‘You don’t know that,’ says Becky. ‘Are you not angry with me, Amber?’

‘You burned down your whole life for me, when you didn’t have to. I’m not angry with you. You’re my hero.’

The two look at each other then. Amber squeezes Becky’s hand.

‘It really helped. Please believe me.’

‘I do,’ says Becky. ‘I believe you.’

Acknowledgements

As an ex-agent myself, I’ll start with my old peer-group. Thank you to Veronique Baxter for her ongoing support, ideas, gift for perspective and downright brilliance. Many thanks also to her tireless colleagues Sara Langham, Alice Howe and everyone in the foreign rights department at David Higham Associates. My gratitude to the always erudite and fabulous St John Donald at United Agents for his work on the film and TV side.

Thanks to everyone at HarperCollins for their enthusiasm for this book – Abbie Salter, Jen Harlow, Liz Dawson, Holly Macdonald, Fionnuala Barrett – in particular my editor Martha Ashby, whose notes I always look forward to. Outrage, determination, amusement, analysis, joy, tears: her talent and humanity are present in every conversation and track-change. It makes working with her an absolute joy and privilege.

My friends continue to be an essential source of support, love and knowledge. Thank you to the women who have shared their stories of workplace and home. During my research a number of friends offered their particular expertise across various technical matters: Rupert Russell on court procedure, Melissa Case on criminal and family justice policy and imposter syndrome, Marianna Turner on medical general practice, Heather Brearey on the workings of both the police force and the teenage mind. Thanks also to Negeen Yazdi and Damien Jones for sharing their insights into the film industry, from international film financing to the colour of the beach umbrellas at Cannes. Any mistakes are entirely my own.

Many others supported me during the writing of this book. Zofia Sagan and Emily Pedder both deserve a particularly extended virtual-hug of thanks.

Family, always. The unerring belief and enthusiasm and love of the Begbie family: Mum, Dad, Louise – thank you. And all the Edges for their support and love. My best friend, Melissa, for always talking things through, around and over.

I gratefully acknowledge the works of several authors whose books I read in preparation for writing: Rebecca Solnit, Laura Bates, Jessica Valenti, Rose McGowan, Deborah Frances-White and Brené Brown. And last but not least, a big thanks to Euripides, dead for a long time but still bitingly relevant.

A huge, warm thank you to my two sons Jack and Griffin who, when I emerge from writing, exhausted and sometimes disturbed, manage to ground me with their hugs and talk of martial arts and Minecraft. And finally, kisses to my husband – my buddy, my sounding-board and story-breaker, lifetime co-pilot, supporter-in-chief, partner in everything, Tom.

If you enjoyed Blurred Lines, keep reading for a taste of Hannah Begbie’s first novel Mother.

PROLOGUE