‘Molly, I know you’re really well connected but my friend truly has an enormous number of contacts.’ Ben sounded apologetic.

‘Oh, well, could you at least show us a copy of the press release?’ asked Thea. ‘So we have some idea what the story is?’

‘Sure.’ He put his briefcase on the desk and took out a sheaf of papers. He handed one each to Molly and Thea. It read:

There are pots of gold at the bottom of rainbows in Ireland, but something even more exciting has been discovered in the far west of County Mayo. A young man, whose work hasn’t been seen since just after his graduate show, has been working in private on a series of landscapes that is creating enormous excitement in the art world. Offered a show in London by the Edward Grampian Gallery, he decided instead to exhibit at a brand-new provincial gallery, opened by one time girlfriend [Thea coughed] Thea Orville, who created the gallery just to show his work. Why he should make his debut in a completely unknown location instead of in a well-established London gallery is a mystery, but the art world will be flocking to see. The fact that he happens to be ‘a ride’ is just a bonus.

A photograph of Rory staring out over Clew Bay, which she remembered taking herself, shared the page. Thea had to admit that he looked as beautiful and romantic as possible.

‘Well,’ she said, feeling very ambivalent, handing back the page. ‘It’s obviously done the trick. The phone hasn’t stopped – oops, there it goes again.’ After she had dealt with the call, she turned back to Ben. ‘But I’m not at all sure it’s ethical. I’ve never been Rory’s girlfriend and it’s his work they should be talking about, not what he looks like and whether or not he happens to be “a ride".’

‘What does that mean, anyway?’ demanded Molly.

‘I think it’s what Petal would describe as “well-fit", in Irish,’ said Thea. ‘And I haven’t time to keep answering the telephone to journalists who are more keen to know whether or not Rory and I were an item than about his work.’

‘Well, are you? An item, that is?’ asked Ben.

‘What has that got to do with the price of fish?’ demanded Thea, furious with him for asking, especially in front of Molly, so they couldn’t have a proper row.

‘Possibly nothing. It’s just helpful to know the facts. From a PR point of view.’

‘Oh, really? Going on what I’ve just read, you just make it up. Facts have nothing to do with it.’

‘Oh, stop bickering, you two,’ Molly snapped. ‘How are we going to cope with the phone when we’ve got so much to do? I’ve got a hair appointment. There are some extra postcards to collect and goodness knows what else.’