‘And you?’
‘No. This is you and them. I’m not really a part of it.’
‘That’s not true and you know it,’ he said quietly.
Suddenly she was faced with a dilemma. His words offered her the chance to turn the conversation in a direction that tempted her. Try as she might to stop her heart inclining towards him, it seemed to have a life of its own, beating more intensely when he was near, bringing her alive in his presence in a way that wasn’t true at any other time. A little cleverness, a little scheming, and she could secure him. It would be so easy, if only-
If only she could bring herself to settle for second best, for a marriage in which she gave love in return only for gratitude.
‘Why did you sigh?’ he asked. ‘Did I offend you by saying that?’
‘No, of course not.’
‘I really forced you here against your will, didn’t I? I’m sorry.’
‘There’s nothing to be sorry for. Stop being so gloomy. Now, I’m going to take Phantom out for a walk before I go to bed.’
‘I’ll come with you.’
‘Better not,’ she said quickly. ‘He wants me to himself for a while. Goodnight.’
She slipped away before he could say any more, escaping from the danger that always hovered in his presence these days, hurrying out of the house, signalling Phantom to follow her. Darius watched them run away in the moonlight, and only when they were out of sight did he climb the stairs to find two little faces looking down at him.
‘Dad,
‘What are you two doing up? You should be asleep.’
‘Harry’s gone,’ Frankie wailed. ‘She took Phantom with her.’
‘Don’t panic. They’ve just gone for a walk. They’ll be back.’
‘Promise!’ she demanded.
‘Word of honour. And if she doesn’t I’ll go and fetch them. Now, back to bed.’
They vanished obediently and he, being naive, assumed they had obeyed him. It was only later, as he strolled in the garden watching for Harriet’s return, that he realised they were looking out of the window over his head.
‘Is she coming yet?’ Mark called.
Darius was about to admonish them when he had the strangest sensation that Harriet was there, reading his mind, shaking her head in disapproval. Enlightenment dawned.
‘Come on down and we’ll wait together,’ he called back.
They darted away, appearing in the garden a moment later. Kate brought out milkshakes and they sat around a small table, chatting to pass the time. Darius described his first encounter with Phantom. Once, the thought of anyone, even-or especially-his own children-knowing about that undignified incident would have filled him with horror. Now, he found himself describing it in detail, relishing their shrieks of laughter.
Harriet would have been proud of him, he felt.
‘Perhaps we should go with her next time,’ Frankie suggested.
‘You don’t have to keep guard over her,’ Darius said. ‘She’s not going to run away.’
‘Really? She’ll stay with us for ever and ever?’
‘That’s for her to say,’ Darius said quietly.
A mysterious understanding was creeping over him. Like himself, they had seen Harriet in a light that set her apart from everyone else, as though she possessed a special power that acted like a shield against all the evil of the world. Those she defended were safe. Those she loved were fortunate beyond their dreams.
The difference between them was that they had seen at once what he had taken time to understand. And that delay might be his undoing. But for now he must profit by her influence to find the right words for his children’s questions. He crossed his fingers, hoping against hope for wisdom.
But before he could speak Harriet again intervened to save him.
‘Here she is,’ Frankie cried, bounding up and pointing to two figures emerging from the trees.
She and Mark made off at top speed and in the riot of noisy delight nobody noticed Darius closing his eyes and thanking a merciful fate. When he was calm again he strolled towards her, calling, ‘Nice to see you back.’
Harriet smiled at him. ‘Nice to be back,’ she said.
His eyes held hers. ‘Really?’
‘Yes, really. Right, you kids. Bed.’
When that job was done she leaned against the wall, yawning. ‘I’m nodding off right here.’
‘Go and get some sleep, because you’re going to need it.’
‘You too. Goodnight.’
Harriet slept until the early hours, then got up and glanced out of the window. From here she could just see a glow of light that she knew came from Darius’s office.
Throwing on her dressing gown, she slipped downstairs. From behind the door she could hear him on the phone.
‘I accessed the website half an hour ago and there’s no doubt-I know how to fight this-I’ve already put things in place that’ll make them think twice-don’t worry, I’ve got it in hand.’
He sounded almost like the man she’d heard before vowing, ‘No mercy’, but she sensed something different. The cruelty had gone from his voice and only the determination remained.
As he hung up she opened the door and found him staring at the screen. He looked round and smiled wanly.
‘Don’t you ever sleep?’ she asked.
‘I’m trying to catch up at night so that I can be free during the day. There are things I still have to do.’
‘You poor soul. Can I do anything to help?’
‘I’d be glad of a coffee.’
She disappeared into the kitchen, returning with a full mug a few minutes later, only to find him dozing. She set down the mug and laid a gentle hand on his shoulder, so that he awoke at once, looking up at her with a faint smile. She had never seen him so vulnerable, never been so dangerously close to loving him.
‘I’m going to do it,’ he said. ‘You’ll be proud of me, teacher.’
‘I was proud of you tonight,’ she said. ‘When I saw you sitting outside with them, cracking jokes. You must have been telling them a great story to make them laugh like that.’
‘Yes, they really enjoyed hearing how their dad looked like a total prat.’
‘I don’t believe you said anything like that.’ When Darius simply grinned she said, ‘Well, go on, I can’t stand the curiosity. Tell, tell!’
‘It was about our first meeting-the way Phantom flattened me on the sand. I thought they’d enjoy it, and they did.’
‘You actually managed to tell
‘You told me to,’ he said simply.
‘I never-’ She stopped. ‘When did I?’
‘There and then.’
‘But I wasn’t there.’
‘Yes, you were. You were right there with me. You always are. Even when you’re not there, you
‘No,’ she murmured.
His gaze intensified. ‘I guess there are a lot of things you don’t know.’
‘I guess there are.’
‘I’m glad I’m not the only one who’s confused.’
Everything was in a whirl. He was telling her something she longed with all her heart to hear, to believe; telling her not with words but with his eyes, with his hesitant tone, with his uncertainty that seemed to say everything was in her hands.
Playing for time, she said lightly, ‘The great financier is never confused.’
