The Sex War

'He doesn't like them, but he feels guilty about it,' Lindsay explained, deciphering Matt's Worried expression.

'Why on earth should he?'

'I expect Alice feels he ought to like them, she does tend to do things by the book, and babies sure supposed to like bananas.'

Daniel studied Matt, who was pushing one of his toys cars backwards and forwards. 'If she isn't careful, he'll grow up with a banana phobia.'

'He worries,' said Lindsay, and frowned, reminded of Stephen—yes, Matt was just like his father; why had she never seen it so clearly before? There was that little nervous frown, the sober anxious look of the eyes, the smile which was too eager to please, the awareness of what was expected of him and the desire to be approved of by everyone, 'Poor Stephen,' she said, mostly to herself, and Daniel looked at her sharply.

'I thought his name was Matt.'

'It is,' said Lindsay, stiffening as she heard movements on the stairs. The door was pushed open and Alice came in, smiling as the two children leapt about and shouted to her. She looked much better, Lindsay thought, watching as she kissed them both. This morning she had more colour, some of the drawn tension had left her small face and she was wearing a very pretty coral linen, dress which flattered her slender figure. The curly red-brown hair had been brushed until it gleamed and she was wearing make-up, Lindsay noted. A woman who is very depressed forgets to look at herself in mirrors, she doesn't bother to do her hair or make-up, she no longer cares what she looks like. Alice was obviously feeling less miserable after her long sleep.

'Any news?' she asked Lindsay a second later, and in her brown eyes Lindsay saw anxiety. Shaking her head, Lindsay admitted there was none.

'Daniel talked to Mr Datchet last night, though,' she said before Alice's spirits could sink too low. 'Stephen owes the bank a lot of money, it seems, and Mr Datchet said he was very worried about it. -Daniel thinks maybe Stephen has gone off to try to raise a loan from somewhere.'

Alice sat down with Vicky on her lap. 'Oh,' was all she could say.

'So you see it was money, after all.' At least it wasn't another woman, Lindsay thought, but carefully did not put into words. Alice could do her own thinking, and, from the look Of heir, that was just what she was doing, both arms clasped around the little girl's wriggling body in the vivid green dungarees and striped T-shirt, which made her look like an elf. Alice was holding Vicky far too tightly as though she needed the comfort of that small, plump, warm body, and Vicky was squawking in protest.

Daniel had leaned there, listening and watching but saying nothing. He wasn't wearing a jacket or tie, his white shirt was open at the collar; he looked casually and maddeningly good-looking, and as Lindsay irritably glanced his way he winked at her, which made her prickle with resentment.

'Mr Datchet is coming over here at ten,' he intervened a second later. 'He's bringing the firm's account books. I thought they might give us a clearer picture of what's wrong. I may be able to help Stephen, he should have contacted me long ago.'

Alice looked round, sighing. 'He's much too proud, you're the last person he would ask for help.' She flushed at Daniel's expression and hurriedly added: 'Don't be offended, I didn't mean… it's just that Stephen would feel that— the divorce, I mean, Lindsay isn't your wife any more and it would be embarrassing for both of you. Stephen wouldn't have wanted to put you in an awkward position by asking for a favour.'

'I could always have said no,' Daniel said drily.

'He was perfectly well aware of that,' snapped Lindsay, glaring at him. 'That's obvious, but it would still have been embarrassing to have to ask—Stephen isn't the type to trade on family loyalty, he would much rather ask a bank. If they said no, neither side need feel embarrassed, it would just be business, but if he had asked you and you had said no, Stephen would have felt two feet high.'

Alice nodded. 'Lindsay's right.'

'Well, that's a first,' Daniel drawled, and got a dagger-bright smile from Lindsay.

Before she could say what was hovering on the tip of her tongue, the doorbell went, and Daniel straightened.

'I'll go, it may be Mr Datchet,' he said, going out.

'Perhaps Stephen will ring today,' said Alice, putting Vicky back into her high-chair. 'If he's only worried about money…'

'I told you it wasn't another woman—Stephen loves you,' Lindsay said in a low voice. 'He's probably worried sick about telling you about the bank loan.' ,

'How could he be so stupid?' Alice broke off as the door opened again and Daniel walked into the room, bringing with him a distinctly dangerous air of menace and Aston Hill wearing a grey suit, a pale blue shirt and a wryly amused expression.

'Your boy-friend,' Daniel said acidly, hurling the words at Lindsay as if he hoped they would knock her head off with the force of their arrival.

'Hallo, darling,' said Aston, just as deliberately, with the smile of one determined to enjoy a difficult situation just for the hell of it.

Vicky decided she liked the look of Aston, and held out her arms to him lovingly. 'Uncle,' she said, and Lindsay could have killed her. She had such a small vocabulary, why couldn't she have chosen one of her other words?

Playing up to her, Aston advanced and gave her a kiss on her cheek. 'Hallo, sweetheart, you look gorgeous as usual.' He had only set eyes on Vicky once or twice before, he was being difficult, but Daniel deserved it, acting as though Aston was an interloper.

'I came round right away,' Aston said. 'I gather Stephen hasn't got in touch with you yet?'

Alice tried to smile, it was not a success, her lips trembled too much. 'No.'

'Then I've got news for you,' Aston told her. 'He rang me an hour ago, he's quite safe, so you can stop worrying.'