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“Hello, darling. Sorry I got held up.”
    I tried to speak, but no sound came. Carefully I unflexed my knotted fingers and tried again.
    â€œHello, Philip,” I said.

Chapter Six
    â€˜â€œI can’t explain myself, I’m afraid sir,” said Alice,
    â€œbecause I’m not myself, you see.”
    â€œI don’t see,” said the Caterpillar.’
    Lewis Carroll:
Alice in Wonderland
    MORGAN cleared his throat. “Can I get you a drink?”
    With an enormous effort, I pulled myself together. “I’m so sorry. Morgan, this is Philip Hardy. Philip – Morgan Rees.”
    The two men shook hands and Morgan excused himself and went over to the bar. I didn’t dare look at Philip, but I could feel him staring at me. I thought wildly – but it can’t be him! Was there some mistake? Had Philip arrived by chance, and was Aladdin still to come?
    Perhaps I was wrong and the plot, whatever it was, was perfectly innocent? Philip couldn’t be involved in anything shady.
    Or could he? I’d already been disillusioned on that score, three months ago. I’d convinced myself it had been a temporary slip, but had it in fact been only the beginning? When Philip flung himself out of Matthew’s firm, had it been into really deep waters?
    â€œGin and bitters.” Morgan put the glass in front of Philip. “A topper, Clare?”
    I shook my head, needing all my wits about me now.
    â€œHave you come far?” Morgan inquired pleasantly.
    â€œOnly from Bristol, this morning. I couldn’t get away as early as I’d hoped, so decided to break the journey. I suppose you arrived yesterday, Clare?”
    â€œYes.” I wondered if Morgan noticed how jerky our voices were.
    â€œDid you have a reasonable journey?”
    â€œIt was all right.”
    Breaking a lengthening silence, Morgan said, “Clare tells me she’s not interested in fishing or golf. How about you?”
    Philip turned to look at him. “What? Oh – I do fish a little, yes.”
    Out in the hall the lunch gong sounded. As we rose to our feet, Philip’s hand on my arm was like a vice. “Have you arranged for me to sit at your table?”
    â€œEr – no, I – didn’t think.”
    We reached the dining-room, where Morgan left us with a cheerful “See you!” to go to his own table. Harry the waiter turned from the serving hatch and I saw the leap of interest in his eyes.
    Philip said crisply, “Would you lay a place for me at Miss Laurie’s table, please.”
    Harry glanced at me with a look of triumph. “Of course, sir.”
    I seated myself in my usual place and Philip sat down beside me. Harry, who had started to lay the second place opposite mine, moved the cutlery accordingly.
    The minute he left us, Philip said in a low, vicious voice, “What the hell do you think you’re playing at, Clare?”
    It was like a slap in the face – yet what could I expect? He’d had as much of a shock as I, and it had obviously been no more pleasant. He was not likely to address me in the gentle, bantering way I’d been used to.
    I hoped my own voice was steady. “The same game as you, of course.”
    â€œI don’t believe it!”
    But he must! “I have some information for you,” I said, and at last looked up and met his eyes. They were hard and cold, and I saw that his face was thinner than when we’d last met. He looked older. His mouth, which had always had a smile for me, was tight-lipped and drawn, almost cruel. I could expect no quarter from this new Philip – I had to convince him I was all I pretended to be.
    â€œMy God!” he said tonelessly. “It was a bit – unnecessary – sending you, wasn’t it?”
    â€œI’m your cover,” I said calmly, marvelling at myself.
    He made an impatient gesture. “Look, as soon as this meal’s over, we’re going