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She refused to look at him, twisting her fingers in her lap. 'I've given in my notice now,' she said in a small voice. 'I can't take it back—I won't.'

'All right. But look, if you take this temporary job for the summer I can put in a word for you if you like. You could start again in the autumn. You'd miss the next sitting but you could take your finals again in the winter. What do you say?'

'I'll take the job if it's still on offer,' she said noncommitally.

He smiled. 'I always knew you would in the end. I think you just wanted me to twist your arm a little, didn't you, Katy?'

She looked up at him, her eyes blazing. 'Don't be so damned arrogant! If you really want to know, the only reason I'm accepting the job is that I've no choice. I've no job and—and no home either!' Then, to her utter horror, her throat tightened and tears began to roll helplessly down her cheeks. Sean stared at her in alarm.

'What on earth do you mean—no home? Has something happened to your father?'

She nodded, gulping speechlessly.

'Good Lord! I'm terribly sorry, Katy. When did this happen?'

'When I went home a month ago.' She swallowed hard, dabbing at her face with the sleeve of her sweater. 'There was this woman who announced that she was his fiancée. It was awful. They didn't want me at all. She made it clear that she doesn't expect me to be around much after they're married either. And there was I thinking that he needed me—stupidly giving up my job to go and be with him,' she ended bitterly, her voice catching.

She had expected him to have a good laugh but he didn't. Instead he moved across to sit next to her on the settee, handing her his large handkerchief.

'Here—you'll shrink that sleeve. Why is it that girls never seem to have handkerchieves?' He touched her arm. 'Katy—I hate to say I told you so, but I always thought you were making a mistake running home to your father. If you're really honest with yourself that is what you were doing, isn't it—running away?'

She shook her head angrily, the tears flowing even faster. 'It isn't true! How dare you say it is!'

He slipped an arm round her. 'Go on, admit it—you'll feel better once you've faced up to the fact. Home was a nice safe little bolt-hole where you could hide and lick your wounds. But your father is still a comparatively young man. You should be glad that he's found someone he can be happy with again. I'm sure you will be once the shock has worn off.'

'You don't understand,' she protested. 'She's
years
younger than he is—she's—she's even talking about having babies!'

'Oh, I see—you're afraid you won't be Daddy's little girl any longer—is that it?'

She pulled away from him, moving to the other end of the settee. 'That's a rotten thing to say. You don't know what you're talking about—how can you? That woman never owned a home of her own and now she wants my mother's. She's going to change everything to suit her own tastes. She's even taking over my room for them to share after they're married. She's kicking me out—and Dad is just letting her.'

'Maybe he thinks you should have your independence,' Sean said gently. 'It's what most girls want—don't you, Katy?'

'I don't seem to be getting much choice in the matter, do I?' she said miserably.

He sighed, shaking his head. 'The modern woman never ceases to amaze me. One minute it's all women's lib—the next you're weeping because some man doesn't need you to cook and clean and give up everything for him! I'll never understand.'

She sniffed, trying desperately to control the tears. 'Nobody asked you to,' she said perversely.

He stood up, pulling her to her feet and lifting her chin with one finger. 'Now—what is it to be— do I ring the Underwoods and tell them I've found someone for them?'

She nodded.

'But do you really want the job, Katy? I mean, I
wouldn't like to think it was
only
a stop-gap for you. We must consider the child.'

'Of course I want it,' she said crossly. 'Do you think I'd have demeaned myself in front of you if I hadn't wanted it?'

He smiled. 'I told you I had a feeling you'd be back asking for it, didn't I? I've always been lucky when it comes to getting my own way, Katy.'

A sharp retort rose to her lips but before it could pass them she found them otherwise occupied as Sean bent his head to kiss her swiftly.

'I'm travelling up to Belldale on the eighth,' he told her tugging her hair teasingly. 'Be ready at about eight. I'll pick you up.'

'No thank you. I prefer to go by train,' she said, breathlessly disentangling herself from his arms. 'If you'll just give me the address.'

He didn't argue but took a card from his pocket and wrote quickly on it. 'The nearest railway station is eight miles away. A taxi will cost you a fortune so you'd better ring when you arrive and one of us will come and collect you.' He looked at her quizzically. 'Or would you rather walk?'

'I'll manage,' she said crossly. Right at that moment she was hating herself. Why had she let him see her cry—allowed him to see how vulnerable she was? Now that he knew her weak spot he would think he could do as he liked with her. Play with her emotions for his own amusement. Now, more than ever, it was necessary to show him that she could be strong.

'Please don't get any wrong ideas about me,' she said shakily. 'I know you think that you have only to crook your little finger and a girl like me will fall down in a dead faint at the honour you've done her. But you may not always be right!' She stared at him, her cheeks very pink. 'If you think that all you have to do is kiss me—' she broke off, biting her lip. 'What I'm trying to say is that I'll come to Yorkshire on the strict understanding that our relationship is purely professional!' she finished on an inspired note.

He shrugged his shoulders lazily. 'Well, of course—if that's what you really want, Katy. Goodnight.'

She closed the door behind him with a hollow feeling inside her. What had possessed her to say a thing like that? What demon of stupid pride was it that was always making her say things she didn't mean?

The
last few days at the flat were hectic. Tracy was leaving to take the job she had been offered in Newcastle while Sonia was staying on at St Anne's to take her midwifery course—she was moving out to share a flat with one of the social workers. The place was chaotic, with suitcases and half-filled boxes everywhere and, Katy reflected as she stared about her at the mass of clothes and possessions strewn around the room, it was amazing what one could accumulate in just three short years. She could hardly cart this lot up to Yorkshire with her, yet Isobel would not be pleased to see her turning up with a mass of stuff to be stored at home. In the end she packed only her newest things and stuffed everything else into a bag to take to the local charity shop, saving only Arnold the battered teddy bear who had sat on her pillow ever since she could remember.

The night before they left the girls gave the inevitable party, but Katy wasn't in the mood for celebrating so decided to take herself off to the cinema. The future seemed so uncertain and insecure. For the first time in her life she didn't really know where she was going, and she didn't like the feeling at all. On her way she called in at the railway station to enquire about the trains up to Yorkshire, thinking that she might as well save time by buying her ticket too. The man in the ticket office stared at her in startled disbelief.

'Blimey! Don't you ever read the papers or look at the telly?' he asked.

Katy shook her head. 'I haven't lately— why?'

'You can't have!' He laughed. 'If you had you'd know about the rail strike.'

'Strike? You mean there are no trains?' she asked plaintively.

'Not after midnight tonight,' he told her triumphantly.

Her heart sank. 'Oh—when will it be over?'

'Better ask the Government, love,' came the reply as he turned away.

Katy walked slowly out on to the street again. Now what was she going to do? Her interest for the film she had been about to see evaporated and she turned her footsteps back in the direction of the flat. It was just possible that someone else would be travelling North tomorrow. But the party was in full swing and she found it impossible to make herself heard above the din of the record player. Finally, there was only one person she could think of.

Standing in the hall and blocking up one ear as firmly as she could she dialled her father's number. To her relief he answered quickly.

'Katy, love!' He sounded surprised. 'I'm so glad you rang. Isn't it tomorrow you go off up to this new job you wrote about?'

'Yes—Dad, I can't hear you very well, there's a party going on here. Can I come home tonight? Do you mind?'

'Mind? Of course not. Love to have you, even if it is only for one night. By the way, how are you getting there tomorrow?'

'Well, that's just it, Dad. I didn't know about this strike until just now. Actually I'm a bit stuck.'

'Mmm—well, don't worry. Maybe I can drive you up there. Come home and we'll talk about it.'

She felt much better as she replaced the receiver and, elbowing her way through the crowd, she collected her suitcases and quietly left, hastily scribbling a note for the girls and pinning it on the kitchen bulletin board.

When she arrived at Cremorne Crescent her father opened the door to her, looking harassed.

'Isobel has just been over,' he told her as he filled the kettle. 'She reminded me that I was taking her to the coast tomorrow for a picnic.' He shook his head. 'My memory gets worse!'

Katy's heart sank. 'I don't want to spoil your plans, Dad,' she assured him. 'You mustn't disappoint Isobel.' She peered at him. 'I hope you didn't fall out over it.'

'No—no.' He poured the boiling water onto the tea and looked up at her with a smile. 'She has far too sweet a nature for that. Actually, she said she would think of a plan to get you there. She's gone home to think it all out.' He patted her shoulder. 'She's a real gem you know.'

Katy frowned. 'Maybe I should make some other enquiries myself.'

He shook his head firmly. 'Just relax and leave it all to Isobel. She won't let you down. She's a wizard when it comes to organising.' He smiled dreamily. 'You know, sometimes I wonder how I ever got along without her.'

Katy took her father's advice and relaxed. Once she had stretched out on the settee in the living-room with a cup of her father's good strong tea in her hand, she realised for the first time how hectic the past week had been and how tired she was. The last days at the hospital had been exhausting both physically and mentally and she had come under fire from Sister Blake and the Senior Nursing Officer. They had both insisted that she was making a sad mistake in giving up her nursing and should be staying on to take her finals again as soon as possible. But Sister Blake had at least agreed that the temporary job in. Yorkshire would give her time to sort out her feelings and decide what she really wanted. Now she was glad to be away from the pressures at last.

For once Isobel did not put in an appearance and she and her father chatted until late. It was just like it had been in the old days and as the evening went by she grew more relaxed until at last her eyelids began to droop and she felt hazy.

'Katy, love—better get up to bed. You've a journey in front of you in the morning, don't forget.' Her father gently shook her shoulder.

Katy nodded and heaved herself up from the settee. 'Yes, you're right, Dad.' She kissed the top of his head. 'Thanks for a lovely evening. Goodnight.'

It seemed as though she had been asleep for only a few minutes when she was awakened by a tap on the door and Dad coming in with a cup of tea.

'Seven o'clock, love. Time you were thinking about getting up.'

She smiled sleepily. 'You're spoiling me.'

He grinned ruefully. 'Well and why not? I shan't get many more chances, shall I?'

She heard Isobel's voice downstairs while she was in the bath and when she opened the kitchen door she was greeted by the sight of her prospective stepmother in a frilly apron, cooking breakfast.

'Good morning, Katy darling,' she said with the brightest of smiles. 'I wanted to make sure you had a proper breakfast inside you before making a long trip like is. Oh, and by the way, your chauffeur will be here at about nine.'

Katy sat down at the table, laid with a crisp checked cloth, and looked at the plate loaded with bacon, eggs and fried bread that Isobel placed before her. 'Chauffeur—who would that be?'

'Ah—wait and see.' Isobel looked smug. 'You know, Katy, you don't always win by being a liberated woman. Sometimes it pays to pretend to be just a tiny bit helpless.' She giggled. 'I believe women should liberate themselves by using the assets God gave them.'

Katy smiled politely. Isobel might have been speaking in Chinese for all she understood her. She did justice to the bacon and eggs then went upstairs to collect her things together, wondering who Isobel had managed to find to give her a lift. It was while she was taking a last look in the mirror that she heard a car draw up outside and Isobel's voice gushing as she opened the front door. As she reached the top of the stairs she heard her father's voice join in, then suddenly she caught something that Isobel was saying and froze in her tracks.

'We've been hoping
so
much to get the chance of meeting you. Of course Katy has told us
all
about you. I think it's so
romantic
, the two of you on a sort of mission to help this poor little boy. You'll learn a lot about each other in the weeks to come, you know—and that's important. One can be so impetuous when one is young and in love.'

'Oh, you're so
right
, Mrs Johns!' Sean took a step into the hall and looked straight up at Katy where she stood on the stairs, her face crimson. 'Ah, there you are—darling!' His eyes twinkled wickedly. 'What a silly goose you are! Why didn't you tell me you were having difficulties in getting to Yorkshire?'

Three pairs of eyes were on her and Katy knew a moment of blind panic when it was all she could do not to turn and run. She took a firm hold of herself. There was nothing for it but to brazen it out.