Australian Affairs: Seduced. Carol Marinelli

and saw Harry pencilled in for a shift on Friday night.

      ‘I’m out that night,’ Marnie said, and didn’t elaborate, but Harry’s jaw did tighten just a fraction as he recalled that she was going to the ballet.

      With Matthew.

      ‘Not a problem.’ Harry cleared his throat before continuing. ‘Okay, if I can get Helen to cover that night I can, if it’s okay with you, be on call for the rest of the weekend and then Juan’s back.’

      It was a working arrangement.

      She made that very clear.

      When Harry opened a bottle of wine once the kids had gone to bed, Marnie politely declined.

      ‘I’m going to have that bath.’

      ‘Sure.’

      She was a strange person, Harry thought—Marnie didn’t even come down and say goodnight. But, ages later, when he headed for bed himself, he could hear her chatting away in her room and it took a moment for it to click that she was on the computer.

      ‘You’re living with him?’ Siobhan checked, and Marnie was very glad for her headphones. ‘You’ve slept with him and you’ve moved in but there’s nothing going on?’

      ‘You’re making this more complicated than it is,’ Marnie said.

      ‘What does Matthew have to say about it?’

      ‘I don’t discuss things like that with Matthew,’ Marnie said, but she did worry for a moment. ‘Matthew and I…’ She looked at Siobhan, who’d been married for nine years now and just loved hearing about friends with benefits and her best friend’s rather glamorous life. ‘I don’t know,’ Marnie admitted.

      ‘What would Harry have to say about Matthew?’

      ‘Nothing!’ Marnie said. ‘Because he’s not going to find out.’

      Except Harry had been there when Matthew had invited her to the ballet.

      Marnie’s conscience was pricking as she turned off the computer and tried to get to sleep.

      She and Harry had been a one-off, an indulgence, safe in the knowledge they wouldn’t be working together again.

      See what happens when you take your eye off the ball, Marnie scolded herself.

      It certainly wouldn’t be happening again.

      No, there was no hint of anything. The next morning she was up and dressed and even had lipstick on as Harry held up the kettle and asked if she wanted tea.

      ‘Leave the tea bag in this time,’ Marnie said.

      ‘You’re sure you don’t mind doing this?’ Harry checked. ‘Charlotte’s been up half the night crying. It’s hardly a great day off for you.’

      ‘Harry, I’m just relieved to know that the place is being looked after. It’s been nothing but a headache trying to get the department covered.’ She turned as Adam came down. ‘Good morning.’

      ‘Morning, Marnie.’

      She was lovely to Adam. She chatted away and found out that he’d like cornflakes and juice and yet, Harry couldn’t put his finger on it, she still held back. Then Charlotte appeared.

      ‘Do you want babies?’ Charlotte asked as Marnie sorted out her breakfast.

      ‘Charlotte,’ Harry scolded.

      ‘It’s fine.’ Marnie smiled. ‘No, Charlotte, I don’t want babies.’

      ‘Why?’

      ‘Because…’ Marnie filled a bowl with cornflakes as she spoke ‘…I like my work, I like my holidays, I like lots of things. And,’ Marnie added, ‘as I told you, I had lots of younger brothers. I’ve changed more nappies than most!’

      ‘Don’t scratch,’ Harry warned, as Charlotte started to.

      ‘I keep forgetting.’

      ‘I’ll paint your nails red later,’ Marnie said. ‘That will remind you.’

      After Harry had gone, she did paint Charlotte’s nails red and then she went about opening the windows and stripping the beds between putting on anti-itch cream at various times throughout the day.

      ‘Do you like our house?’ Charlotte asked as she showed her the cupboard at the top of the stairs where the fresh sheets were kept.

      ‘I think it’s lovely,’ Marnie said, as she pulled out some sheets. ‘Right! Which ones are yours, Adam?’

      ‘The blue ones, silly,’ said Charlotte. ‘Mine are pink.’

      Harry could not have done it without her.

      The children could not have been better looked after and a wary Charlotte had quickly warmed to Marnie’s chatter and rather offbeat humour. Despite refusing to iron a thing for Harry, Marnie hauled out the ironing board on the Tuesday evening and made a major dint in the piles of children’s bedding and clothing.

      ‘Do you ever stop?’ Charlotte asked. She was helping Marnie to fold things as a distraction from scratching.

      ‘Not till the work’s done,’ Marnie said.

      Only Harry noticed that Charlotte’s smile wavered.