Compared with bony Miss Garfield, his new nanny, Gilly, was a welcome vision of youth.
Left behind by his uncaring father in the decaying house, James had hoped that Gilly would enter his imaginary world and meet his 'mates', Mr Pimm and Mr Monday.
The only trouble was that Gilly appeared more interested in playing games with the good-looking Mr Ainsworth - games that did not include him.
James wasn't to know that one of the gamblers was playing for the biggest stake of all.