looked at her.

'You've been avoiding me.'

She shook her head. 'You knew where I was if you wanted—wanted to discuss anything with me.'

'That not what I mean and you know it.'

She didn't answer but looked straight ahead through the windscreen.

'Katy,' he said, 'I'm not playing some silly game with you. I want to talk—about Toby. I'd like to see your reports and the peak-flow chart—also to hear your observations, if you've got any.'

'Of course,' she said stiffly.

He glanced at her. 'It was you who stressed the professional character of this job, Katy. It isn't fair to Toby to let personal feelings get in the way.'

She turned a pair of flashing eyes on him. 'Who's doing
that
? I'm certainly not!'

'But you are,' he insisted calmly. 'You're angry with me. Oh, I know I teased you the other day. I'm sorry if you were unduly upset by it. I had no idea I could provoke such a violent reaction.' He fingered his left cheek reminiscently. 'By the way, that's a vicious right hook you've got.' He grinned wryly and she averted her eyes.

'It was pure impulse. I let myself down. I'm sorry.'

'Right—we're all square then. Friends again?'

His smile melted her heart but she couldn't resist asking, 'Didn't you bring Helen with you?'

He looked surprised. 'Why should I? She doesn't spend all her time with me, you know.' He glanced at her. 'She really has been a marvellous help to me. She's good company too, I'm sure you'll agree.'

'I expect you have your own ideas about "good company",' she said dryly. Sean's mouth set in a grim line as he realised the implication behind her words as she had meant them and he didn't say another word to her as they drove towards Belldon Cross. Katy sank unhappily into her seat. Why
couldn't
she curb this acid tongue of hers?

Helen's car was parked outside when they arrived at Bridge House and they found her having tea with Jake on the terrace. He was delighted to see Sean and invited him and Katy to join them.

'Katy and I have a little work to attend to first,' Sean said determinedly. 'But we'll be with you in a moment.' Taking her arm he propelled her firmly up the stairs to Toby's room and she fetched her notebook and the peak-flow chart. For a few minutes all their differences were forgotten as they studied them together. Sean shook his head.

'This morning's output was normal according to this—so what triggered off the attack in the dentist's waiting-room?'

'The obvious answer would be fear or anxiety,' Katy said. 'But I doubt that very much in Toby's case. It's certainly very puzzling.'

'Can you swim?' Sean asked her suddenly.

'Swim? Yes, pretty well as it happens—why?'

'I think it might be a good idea for Toby to learn. The exercise would help expand his chest. Lots of kids with respiratory complaints benefit. The weather is warm enough now. Start him off at the baths, then later you could swim in the river here. It's quite safe and not at all polluted.'

She nodded. 'All right. I'll see how the idea appeals to him.'

He looked thoughtful. 'If all else fails I do have one last resort. I have a friend in York—we qualified together—he works a lot with hypnotherapy.' He pulled a wry face at her. 'I have to admit that so far I've been sceptical about his theories but now I'm beginning to wonder.' He looked down at the diary Katy had been keeping. 'I wonder if these dreams of his have any significance.'

She shrugged. 'We all dream oddly at times. It may not mean anything more than an over-active mind. But I thought I'd better put everything down.'

He nodded, smiling at her. 'You're doing a very good job Katy, as I knew you would—and Toby obviously adores you.'

'He's a very lovable child.' She got up and walked to the door. Sean followed her out on to the landing and put a hand on her shoulder.

'Katy—look at me a minute.'

It was the one thing she couldn't trust herself to do. Looking into those dark eyes she felt sure that she would give her feelings away—betray the hopeless longing in her heart.

'We—should be getting back to the others,' she said evasively.

'There's no hurry.' His hand was still, on her shoulder and he turned her firmly towards him. 'What
is
it you're so angry with me over?' he asked, looking searchingly into her eyes. 'Surely it isn't Helen? After all, you've made your own feelings abundantly clear.'

She forced a laugh. 'I haven't the slightest idea what you're talking about—what feelings? I'm not aware that I have any feelings on that score. Why on earth should I care one way or the other who you take out?'

She moved to break away but he grasped both her shoulders and held her firmly. His eyes were angry now as he looked down at her. 'I'll show you why, you little idiot!' His mouth came down hard on hers, taking her breath away. For a moment she resisted, holding herself stiffly, then as his arms slid round her to draw her close, she began to relax. She closed her eyes, feeling as though she were melting into him—growing weak with love—then suddenly a voice from somewhere below startled her.

'Are you still up there, you two? Mrs Benson has just made a fresh pot of tea. If you don't come and drink it soon it'll be cold!'

Katy pushed Sean from her and took a step backwards, blushing crimson as she caught sight of Helen who had just reached the top of the stairs.

She paused uncertainly, looking from one to the other.

'Oh—I'm sorry—I—'

'We were just coming down, weren't we, Katy?' Sean said breezily, striding ahead of her down the staircase.

Helen followed with a brief glance behind her at Katy. 'How is your work going?' she asked on the way down. 'I shall be going back to London in a couple of days, so I don't suppose we shall be seeing each other again.'

He laughed. 'Good Lord! London isn't the other side of the world. Surely we don't have to say goodbye for ever! You must let me have your phone number. I'll ring you when I'm in Town and we can have dinner.' At the bottom of the stairs he glanced at Katy but she returned his look defiantly, chin up.

Inside she was still trembling from his kiss. How could he be so cruel—playing this cat and mouse game? Why did he enjoy hurting her so much?

Toby had his first swimming lesson the very next day. Claire had been doubtful about it but Katy had assured her that the whole thing was Sean's idea and perfectly safe.

'The exercise and controlled breathing will be extremely good for his lungs,' she explained. 'And the achievement will help him too. Asthmatic children often feel inadequate and it's important that he learns to compete with other boys of his age.'

He did well, eager to learn and taking great pleasure from the water, and when Katy told him that as soon as he could swim confidently out of his own depth she would take him swimming in the river at Bridge House he was even more eager to become proficient.

When they arrived home that afternoon Claire, Jake and Helen were having tea together and the air was charged with excitement as they discussed a telephone-call Jake had just received from his agent. His American publisher was in England and planned to visit Jake with a view to his making a promotion tour of the States. As the conversation buzzed excitedly back and forth Katy sensed Helen was looking at her thoughtfully.

When at last Jake got up to return to his study Claire rose too.

'I'd better go and break the news to Mrs Benson that we shall be entertaining this weekend.' She laughed. 'It looks as though she'll be needing her faithful
Mrs Beeton
again!' Toby ran after her, frustrated that his new achievement had been overshadowed.

'Wait for me! I want to tell Mrs Benson about how I can nearly swim!'

Helen laughed. 'Poor Toby. I'm afraid his guns have been well and truly spiked this afternoon.'

Although Katy had felt pangs of envy over Helen she could not deny that she was a pleasant person. Throughout her stay she had shown nothing but kindness and friendliness to her—but still she got the feeling that there was something she was trying to say—something she was finding difficult.

'Katy,' she ventured after a moment. 'Forgive me if I'm wrong, but I have the feeling that somehow or other I've trodden on your toes.'

Katy felt her cheeks burning. 'Of course you haven't. How could you possibly have done that?' she protested.

Helen smiled gently. 'Only you can know that. The point is, I shall be going in a couple of days and I'd like to make amends in some way. It occurs to me that you might be thinking of getting a new dress for this dinner party at the weekend. Perhaps you'd let me help you choose it?'

Katy stiffened. Was Helen implying tactfully that she looked a shambles and might let Jake and Claire down? Helen read her thoughts.

'Oh—please don't be offended,' she said quickly. 'You always look charming—but you do have a greater potential. I hope that, as a fashion expert, I can help you realise it.'

Katy swallowed her hurt pride. Looking at the sincerity in Helen's eyes she knew that it was meant kindly—also that it was an offer definitely not to be passed up. She had to admit that she would give a lot to look as elegant as Helen. She smiled.

'That would be marvellous, if you're sure you can spare the time—oh—and as long as it won't cost a fortune.'

Helen laughed. 'It needn't at all. With your looks and youth—and that fantastic colouring, simplicity is the order of the day.'

Obviously Helen saw the project in terms of her daily work and Katy began to feel privileged. 'But giving up the last day of your holiday—you'll be back at work soon enough.' But Helen waved her protests aside.

'I'll ask Claire if Toby can do without you for one day and we'll go into Harrogate tomorrow. Is it a date?'

As they drove into town the following morning Katy couldn't help noticing that Helen kept shooting glances at her. At last she voiced what was on her mind.

'Have you ever considered trying another hairstyle?'

Katy looked at her in surprise. 'Not really. It's so unruly that there isn't much I can do with it. It refuses to lie flat in today's smooth styles.'

Helen nodded sympathetically. 'I'm not a hair expert but a marvellous stylist we often use on the magazine lives up here in Harrogate. He's semi-retired now, though he still has a salon in London—' she glanced at Katy. 'As a matter of fact I rang him last night and said we might be looking in on him—but of course it's entirely up to you.'

Katy looked at her, thinking of the constant struggle she had in keeping her long auburn tresses tidy. 'All right,' she said impulsively. 'I'll do it!'

Helen's hairdresser friend, Aubrey, was a tall, willowy man of about fifty. He lived in an elegant little Georgian town house and he answered the door to Helen's ring himself, clasping her warmly and kissing her on both cheeks.