'If they need a good barrister, then don't forget Matthew's father. I'm told he's one of the best.'
Jinx smiled and tapped her pocket. 'Matthew's given me his card. I thought I'd use the gains I've made on the Franchise Holdings shares to pay his fees. Matthew says they'll be exorbitant.' She shrugged. 'Then with luck and a little emotional blackmail, I may persuade Adam to acknowledge Betty and the boys again once it's all over.'
'You don't think it might be better to let Miles and Fergus fight this battle alone?'
'Probably.'
'Then why don't you?'
'Because they're my brothers,' she said, 'and their mother's the only one I've ever known. It's worth another try, don't you think?'
'It depends whether you believe in the triumph of hope over experience.'
'I do. Look at me. Look at Matthew.'
He nodded. 'Matthew's very fond of you, Jinx.'
'Yes.' She listened for footsteps approaching down the corridor. 'But only because I have the same black eyes as his dying fox. He wants to train as a vet when he leaves here. Has he told you that?'
Alan shook his head.
'He's a sucker for wounded animals. People, he can take or leave.'
'He's not so different from you then.'
She gave a little jump as Adam's footsteps sounded at the top of the stairs. 'On the whole,' she said in a rush, 'I'm not quite so prepared to leave them as I used to be. Perhaps my judgment's improving.'
'That's good.' He smiled down at her. 'The Nightingale's achieved something then.'
'Except that I don't think it was the Nightingale.' She crossed to the door and stood with her back to it. 'I don't always look like a dog, you know. You'd be amazed what a little hair does for me.' She hesitated. 'I-er-I suppose you wouldn't like to look me up in a month or two when I'm presentable?'
He shook his head. 'Not really.'
She blushed with embarrassment. 'It was just a thought, Dr. Protheroe. Rather a stupid one. Sorry.'
There was a loud knock on the door. 'Jane, are you in there? It's your father.'
Alan lowered his voice. 'The name is Alan, Jinx, and who the hell needs hair? I only ever fantasize about bald women.'
Another knock. 'Jane? It's your father.'
Her eyes gleamed. 'I'll be with you in ten minutes, Adam,' she called. 'There's something I have to do first. Can you wait in the foyer for me?'
'Why can't I wait in there?' Adam Kingsley demanded.
The Nightingale's administrator lifted an eyebrow. 'I'll be psychotic in two months,' he murmured. 'It does a man no good no keep his feelings zipped up as tightly as this. I'm in considerable pain here.'
Jinx was shaking with laughter as she quietly locked the door. 'It's a woman's thing, Adam,' she called to him in a quivering voice. 'You'd only be embarrassed.'
'Oh, I see. Well, no rush,' said her father gruffly. 'I passed Dr. Protheroe's office on my way in. I'll have a word with him while I'm waiting.'
'You do that,' she said, wiping the tears from her eyes. 'You'll like him, Adam. He's your sort of man. Straight as a die and larger than life.'
-=*@*=-
