Part 16 (1/2)

'What species?'

'Erm-oryctolagus cuniculus.'

'Wabbit,' he said.

'Very good,' I laughed.

'I had one when I was a kid. I used to pride myself on being able to say that.'

There was a moment's silence. 'So...have they come out well?' I asked. 'The photographs?'

'Oh, I don't know. I haven't printed them yet. That's not why I'm ringing.'

'Oh.'

'No, I was just phoning you...'

There was another tiny silence. 'Yes?'

'Well... I was...sorry that I didn't have that beer with you on Tuesday.'

Oh. 'Oh, well, don't worry, David-that's fine.'

'So, I just...wondered if you'd like to come out for a beer with me?'

He's asking me out? My heart did a swallow dive. 'O-kay...'

'In fact, I was wondering if you were free tomorrow,' he went on. 'But I guess you're busy,' he added casually. 'It's such short notice and you probably have plans.'

'No, I'm not doing anything. That would be...nice. Um, where did you have in mind?'

'Well, we could go somewhere near you, or, if you don't mind coming over to Clerkenwell, there's the St John restaurant. They've got a very good menu.'

'Yes, I could come over there. So you mean dinner, then?' I added uncertainly.

'I guess I do mean that. You do eat dinner, I hope?'

'Yes. Yes, I do. Dinner's fine.' Then, over pudding, I'll tell you the terrible truth about myself...

'That's great then.'

And you'll loathe me for the rest of your life.

'I'll book the table,' I heard him say, 'and I'll only ring you back if I can't get one, otherwise I'll meet you there at, what, seven thirty? It's at 26 St John Street.'

'I'll find it.'

'Great. See you there.'

The thought of seeing David had an odd effect on me. I felt relieved on one level-filled with terror on another-but at least it distracted me from Land Ahoy! I'd been dreading the first episode for weeks, but, as it was, I felt able to watch. That night I lay on my bed, with my tiny portable perched on the chest of drawers, clutching one of Herman's wrinkly paws. As the opening music played, the name 'Alexander Darke' appeared, in a curlicued script, virtually filling the screen. He was playing the s.h.i.+p's commander, Francis Flavell. And now there he was. There was Alexander. I felt my heart-rate increase as the camera panned in for a close-up. He looked so dignified as he strode about the quarterdeck in a gale, barking orders, his face streaming with spray and rain.

'How does she steer, Mr Tree?'

'Holding steady, Sir!'

'Take her to windward, Mr Tree! To windward I say!'

And now the s.h.i.+p was creaking and listing as the sailors pulled on the rigging.

'She's run aground, Sir!'

'Man the decks!'

During the commercial break, Daisy phoned me. 'Are you watching it?' she asked.

'Yes,' I said bleakly.

'Do you feel okay?'

'I feel...strange. I keep thinking, I was going to marry that man.'

'Well, I must say I'm glad that you're not. Anyway, what do you think?'

'Well, objectively, I think he looks fantastic. There's no doubt about it, Daisy,' I added flatly. 'This is going to make him a star.'

'I hope not,' she said. 'Otherwise we'll keep on seeing him and I don't want to, after what he did. If people only knew...' she added crossly. 'Ooh, it's starting again...'

The storm was still raging and one of the mainsails tore in two, like a tissue, then a human figure dropped into the swell.

'Man overboard!' one of the sailors screamed. 'Man overboard! Mr Fenton's gone in!'

'I know that chap,' I said to Daisy. 'That guy who just fell in the sea. He's a stuntman. He comes to my puppy parties.'

'Does he?'

'He does self-defence cla.s.ses too.'

'Really? Well, we must go to them, Miranda. Shall we do that?'

'Okay,' I said absently. 'Why not?'

And now the camera cut to Alexander, who was ripping off his coat and leaping into the sea to save his first mate.

'Look at that!' Daisy shrieked. 'Alexander's jumping in after him. Can you believe it!'

'That's not really Alexander. That's a stuntman too.'

'Well, obviously,' she said. 'I'm not sure I can take this,' she added as there was a close-up of Alexander thras.h.i.+ng about in the water. 'I seriously think I might puke.'

'It's only a drama, Daisy,' I said wearily.