Page 33 of Fire Must Burn

‘Nothing so crude as that, Mr Danforth. I mean the act of living with another person at home, when all of the outer trappings and subterfuges have fallen away, and the two of you are confronted with the simple reality of being with each other as human beings.’

‘Is that ever truly simple?’

‘It can be,’ said Mrs Bainbridge. ‘And it should be if it’s going to last. My question for you, Mr Danforth, is what do you want in a woman at the end of a day, when ambitions and artifice have been set aside but there is still the rest of the evening to fill?’

He seemed to deflate in his chair.

‘I thought you said there wouldn’t be any psychoanalysis,’ he muttered.

‘No, but there should be truth,’ she said.

‘At the end of the day, I want a friend and companion,’ he said. ‘Someone with whom I could drop my shields and be myself.’

‘Any ideas as to what sort of woman could do that?’ she asked.

‘Make a duplicate of her, for a start,’ he said, glancing at Sparks.

‘What is it about Miss Sparks that you find appealing?’ asked Mrs Bainbridge.

‘Her intelligence, of course,’ said Danforth. ‘And her forthrightness. She’s always been a straight shooter.’

‘You overpraise me,’ said Sparks. ‘I don’t think of myself that way.’

‘You always have been with me,’ he said. ‘So someone who at the end of the day will be honest about how she feels, and call me out on my failures to do the same. It would be a heavy burden.’

‘Some women might find it lighter than others’ said Mrs Bainbridge. ‘It would be up to us to find her for you.’

‘Do you think you can?’

‘There are no guarantees of success in our profession,’ she said. ‘But we’ve done well by our clients so far. And I think I have a sense of who you are now, Mr Danforth. Miss Sparks, do you have any questions?’

‘I do not,’ said Sparks.

‘Moment of truth, Mr Danforth,’ said Mrs Bainbridge. ‘Would you like to sign up?’

‘Gamble five pounds on a lifetime of happiness?’ he asked, his smile returning. ‘I’ve made worse bets. Yes, Mrs Bainbridge, I will place my marital prospects in your hands.’

‘Then sign here,’ she said, handing him the contracts.

He signed them, then pulled out his wallet, removed a five-pound note and handed it to her.

‘I see there is a clause about the two of you not datingclients,’ he said as she countersigned. ‘That wouldn’t prevent Sparks and me from getting sozzled on a frequent basis.’

‘It would not,’ said Sparks. ‘We could add an extra clause requiring us to.’

‘Let’s keep that non-contractual, if you don’t mind,’ he said, rising. ‘Ladies, this was far more interesting and, I’m surprised to say, more hopeful than I thought it would be. How soon should I expect results?’

‘We will come up with a candidate within the next two days,’ said Mrs Bainbridge. ‘That will give you time to move in to your new flat before your first date.’

‘Astonishing,’ he said. ‘Thank you both. Sparks, call me when you’re ready for some more catching up.’

‘Will do,’ she said. ‘Goodbye, Tony.’

‘Good day, Mr Danforth,’ said Mrs Bainbridge.

They watched as he left. When they heard the door downstairs open and close, Gwen went to their office door and shut it.

‘I’m exhausted,’ she said, returning to her chair and collapsing into it. ‘How did you manage to keep up pretences for an entire relationship when you were on that assignment?’