At last Mitzi looked up and noticed him, giving him a hug and offering to make him some tea-an offer her mother hastily overruled.

‘I’ll do it, darling.’

‘Morning, Jimmy,’ Alex said affably. ‘How are you feeling today? You’re not looking so good. I expect yesterday took it out of you.’

‘It did a bit,’ Jimmy admitted. ‘But, heck, I wouldn’t miss it for anything. I can be ill later.’

‘Uncle Jimmy’s a soldier,’ Bobby said in explanation of this reckless heroism.

‘And a good soldier doesn’t give in,’ Alex agreed, straight-faced. ‘But you’re looking a bit seedy now. Are you taking your medication?’

‘Well, I skipped a bit,’ Jimmy conceded. ‘You can’t drink if you’re taking the pills, and it is Christmas-’

‘Of course,’ Alex agreed. ‘But now it’s time you took proper care of yourself.’

Corinne turned around, her jaw dropping with indignation at what she could clearly see him up to. But she was pulled up short by the sight of Jimmy’s face. He really was pale and strained.

‘Oh, Jimmy, you are an idiot.’ She sighed affectionately. ‘You should have said-or I should have noticed. Stay in bed today.’

‘No way. There’s masses of sport on television. But I wouldn’t mind staying in and watching it with my feet up. You won’t mind if I don’t come out with you?’

‘We’ll bear up,’ Alex assured him.

He sauntered innocently out into the hall, looking back to catch Bobby’s eye and send him a signal. Bobby glanced at Mitzi and Alex nodded.

Message received and understood.

After a moment the two children followed him out.

‘Listen, kids,’ Alex said hurriedly. ‘You’re fond of your Uncle Jimmy, aren’t you?’

‘Yes,’ said Mitzi.

Bobby nodded, alert, ready to tune in to his father’s signal.

‘Well, you wouldn’t want to leave him all on his own at Christmas, would you?’ Alex asked. ‘It wouldn’t be a very kind thing to do. Why don’t you both stay here with him?’