This time there'd be few rambles, but plenty of time alone with her indoors; he'd make sure of that.

He pulled up before the impressive seventeenth century façade of the house, got out and started up the steps. As he did so, Gerry emerged from the front door. He grinned.

Gerry stopped, feeling the warm glow she always experienced when she saw those pleasantly rugged features, the deep blue eyes and the curly light-brown hair. He was so nice. She really liked him better than anyone else she knew. Why, oh why, could she never be quite sure she was in love with him?

He ran up the last few steps and kissed her. 'Hullo, my sweet.'

'Oh, Paul, it's good to see you! Thank you for coming at such short notice.'

'Try and keep me away.'

They went indoors as a footman emerged to unload Paul's luggage. As Paul was divesting himself of his overcoat in the hall, Gerry said, 'Paul, I have a confession to make. Hugh's coming for the weekend, too.'

'I don't think he is, actually.'

'What on earth do you mean?'

He explained what had happened.

'Oh, golly!' she said, when he'd finished. 'Where is he now?'

'As far as I know, still standing staring at his bike.'

'Why didn't you bring him to the house?'

'I tried, darling. He wouldn't come. He's very angry with me — and with you. And with the whole world.'

'But what's he going to do?'

'He wouldn't say. Honestly, darling, I did my best.'

'Oh, I'm sure you did, Paul. He's quite impossible sometimes.'

'Sometimes?'

She grinned. 'Now if I said that about a girl, you'd probably say 'meow."

'Sorry. All the same, Gerry, I think you might have told me he was going to be here.'

'I thought you wouldn't come if you knew.'

'I'm not scared of Quartus.'

'I know that, chump. But you know you can't stand him.'

'That's not true. I could get on all right with him if he gave me a chance. I admit I have been apprehensive about your interest in him, but I'm convinced now that it's merely a sisterly concern for the chap because he's a failure.'

'He's not a failure!'

'Oh, come off it! How many pictures does he sell?'

'Well, that's immaterial. I've got to do something. I can't just leave him down there. I must go and investigate.'

'Oh, send one of your countless minions.'

'No, no - noblesse oblige and all that rot.'

He sighed. 'OK, get your coat and I'll drive you back down.'

'I wouldn't hear of it. Go into the morning room and get some coffee. You must be frozen. Besides, you're needed in there. Our tame film star has arrived, together with his producer.'

'Rex Ransom? Great. I've been looking forward to meeting him. What's he like?'

'Very nice.