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His voice made her look up, a startled expression in her eyes. ‘Is that,’ a long forefinger pointed contemptuously at her plate, ‘all you intend having?’

Davina’s ready sense of humour bubbled to the surface at the disbelief in his voice. ‘It’s more than I usually have,’ she answered provocatively, to which she got a swift reply.

‘I think you’ll find up here a bird’s breakfast isn’t going to carry you through the morning. You’re let off today. I’ve an appointment with a sheep breeder the other side of Alston and neither time nor inclination for an argument. However, tomorrow you eat a proper breakfast, my girl. Don’t let me see you making do with tea and bread and butter again,’ and as if that settled the matter, Rex began to eat.

Not a good start, Davina thought as she reached for the marmalade and peeped at him through her lashes. But he seemed quite insensible to her or the possibility of having bruised her feelings as he cleared his plate, and drained his cup.

As he held it out for replenishment he said slowly, ‘I’ve no idea how long I’ll be or when I’ll get back, so don’t wait lunch. That is if you intend having any,’ he added sardonically.

‘Oh, I always stop for a bite of something midday,’ Davina answered airily, then added, ‘Does that mean you won’t have time to get the electricity going this morning?’ hoping he did not discern dismay in her voice.

‘Afraid not. The stock’s more important. If I’m to have my ewes lambing by January, there’s no time to be lost. We shall have to manage as best we can for the time being. I promise, though, I’ll get down to looking into it the first free moment,’ Rex ended, and encouraged by the kindlier note in his voice Davina asked,

‘Well, please could you get a Calor gas cylinder for the fridge as you go through Alston. I would like to get that going for hygienic reasons. The larder’s full of flies already.’

‘Make a list. I’m sure you feel convinced there are several other indispensable items I’ve forgotten.’ There was resignation in Rex’s tone. Hiding a smile, Davina found pencil and paper. To the Calor gas she added a sizeable list of household materials as well as a new bucket and floorcloth. Might as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb, she thought as she handed it over.

Rex had put on a jacket and as she handed him the paper he gave her a keen glance. Beyond a mocking smile as he saw the length of the list, however, he did nothing more than push it into his pocket and with a brief ‘See you later, then,’ opened the door leaving Davina listening to his departing footsteps.

When the engine of the Land Rover had died away, Davina poured herself another cup of tea and sat looking gloomily around the vast kitchen. No chance of getting down to her writing at least until this was more habitable. And for this hot water, and plenty of it, was a must. Suddenly coming to a decision, she got up, removed a couple of sheets of newspaper from the grate, and pushing them as far up the chimney as she could reach, set them alight.

They disappeared with a satisfying roar which told Davina that at least there were no birds’ nests stuffed into the flue, and going outside she started exploring the possibility of getting a fire going. The first door she opened revealed a positive Aladdin’s cave. Not only was there coal in plenty, but logs stacked in tidy rows and even a box of neatly chopped firewood stood against the wall. Filling a coal hod, Davina gathered up a bundle of kindling and made her way back to the farm kitchen.

Half an hour later the fire was well alight and she had the satisfaction of seeing the flames roaring under the back boiler. Changing into her oldest jeans, Davina tied a head scarf over her hair and started in on the mammoth task of removing the dirt of years from the old kitchen.

By five o’clock it was hardly recognisable as the unwelcoming room which had looked so depressing on their arrival. The kitchen range seemed almost to be smiling after a vigorous blackleading, because she had discovered that the old tins were not entirely unusable. The fire glowed cosily and from the oven appetising smells emerged as a casserole bubbled slowly for the evening meal. The dark Victorian furniture shone with polish and on the dresser, clean china twinkled, drawing the eye.

Glancing from the gleaming terracotta quarry-tiled floor to the clean curtains hanging at the window, Davina stretched wearily and gave a sigh of pleasure. As soon as the vegetables were ready and the table laid for supper, she reckoned she had earned a break. Fifteen minutes later, clad only in a dressing gown, she was running water into the bath and she relaxed in the perfumed water, suddenly aware of an ache in muscles she hadn’t used so much for months.

Judging from the modern sanitary fittings, the bathroom had not long been installed. She had soaped, rinsed and dried when the sound of a vehicle approaching reached her ears. With her dressing gown firmly belted at the waist Davina emerged, hair in damp curls, just as Rex got the full impact of her day’s work.

For a moment he was off guard. His usual inscrutable expression gave way to a look of astonishment as the transformation of the kitchen met his eyes. As he turned to speak, Davina with triumphant mischief in her smile asked, tongue in cheek, ‘Like a bath before supper? There’s tons of hot water if you do.’

But her own eyes were the first to drop. Why did he always get under her guard? With one glance he had made her aware that he knew she had nothing under the frilly dressing gown, and his, ‘Thanks. That’s just what I need,’ as he ripped off his tie was done intentionally, Davina felt certain, to remind her that all his changes of clothes were in the suitcases beside the dresser.

She lost no time in escaping, but as she slowly dressed and made up her face she knew for a fact that Rex had not expected her to have achieved so much during his absence. When she heard water running in the bathroom she took the opportunity to return to the kitchen and put the vegetables on to boil before checking her list against the shopping Rex had piled on one end of the long table.

She was putting the last tidily away when he returned wearing a cream silk shirt and well tailored brown slacks and looking unbelievably handsome. Davina dragged her eyes away from the brown face and those all-seeing eyes as he asked, ‘Is there time before supper for me to fix the fridge?’ and at her nod pushed open the pantry door to say, ‘I see no flies. Been having a blitz on them too?’

Feeling lightheaded, Davina laughed and said, ‘As I think you say Down Under, too right. They’re my pet aversion.’

‘Really!’ There was amused disbelief in his voice. ‘An aversion, yes. Hardly your pet one.’

Outsmarted again, Davina thought, and bit her lip. Her face felt hot as she said airily, ‘Well, I don’t like them. The sooner they can’t get at our fresh food the better. Is the fridge okay?’

Rex emerged wiping his hands. ‘Working like a dream. I’ve put the bacon, butter, cheese and milk away. What’s for supper? Something smells real dinkum,’ then more slowly and with a smile curling his mouth he added, ‘as we’d say Down Under.’

This time Davina’s flush could not be concealed. It surged from the low neck of her tee-shirt until it met her hairline, and the fact that Rex was watching with sardonic satisfaction did nothing to help her regain her usual equilibrium. As if he suddenly felt he had hassled her quite enough for one evening, Rex suddenly glanced round the room, returned his gaze to her face and said softly, ‘You’ve not been letting the grass grow under your feet. The place looks great.’

‘Thanks.' Davina’s response came out jerkily as she turned to take out the casserole, glad to have an excuse to hide her face for a few moments.

‘Can I help?’ His question caused her to look up in surprise as she placed the dish on the table. He was smiling, for once without the unpleasant curl to his lips, and Davina, ever ready to meet an olive branch half way, smiled back shyly as she said, ‘You could get the cheese while I drain the veg. I’m afraid I didn’t have time to make a proper dessert.'

Rex turned on his heel to do her bidding, remarking as he put the cheese dish on to the table, ‘It’s something of a mystery how you contrived to prepare a hot meal and get all the cleaning done, so don’t apologise. Fruit and cheese will do me. Now, don’t you want to know how I spent my day?'

During supper he talked non-stop about the two rams which would be delivered the following day and about the different strains of ewes he had arranged to purchase for his breeding stock and which would be coming within a day or two. This was a different man from the silent, taciturn companion of yesterday and Davina had become her usual carefree self by the time the table was cleared and the teacups filled.

She watched his busy fingers rolling a cigarette, unaccountably relieved that the cold, unfriendly atmosphere was no more. Rex was as he had been when on his visit to her grandmother’s house—friendly, casually relaxed in his manner towards her and, something she had not consciously comprehended in that busy household, abounding with a stark virility that made her suddenly aware of hidden needs. It accounted, Davina admitted to herself, for the feeling of emptiness when he had left for Italy so unexpectedly, and she stirred her tea telling herself not to be a romantic fool.

She grabbed at the first thing that came into her head to keep the conversation going. ‘I know absolutely nothing about sheep. You’ll have to educate me.’

Rex looked at her through the smoke from his cigarette and Davina saw a gleam of amusement come and go in the hard eyes watching her. ‘What can they teach in English schools? Do you mean to tell me you’ve never heard of foot rot, liver fluke, flushing or twin lamb disease? Shame on you, but I daresay you’re a quick learner.’

‘I didn’t realise I was expected to help with the sheep,’ Davina began, then the blood came into her face yet again as Rex threw back his head and gave a great shout of laughter.

‘Sorry, that wasn’t fair,’ he apologised, then promptly spoiled it by adding, ‘but you rise beautifully. I simply couldn’t resist the temptation. No, you’ll have plenty to do keeping this place clean even if we leave some of the rooms closed. I’ve heard of a old shepherd who might be willing to come up part-time and give me a hand, so you won’t have to play Bo-peep. Now, what about the dishes? You look tired, and no wonder, so I’ll give you a hand with them.’

They cleared and washed up in a companionable silence and until bedtime played a hand or two of cards. After she had yawned twice in quick succession, Rex gathered up the pack and said, ‘Off to bed. I must be up to get a couple of pens ready for the rams in the morning and you’re half asleep already. I’ll see to the fire,’ and he pushed her out of the room as he spoke.

As her eyelids began to close, Davina promised herself that tomorrow she’d make a start on the neglected bedrooms. She was trying to remember which had looked the least forbidding when sleep claimed her, and tonight not even the whistle of the wind round the house nor the ghostly hoot of an owl disturbed her slumbers.

She was in the kitchen on the dot of six-thirty the following morning, but whistling from the bathroom and the neatly stacked bedding in one corner of the room informed her that once again Rex had beaten her. There were still some smouldering embers in the big fire grate and it took her only a few minutes to have the fire glowing again.

By the time Rex came out of the bathroom, the kettle was whistling and an appetising smell of cooking bacon filled the room. ‘By jove, that makes me feel hungry! I’ll keep my eye on it for you if you’d like a wash.’

When Davina came back, Rex was putting rashers and eggs on to two plates and the teapot stood under a woollen cosy which she had unearthed the previous day. ‘No argument, now. Sit down and tuck in. I daresay coffee and toast are a good enough breakfast if you’re living in London where you’re sitting most of the day, but you can’t do a hard day’s manual work on it I’d bet my last dollar you didn’t stop for much lunch yesterday either. I don’t want to be accused by your family of letting you dwindle to a shadow, so get that eaten,’ he ended as he sat down and began his own breakfast.

Davina wanted to tell him she had stopped for lunch the day before and he misjudged her, but a glance at his face made her hesitate. Meekly she picked up her knife and fork and began to eat, feeling slightly bemused by the thrill of pleasure his masterful attitude had given her. Through her lashes, she stole a glance at his intent face and instantly Rex turned his attention from his plate to her face.

‘Well? Going to admit you’re hungry after all and enjoying every mouthful? Or are you planning your revenge?’

‘Yes, I’m enjoying it. I can’t remember when I last ate a cooked breakfast, and this tastes really good.’ She stopped for an instant before saying, ‘May I ask you a question?’

Rex, who had resumed his meal, looked up and Davina noticed that his hair, still damp from his morning wash, curled over his ears and down the strong brown neck. ‘Ask away. I don’t promise to answer, however.’

Davina’s face wore a suspiciously innocent expression. ‘I merely wondered whether you’d have time this morning to get the electricity working,’ then she laughed outright as Rex’s face assumed a grim expression.

‘Trust a woman! How right I was. You were planning your next line of attack.’

‘You haven’t a great respect for my sex, it seems to me,’ Davina said thoughtfully as she scraped up the last bit of egg. Rex was buttering a slice of bread and as she waited for his reply, her eyes were drawn to the square capable hands.

As she automatically reached out and passed him the marmalade, Rex looked up to meet her eyes and ignoring her last remark drawled, ‘By the way, I’ll only be in the barn this morning, so if you’ll give me a shout about eleven I’ll come in for morning tea.’

So he wasn’t to be drawn on the subject of women, Davina thought as she watched him finish his breakfast and roll a cigarette. Some girl must have caused this bitterness which peeped out now and then and revealed a distortion in his sense of proportion. Yet he had never turned the edge of his caustic tongue on Catrin, Davina recalled. Unlike her sister she obviously did not bring out the best in Rex Fitzpaine.