Phoebe slipped away. Daniel stayed where he was, regarding Lee. 'I apologise, very sincerely,' he said. 'When I learned who you were I saw how idiotic my remarks had been.'

'I had a similar shock,' she admitted. 'I've discovered that you're famous as a champion of women.'

'You mean you hadn't guessed?' he asked outrageously, and they laughed together.

'Why didn't one of you tell me that Phoebe was your daughter?'

He grinned. 'I tried to, but you shut me up, and Phoebe kept quiet because she was enjoying the joke. I hope the insurers have told you that I'm accepting full liability?'

'Yes. In fact I was going to contact you and say that I can't let you do that. You were quite right. I reacted much too late, so half the blame is mine.'

He didn't answer this directly, but said, 'Had you been on a job?'

'Yes.'

'So you were tired from working. I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions. Am I forgiven?'

'Of course-if I am.'

'There's nothing for me to forgive,' he said simply.

'About the insurance-'

'Why don't we talk about that later? You've still got this session to finish, haven't you?'

'Goodness, yes.' With a start Lee realised that while she'd been talking to this man she'd forgotten everything else in the world.

She showed him a couple of chairs by the wall and went back to work. There were no more hold-ups and she was finished by six o'clock.

'OK, that's it,' she cried at last.

Gillian served more coffee. The chief model, a willowy blonde called Roxanne, began to remove her elegant clothes, assisted by Phoebe who was full of eager questions.

Lee remembered herself at exactly the same age, planning her elopement, never dreaming of the bitterness and disillusion that awaited her. Then she looked up and discovered that while she'd been watching Phoebe Daniel had been watching her, a questioning look in his eyes. His lips curved in a slight smile that was full of warmth, and he looked as if he could see right into Lee's heart and understand everything there. The thought made her uneasy, as though he'd invaded her privacy. She went into her office and began to remove the film from the camera.