Kingfisher Morning

Edie fingered a wisp of Donna's hair, her face aglow with loving tenderness. 'Well, I might…' she said in her slow Dorset drawl.

They went back to the cottage together. Donna held Edie's hand and talked softly, confidingly, as they walked alone, at Donna's stumping pace. Edie was totally intent, her face happy. Robin had found a forked stick with which he intended, he said, to capture snakes. He practised, meanwhile, with pieces of grass and branches as he passed. Tracy walked with Emma, talking about her father. She clearly missed him very much. Emma gained the impression of a happy, united little family, and worried in case Tracy might be secretly unhappy beneath her bossy exterior.

Ross was in the kitchen, banging cupboards and looking like a thundercloud.

'Where the devil have you been?' he burst out as they entered.

Edie turned white, and Emma looked at her anxiously. 'Take the children upstairs to wash, will you, Edie, please?' she asked her.

Edie hurried to obey. Ross stared after her, his brows black above his imperious nose.

'What's she doing here? By the way, I've fixed up a chaperone…she'll be here at any moment.' He spoke tersely.

Behind Emma a clear, sweet voice said, 'I'm here, Ross darling.'

Emma knew who it was before she turned and saw the sapphire blue eyes and silvery hair.

Amanda Craig gave her a smile which only touched her mouth. 'I'm going to be your chaperone.'

'Oh, dear,' said Emma, looking back at Ross. 'I've fixed up someone, too, I'm afraid…'

'Then you can unfix it,' Amanda said tightly. 'What a nerve! Whose house is this? Ross makes his own arrangements. I'll move my things into my room, Ross…'

'Edie?' Ross was quick-witted, Emma saw. 'How did you talk Edie into coming here? She's petrified of me.'

'You mean that simpleton from the pub?' Amanda laughed scornfully and shrugged her elegant shoulders. 'Well, really! What use do you think she would be? I'll tell her to go home.'

'No!' said Emma angrily. If anyone was to tell Edie, she would. She had made the arrangement, and she was determined that Edie's feelings should not be hurt. Amanda would undoubtedly do harm. She had a way of saying things which bit deep, and Edie was more sensitive than most. Amanda might harm her deeply.

'No!' Ross agreed firmly. 'I think that arrangement would be much more suitable.'

Amanda went dark red and drew an angry breath. 'Ross! You'd rather have a simple-minded village woman than me? You can't leave her with Judith's children!'

'Mrs Pat might be offended if we made it clear we preferred you to her sister.' Ross said diplomatically. 'And I can't afford to offend Mrs Pat.'

'Oh, don't be ridiculous,' Amanda burst out.

Ross gave her a hard look. He said nothing, but she flushed and bit her lip.

'I was so looking forward to getting to know Judith's children,' Amanda said sweetly, after a moment. 'I thought you agreed that I ought to know them better? And really, Ross—that simple-minded old thing! How could anyone take her seriously as a chaperone?'

'She'll be ideal,' Ross said quietly. 'She loves kids, she'll keep out of my way, and she will be no trouble.'

Amanda gave him a stricken look, and Emma suddenly felt sorry for her. She did not like the girl much, but her own recent love affair had made her ultra-sensitive, and she saw that Amanda was wounded by Ross's implied snub.

The blue eyes darted her a furious, hate-filled look. 'Very well,' Amanda said with dignity. 'If that's your decision, Ross, I'll go.'

'Thanks for offering to help, anyway,' he said casually, his hands on his hips, his back half turned to her as he looked out of the window at the sky. 'It's turning stormy. That sky promises rain. You'd better hurry back.'

Amanda looked at his profile, then back at Emma. She turned on her heel and slammed out.

'You were a bit casual,' Emma said, indignantly, to his averted head.

He turned, raising a black brow. 'What makes it your business?'

'Common humanity,' she flung.

He laughed. 'Long words for a little girl!'