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against his pillows. She thought she might have imagined that his breathing was already easier. It was so easy to be over-optimistic when he had one of his attacks. And yet, with his eyes shut and with his body quite relaxed, he was having less difficulty drawing breath. A little comforted, she tiptoed out of the room and closed the door behind her.
    Alec accepted her offer to drive him to Canterbury with enthusiasm. “You can show me the village on the way—what there is of it! ”
    “There’s the church,” she said somewhat doubtfully. “And the watermill. Robert says that it worked right up to the end of the war, and that all our bread was locally made, instead of coming from Canterbury as it does now.”
    “ ‘Our’ bread?”
    Sarah coloured. “It’s a manner of speaking," she said defensively.
    “Very revealing!” he mocked. “But yes, I should like to see your watermill. I suppose it’s that weatherboard building beside the river as you turn into the village by the church?”
    “Yes.” Sarah picked up her car keys and began edging towards the front door. She was not usually inhospitable, but she was suddenly longing for him to go, to leave her in peace with the new life she was discovering for herself. “I’ll get the car out.”
    Alec folded himself into the car beside her, protesting that her car was too small to be of any use to anyone.
    “On the contrary,” she said sharply. “There’s plenty of room for the shopping and it will take three people at a pinch. Besides, it’s easy to park and goes miles to the gallon. What more could you desire?”
    “Something a little larger than a roller skate!”
    Sarah laughed. “I don’t see that you have anything to complain about as. long as it gets you to Canterbury. Shall I open the window? It’s still quite hot, isn’t it?” Alec didn’t answer. He waited until she slowed down beside the watermill and then he opened his door with determination. “I didn’t think any car was too small to kiss a girl in,” he commented.
    Sarah sat up very straight. “That has its advantages too.” She hoped she sounded cool and sophisticated and that Alec wouldn’t go on about it. She didn’t want him to kiss her. She didn’t want to touch him at all.
    Alec looked down at his watch. He was sweating slightly in the hot sun, she noticed with disfavour, and she couldn’t help hoping that his train was sooner than he had allowed for and that there would be no time to dally by the watermill. In this she was unlucky.
    “I’ve been thinking about you, Sarah my love,” he began. “You have such a beautifully expressive face! I’m beginning to wonder whether there isn’t a great deal of feeling buried deep down beneath that ‘touch me not’ exterior.”
    “Rubbish !” said Sarah.
    “No hidden fires?”
    “Nothing so corny!” Sarah assured him cheerfully. “Do you want to see the watermill?”
    “Not particularly. Rustic pursuits are not much in my line. I’d sooner discover how the land lies with you. Any boy-friends who’ll be hot on my heels if I make a quick reconnaissance?”
    “No boy-friends. But I’d rather you didn’t—”
    “Not very convincing,” he murmured. “Come on, show me round this watermill of yours.”
    “There isn’t much to see. Nothing that you can’t see from here !” Sarah protested. “What time is your train? We ought to be going if you don’t want to miss it!”
    Alec slid his arm behind her shoulders. “Did you really think you were going to escape so easily? What’s a little kiss between friends? Come on, Sarah, relax and enjoy it. You did better than this in London.”
    “I didn’t enjoy it,” she told him frankly. It was impossible to tell him that it was because his eyes weren’t steely grey, and his touch was damp instead of dry and firm. Impossible too to admit, even to herself, that it seemed disloyal to be kissing anyone else when she was actually on Robert’s land, and her dreams were all of