A Fatal Attachment by Robert Barnard Page B

is one big accident.”
    â€œNonsense, one makes one’s life,” said Lydia.
    The elder boy seemed to sense a tension.
    â€œWe’re off to the gravel pit,” he said. “We’ll be an hour or two. Is that all right?”
    â€œOf course,” said Lydia, smiling at them fondly. “I’ll have your dinner ready around six thirty.”
    The boys gave a wave of the hand and charged out. Already they were treating Lydia’s cottage as home, Maurice noted. It had happened more slowly with Gavin and him. But then the parental situation had been very different with them, and Lydia had had to move more delicately. Here it seemed as though she was moving in to fill a vacuum. And of course now she had had practice.
    I am not going to let Lydia work me up again, Maurice told himself.
    â€œThey seem nice lads,” he said neutrally, concentrating on finishing his cake.
    â€œThey are, and very bright. Colin especially.”
    â€œThe younger in this case.”
    â€œYes. The younger this time.”
    â€œYou must be careful with Ted, then.”
    Lydia smiled a regal but steely smile.
    â€œOh Maurice, of course I will.”
    â€œHe seems to have the notion already that he’s more ordinary than his brother.”
    â€œTed has sterling qualities—good, sturdy, old-fashioned ones. I’m sure they’llmake his way for him. As you say, their home background is pretty impoverished, intellectually speaking. Coming here is an education for them both.”
    â€œE-ducare, to draw out,” said Maurice, smiling as he quoted her.
    â€œPrecisely. You remember.”
    â€œHave you any plans for them?” he asked cunningly.
    â€œI’ll get to know them a lot better before I have plans. Colin will be much easier than Ted.” She did not notice an infinitesimal and sad shake of the head from Maurice. “I think I shall leave them both a little bit of money. Not a lot—I don’t believe in people having it easy. But enough to provide an initial fillip, should I not be around. The bulk, as you know, goes to Robert.”
    â€œOf course. You know you don’t have to explain. Kelly and I have more than enough for our needs. . . . You’ve always liked adventurous people, haven’t you, Lydia?”
    â€œYes, I have. I make no apology for that. ‘Safety First’ has always seemed a contemptible rule to live one’s life by. Robert will use the money, not just have it. Some expedition somewhere—several, probably. I’ve never remotely lived up to my income. But I think the boys should have a few thousand each, to get their lives off to a good start.”
    Maurice shifted in his chair, conscious that his resolution not to get worked up was going by the board.
    â€œDon’t cut the parents out, will you, Lydia?”
    â€œOf course not. But the mother seems to have cut herself out for the time being.”
    â€œShe hasn’t cut herself out—she’s ill. M.E. is a very nasty illness. She’ll need all the love and affection and attention she can get from her family.”
    â€œOf course. I’ve told them they should go to the hospital tomorrow. This will be an anxious time for her—with all the tests and uncertainty. Ted in particular is very affectionate, very protective. Colin seems to be more open—more inclined to welcome new experiences.”
    â€œDon’t make distinctions between them, Lydia.”
    She pursed her lips in irritation.
    â€œYou are in a lecturing mood today, Maurice. One has to make distinctions between people because people are different. So naturally one plans different things for them.”
    â€œE-ducare—to draw out,” said Maurice.
    â€œI don’t impose my plans on people!” said Lydia sharply. “God knows, you yourself are proof of that. You and Gavin were always perfectly free to do what you wanted.”
    â€œPerhaps. But we all