Lucy Gordon - Daniel and Daughter

Mark wore an uncomfortable look, at variance with his defiant words.

The credit card statement lay open on the table. An instinct for trouble made Lee glance at it.

'Two thousand pounds!' she exclaimed, aghast. 'Since when was your credit limit that high?'

'I only just increased it,' Mark said sulkily.

'You had no right to. One thousand is more than enough.'

'Oh, stop making a fuss! I haven't actually used up the two thousand. It's just there-in case I need it.'

'This is because of Phoebe, isn't it?'

'You know what she's earning. How can I entertain her on a student's grant?'

'And you think the answer is to run up debt in the hope that I'll hand over your inheritance?'

'It's about time you did,' he shouted.

'Acting like this isn't going to persuade me that you're responsible about money.'

'It's my money!'

'Not until you grow up.' She became aware of Sonya watching with bright-eyed eagerness and said briefly, 'Scram!'

When Lee and Mark were alone she spoke more gently. 'You've got it really badly, haven't you?'

He gave a mirthless laugh. 'That's putting it mildly. That day in the studio, when I saw her in the wedding dress-I've never seen anything so beautiful in my life. She looked like an angel. I'm in love with her. She's the only girl I'll ever love.'

Oh, the delusions of youth! Lee regarded him sympathetically. 'But this isn't the way, my dear,' she said kindly. 'If Phoebe were the kind of girl who only cares about a man's money-well, you wouldn't be able to compete. But I don't think she's like that. Does she tell you how she feels about you?'

'Oh, yes, she says she loves me,' he replied wretchedly.

'Then can't you trust her?'

'I do trust her, but I get scared. If you'd only see sense, Lee, and hand over the cash-'

'No,' she said, her eyes kindling. 'It's there to safeguard your future. I'd be crazy to let you blow it on your first infatuation.'

'I'm nineteen now. That's old enough to have what's mine.'

'Not according to your trust.'

'The hell with the trust!'

Lee's headache had grown worse. If only Mark would stop this. 'Is there any tea in the pot?' she asked, turning away.

'Never mind that now. It's time we had this out.' Mark took hold of her arm and pulled her around to face him.

Lee's temper flared and she shook herself free. 'Stop trying to bully me. As far as I'm concerned we've already had it out-too often. The money stays where it is until you're older, and that's my last word on the subject.'

'Well, it's not my last word on the subject. Don't think you're going to get away with this.'

'Oh, Mark, please! Stop talking like a character in a bad melodrama. It doesn't move me, except to make me want to laugh.'

'Laugh, yes! You know nothing about real feelings. But you're going to find out how wrong you are.'

He stormed out of the house, slamming the front door so hard that the house rattled.

Lee told the whole story to Daniel that night as she nestled against him on the sofa.

'I don't know why I accuse you of handling Phoebe badly,' she sighed. 'I'm making a complete hash of it with Mark. Does Phoebe storm out of the front door?'

'Not her. It might disarrange her hair. She's a smart cookie, my Phoebe.'

'That's the first compliment I've heard you pay her since this started.'

'Yes, well…' He looked awkward and changed the subject. 'Some more wine?'

'Just a tiny drop. Do you know, if it wasn't so early I'd swear I heard Mark's car stopping outside.'

'It is,' he said, alert. 'It's got a distinctive sound and I should know it by now-the nights I've stood at the window listening for it!'

'I hope you don't let Phoebe know that.'

He grinned. 'Don't worry. I know better than to put myself forward, these days.' He slid an arm around Lee. 'I guess I've learned the lesson you tried to teach me.'

'What's that?'

That you have to let go to hold on.' A hint of self-mockery crept into his tone. 'You wouldn't recognise me. I creep about the house in fear and trembling, and if Phoebe speaks to me I stand to attention. If she can spare me ten minutes from her busy schedule I'm properly grateful. I've even learned the difference between acceptable interest and unforgivable intrusion.'

'Tell me! Tell me! I might manage better with Mark.'

'Acceptable interest is, "May I humbly enquire what you'll deign to eat today, and when should I prepare it?" Or, "What time should I awaken you in the morning, and would you like me to drive you to work?'' Intrusion is, ' 'Where are you going and what time will you be home?'"

Lee laughed at his clowning, but she could sense the vein of seriousness beneath it as well, and she was glad. If Daniel had really learned to tread carefully with his daughter things might yet come right for them.

His next words seemed to prove it. 'And by going softly I actually get told quite a lot.'

'You applied the scholar's brain to the problem, huh?'

'No, it was you,' he said. 'You showed me the way. Bless you, Lee. Everything's going to be fine, thanks to you.'

He drew her close. 'They'll be here in a minute,' she murmured.

'Then kiss me quickly,' he said against her lips.

The sound of the key turning in the front door made them spring apart self-consciously. There came the sound of urgent whispering from the hall, then Phoebe and Mark came in together, their arms entwined, their eyes shining. Phoebe threw herself forward into her father's arms.

'Oh, Daddy, I'm so happy,' she said ecstatically.

"That's wonderful, darling. Is it anything special? A new assignment?'

'No, it's much better than that. We're engaged.'

Daniel stiffened. 'What did you say?'

'Mark and I are going to be married. He asked me this afternoon and he's given me the most beautiful engagement ring. Look.'

She held up her left hand to show off the ring that flashed there. Daniel stared at it for a moment. Then he said in a hard voice, 'Take it off.'

'Daddy?' Phoebe backed away, startled by the instant change that had come over her father.

'Take it off. Now. And forget any idea of an engagement. You're sixteen, for Pete's sake! What's got into you?'

'I'm in love,' she cried. 'And I'm going to be married.'

'Over my dead body.'

'You can't stop me,' Phoebe said defiantly.

Daniel's face set. 'I'll stop you if I have to lock you in this house until you see sense.'

'Daniel, be careful,' Lee said warningly. She could have wept with despair at the way all his new-found subtlety had deserted him in this crisis. He was once more the autocratic patriarch who'd learned nothing.

He rounded on her. 'Don't say you approve of this. Why don't you tell that feather-brained daughter of mine what happens to girls who marry at sixteen?'

'Because you're not letting anyone else get a word in edgeways,' Lee cried. 'I'm as appalled as you are, but this isn't the way.'

'Then tell me what the way is,' he said through gritted teeth. 'Tell me how to get some sense into a girl who's been given too much of her own way too soon and thinks she can do any damned thing she wants.' Before Lee could answer he'd swung back to Phoebe. 'I told you to take that ring off,' he said in a biting voice.

'I won't. It's mine. I don't have to do what you want.'

'The hell you don't!'

'Don't talk to her like that,' Mark said.

Daniel seemed to notice him for the first time. 'I might have known it would be you who'd cause all the trouble,' he said. 'You've been bad news from the first. Who do you think you are to want to marry my daughter? A student who hasn't even finished his education. What are you going to live on-or didn't you bother to think about anything so mundane?'

'I'm making enough for both of us-' Phoebe said.