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were made to provide him with a succulent meal. Frances did her share of the preparations feeling slightly contemptuous. Was it really necessary to make such a god of him, pandering to his already inflated ego? True, they were all dependent upon his goodwill, but did he appreciate sycophancy? She owed him her life and she would have to find an opportunity to thank him properly. She hoped he would not try to make capital out of that, for any advances from him would worsen the situation between herself and Lesley, and she did not want to encourage him, but she could not ignore the debt she owed him.
    She changed into a plain black dress for dinner with a modest V-neckline and short sleeves. With her white skin and dense black hair she was a symphony in ebony and ivory. By contrast, Lesley appeared in a full-skirted flame-coloured creation, but in spite of her flamboyant dress she seemed subdued and kept throwing nervous glances towards Gray. Ian, who was perceptive, marked her demeanour.
    ‘Has Lesley done something wrong, Gray? She seems scared of you.’
    ‘Lesley knows what she did, but I don’t tell tales,’ was the blunt rejoinder, ‘Since it appears that our lady help cannot swim that must be rectified immediately. I’ll have no one living at Craig Dhu who can’t.’
    Frances glanced at his stern face uncertainly. Did he mean she was going to be dismissed?
    ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t realise that was a necessary qualification when I took the job,’ she said awkwardly.
    ‘It didn't occur to me to ask,' Margaret admitted, ‘but of course, with having to travel by boat and the loch being so deep, I suppose it is important.’ She looked at Frances kindly. ‘A shame if you have to leave when you were settling in so well, and I’m sure we'll never get anyone else to replace you.'
    Frances was dismayed. She was settling in, as Mrs Ferguson said, and she was finding the life and the company there fascinating. She looked reproachfully at Gray’s implacable face. Yesterday he had seemed so friendly and now he was using this paltry excuse to be rid of her, but perhaps it was not really so paltry; but for him she would have drowned, and it could not have been much fun for him having to pull her out. He had called her a menace, but what he really meant was that she might become a distraction, diverting his concentration on his boat. The remedy for that was simple; he only had to avoid her as she would avoid him in future. Or was he thinking of Ian? That young man had been terribly distressed by the accident and his solicitude gave point to Gray’s suspicions. It was all so absurd that her job was threatened by emotions which she had had no wish to arouse.
    Ian said: ‘Couldn’t Fran learn to swim?’
    'Where can she learn?’ his mother asked. ‘The loch isn’t suitable, and I don’t know where there's a swimming pool, and who could teach her?'
    'It shouldn’t take long,’ Lesley observed. ‘She’s got the right build for a swimmer. There s that little lochan in a hollow in the hill that the twins use. They bullied Murdoch into clearing it of weed. It’s quite shallow and wouldn’t be too cold.’
    Her eyes met Frances’ with apology in them, and Frances realised she was trying to make amends. Lesley Ferguson had reckless impulses and a passionate nature, but she was not wicked. She was ashamed of what her jealousy had led her into trying to do.
    ‘Yes, I remember the place,’ Gray nodded, ‘It might serve.’
    ‘And I can teach her,’ Ian said eagerly.
    ‘You will not.' The grey eyes flashed. ‘Neither will Lesley.’ He smiled at Frances. ‘I claim that privilege myself.'
    They all looked astonished.
    ‘But. . . but will you have time?’ Lesley protested, not liking the proposal at all.
    Frances, disconcerted, added quickly: T wouldn’t dream of putting you to so much trouble.’
    ‘You’d rather leave us?’
    So it was an ultimatum. Looking down at her plate, she said quietly: ‘I’d hate to