'Of course I will.'

'He means that / will,' Faye said lightly. 'Daddy has to be at work.'

Garth shrugged. 'If we can set off first thing, I don't mind being an hour late.'

The children looked gratified and Adrian said, 'Thanks for calling the vet, Daddy. Is it very expensive if they come out late?'

'Never mind that.'

'But I can help, from my pocket money.'

'So can I,' Cindy volunteered eagerly.

Garth ruffled her hair. 'You've already had next week's in advance, both of you. You're too young to start getting into debt. Let me take care of Barker.'

Adrian grinned. 'Thanks, Dad.'

Garth grinned back and suddenly they looked uncannily alike, although they didn't share a single feature.

For one brief moment there was understanding between them. Then it passed and they both became self- conscious.

'Off to bed, now,' Garth said.

Faye tried to catch his eye and send him the silent message, 'See how much you've gained. Don't risk losing it.' But then she realized that he was determined not to look at her and she turned away, heavy-hearted.

He was as good as his word, going to work late on Monday morning in order to chauffeur Barker to the vet. But that night he returned home later than ever and Faye guessed that it was the legal challenge over the Outland that took up so much time.

She even considered calling Kendall herself to warn him what was in the wind. But, as Garth had said, it was already too late, and it would have felt uneasily like conspiring with Kendall against the man who was still her husband.

All Tuesday she was braced for a call from Kendall, angry because Garth had met the deadline. But Tuesday passed into Wednesday and Kendall didn't telephone either herself or Adrian. She couldn't raise the subject with Garth, as he'd stayed at his office over Tuesday night.

On Wednesday afternoon she returned from school with the children to find a message from Kendall on her answer machine, telling them to watch the local news. There was no more information and it was hard to tell from his voice whether he was pleased or disappointed.

The very first item on the news was about the Outland and there was Kendall, smiling and talking about a significant victory.

'Now that the deadline has passed we have no more to fear from Melkham Construction,' he said. 'This is a freat day for the countryside.'

An announcer appeared on the screen. 'Melkham, of course, is no more than a wholly owned subsidiary of Clayton Properties, the fast growing empire of Garth Clayton. We tried to contact Mr Clayton to ask how he Iclt about being beaten to the post, but he wasn't available for comment…'

Adrian turned slowly and stared at Faye. 'He means Daddy, doesn't he?'

'That's right,' Faye said. She sat very still, knowing that she was the only one who'd heard Garth's arrival. She was aware of him crossing the hall to stand just outside the open door, listening to every word.

'But- I told him-' Adrian stammered. 'I gave the whole game away- He could have-' He paled as he realized the full implications.

'Yes, he could have made use of what you said,' Faye agreed. 'But that would have been dishonourable, and your father wouldn't do it.'

"Course he wouldn't,' Cindy said scornfully to her brother. 'Daddy would never do anything mean or dis- dishorrible!'

Adrian was deep in thought. 'Mummy,' he said at last, 'Uncle Ken is one of the good guys, isn't he?'

'Definitely.'

'And Daddy's quite different to Uncle Ken. But Daddy's one of the good guys too.' His forehead creased. 'Isn't he?'

'There's more than one kind of good guy,' Faye explained. 'There's Uncle Ken's kind, and Daddy's kind. But they're both good.'

Out of the corner of her eye she saw Garth back away into the shadows. She longed to talk to him, to tell him how happy she was that he'd put his son's feelings before his profits. But that must wait.

A moment later the front door opened and closed noisily and Garth's cheerful call of 'Where is everyone?' made Cindy and Adrian rush into the hall. Cindy threw herself joyously into his arms. Adrian held off a little, studying his father with a puzzled frown. But at last he, too, snuggled against him.

Nobody mentioned the matter until the children were going to bed. Then Adrian looked Garth full in the face and said quietly, 'Thanks, Dad.'

'You can always trust me,' Garth said, returning his son's gaze.

Adrian nodded before mounting the stairs with Cindy. He didn't speak but, as he turned away, Faye just glimpsed his smile.

'Thank you from me, too,' she said, laying a hand on Garth's arm.

He looked elated, as he'd sometimes looked before when he'd found the key to a tricky situation.

'It should be me thanking you,' he said. 'I was about to make the biggest blunder of all time and you stopped me. I'm grateful, and for the things you said to them about me. I appreciate fair dealing.'

There was something not quite right in his voice, a hint of calculation that troubled her. But she tried again.

'I hate you and Kendall being enemies-'

'In the circumstances, we could hardly be anything else.'

'But couldn't we say that the battle's finally over?'

His air of elation was undimmed. 'Of course it's not over. It's just moved into a new phase. I know my enemy now. He's a subtle man and I was blundering about. But not any more. Now I've learned subtlety too.'

'And just what does that mean?'

'You can hardly expect me to tell you when you have one foot in the enemy camp.'

'Meaning you don't trust me?' she asked, letting her hand fall away from him. 'Despite our differences, I think I've earned better than that from you, Garth.'

'I told you, I appreciate your coming to my defence just now. You're a decent person, Faye, I know that. It's just that I never entirely trust my business partners. Now, I have a lot of work to do. Unless you want me for something?'

'Not a thing,' she assured him in a toneless voice.

CHAPTER SEVEN

'Daddy, you will look after poor Barker, won't you?'

'I've already promised I will.'

'Yes, but really?’

'Really. My word on it.'

It was time for Cindy and Adrian to go to the school camp in Cornwall but, on the morning of departure, Cindy had qualms about leaving her friend.

'He's not very well,' she explained for the tenth time. 'He was limping last night and I think his legs are hurting again.'

'Then I'll take him to the vet,' Garth assured her.

'This morning?'

'This morning.'

'You won't make him wait?'

'Cindy, get into the car!'

'But you won't make him wait, will you?'

'I won't make him wait.'

'You're sure?'

'I'm sure.'

'Sure sure?'

'Cindy, I'll take him to the vet.' Garth was beginning to sound frazzled.

'Promise?'

'Get into the car.'

'Promise?'

Garth tore his hair. 'I promise, I promise. Now, get into the car, both of you, or we'll be late and they'll go without you.'

But she couldn't depart without reassuring Barker that he would be all right because Daddy had promised.

'Cindy, I'm leaving in exactly one minute,' Garth said, at the end of his tether. 'With you or without you.'

Both children kissed Faye and scrambled into the car. As they drove away Faye was sure she could hear Cindy's voice faintly, saying, 'Daddy, you're sure you won't forget…?'

She enjoyed a private chuckle. As Garth had said, he was handling his task with subtlety. He'd even gone to watch Adrian playing football. His team had made it to the final of the inter-schools trophy and the whole family had been there for Adrian's big day.

Everyone had enjoyed it enormously, and when Cindy had kissed her father goodnight at the foot of the stairs she'd whispered, 'Thank you for coming, Daddy. You made it really special.'

'Hey, what about Mummy?' he'd queried. 'She was there too.'

'That's different. Mummy's always there.'

Faye had overheard this exchange from the kitchen and had come out, smiling quizzically at Garth.

'Don't take that the wrong way,' he'd said hastily.

'How should I take it?'

'She didn't mean to put you down.' Through his awkwardness she had detected the attempt at kindness.

'I didn't take it that way. Garth, Cindy has just said the nicest thing about me that any child can say about a parent. I promise you, I don't feel put down.'

'The nicest thing-?' She'd watched as comprehension dawned on his face. 'She said you're always there. Yes-yes, I see.' He'd sounded heavy, and she'd felt a stirring of pity for him. He was trying so hard, but something constantly eluded him.

Now it was the great day of departure for Cornwall. Garth returned from dropping off Cindy and Adrian, looking weary. 'I watched the coach go and Cindy was at the window, mouthing "Barker" at me,' he said.

'Don't worry, I've called the vet. His appointment is in an hour.'

'Faye-actually-'

'I'll take him,' she said, smiling.

'Thanks. And by the way, before I go, will you make a date in your diary for next Monday, at noon? I'm having a press function for the anniversary range and I need you there.'

'You mean I've got to meet journalists and talk to them?'

'It's no big deal. It's not the proper launch. That will be on the exact date of our anniversary. This is a kind of teaser, to let the property press get a hint of what's in store. We'll have models of the houses on display. I'll give you some booklets about them in advance, so that you can discuss them knowledgeably.'

'I'm just kind of shy about being on show,' she demurred.

'But you promised to help me out,' he reminded her, 'and this is the sort of thing I need you to do.'