'Yes, madam. Right away, madam.' He yawned, and the one gray eye slid from Vivien to me. 'Christ, you'd think I was getting paid for the job.'

'I didn't know you were a plumber, Iain,' I said.

'I'm not, but I can manage the basics.' He sat up, rubbing the back of his neck. 'Viv made the mistake of mentioning her leaking pipes in the bar yesterday, and Ned's father offered to fix them for her. So Viv called me round in a panic to sort the problem out before he got to it.'

'If there's one thing you don't want,' Vivien put in, 'it's Jerry Walsh tinkering with your pipes.'

I laughed. 'I know. I've a tap in my bath that I think has been dripping for thirty years.'

'You're lucky,' she said. 'He flooded my kitchen first time I had him do a job for me. Safer to have the work done by an amateur.'

'Oh, thank you very much,' Iain said dryly, rolling to his feet. 'Your confidence is heartwarming.'

'You know what I mean.'

'Aye. Do you mind if I take a beer with me while I bash your pipes around? Or is drinking on the job not allowed?'

'Help yourself.' She moved aside to give him access to the refrigerator. With the daylight full on his face, the lines of exhaustion were clearly visible, and Vivien told him as much. 'You need to get more sleep, you do.'

He slid her a look of quiet amusement. 'You might have thought of that, love, before you woke me up. And what are you two up to, then?'

'Julia's going to help me pick my outfit for tonight.'

Iain shrugged. 'I told you which one I like,' he said, closing the refrigerator door and forcing the top off a bottle of lager. 'The green dress, with the buttons.'

'I just want an expert opinion, that's all.'

A half hour later, having seen a parade of all the potential outfits, I had to admit that Iain was quite right.

'The green one,' I told her, 'definitely. It's got a lovely cut, and it suits you.'

'Suitable for a slightly stuffy gathering of rather proper and dignified people?'

'I think so. Where are you off to, anyway?'

'London,' she supplied, twisting to study her reflection in the long mirror. 'I've been invited to a dinner party in Belgravia. Or was it Knightsbridge?'

'With Iain?'

'Heavens, no. Iain can't stand London.' She eyed the hemline of the dress critically. 'You don't think it's too short? No? Well, I suppose if you both hit on this one, then I ought to take your advice and wear it.' She glanced at her watch and grimaced. 'Lord, is that the time? I promised Ned I'd let him have a break before I went.'

Personally, I'd never seen Ned expend enough energy to warrant a break, but I kept my opinion to myself. Vivien kicked off her high heels and changed hurriedly back into her everyday clothes, combing her fingers through her hair to tidy it.

'I won't be long,' she said. 'You can come through to the bar, if you like, or hang about here.'

'I'll wait here. Someone should probably keep an eye on your plumber, anyway.'

She smiled. 'Too right. Call me when the water reaches your knees.'

Iain was actually, from what I could tell, doing an expert job. I perched myself on the rim of the bath and watched him working. Again, as always, the quiet comfort of his being there flowed round me like a cleansing tide. Vivien, I decided, was a very lucky woman.

'We decided on the green dress,' I informed him.

'Eh, well,' he said, smiling, 'there wasn't much question, was there? It looks great on her, that dress.'

I looked down at the top of his bent head. 'You really do look tired, you know.'

'You should talk.' He lifted his eyes briefly. 'Have you seen a mirror, lately? You look as though you need a holiday.'

I smiled. 'I'm taking one, as a matter of fact. Starting tomorrow.'

'Oh? Whereabouts?'

'Brighton.'

He looked up again, grinning. 'Brighton? Of the naughty postcards, and all that? It hardly seems your style.'

'It isn't, really. But my parents are there for the week, and I thought I'd join them for a few days.'

'Oh, right. I remember your brother saying something about that. Some sort of a contest your father won, wasn't it?'

'Crossword.' I nodded. 'Mum's not overly thrilled, but my being there might cheer her up. Besides, it's been years since I went to the seaside.'

'Well, you go and enjoy yourself. We'll keep an eye on the house for you, if you like. There.' He gave the pipe a final wrench with the spanner and sat back, surveying his work. 'I think that deserves a free pint, at least. Why don't we go and see what Vivien's doing out front?'

*-*-*-*

Brighton was as gaudy as my childhood memory of it, but the weather proved exceptionally fine and my parents were delighted to see me. I frittered away four days in their undemanding company, walking on the beach and taking snaps of the Royal Pavilion and laughing at the spectacle of it all.

I returned home on Thursday afternoon in a wholly refreshed state of mind, dropped my luggage in the hallway, and went in search of Geoff. I found him in the bar of the Red Lion, nursing a pint of ale and talking rugby with Ned.

Ned was, for once, almost animated. 'Pewsey'll take Calne by ten points this Saturday, you see if they don't.'

'Care to back that opinion, my lad?'