‘But he hasn’t!’ Laura opened the back door to get her bag. ‘I’m sure he’d have said something to me if he was going to do that.’ She felt desperately betrayed. It was her festival! Surely she should have been the first to know, not some news agency and Jacob Stone! Anyway, on the course he’d said he’d forgotten all about it!

‘We’ll ring Eleanora,’ said Fenella. ‘She’ll know.’

‘Good idea. I think we need to check this story, I really do.’

Apparently it was true. They went on to an Internet news site on Rupert’s computer. Some news agency had got hold of the story that formerly reclusive writer Dermot Flynn has agreed to appear at the Somerby Literary Festival. There are rumours that he’ll produce his first new work for many years and also that there’s a bidding war for his next novel.

‘Oh fuck,’ whispered Laura.

‘Laura!’ said Fenella.

‘I know. I’m sorry, but that’s the only word that will do. He’ll be absolutely bloody furious!’

‘Why? And anyway, the story probably came from him,’ said Fenella. ‘Who else would make up a story like this?’

‘Eleanora, for one,’ said Laura. ‘She’s got the most to gain.’ She thought hard about the course, trying to remember if there was anything about Eleanora’s behaviour that indicated she might have put this story about. ‘But I don’t think she did.’

‘Well, we can ask her,’ said Fenella.

Laura sighed. ‘I hope to goodness it doesn’t get on the main news.’ She looked at Rupert and Fenella plaintively. ‘After all, it’s only literary news, not really of general interest.’

‘It might not be like that in Ireland,’ said Rupert. ‘I mean, I don’t really know, but I imagine if word got out that “the greatest living Irish writer” was producing a new book, it would be of huge interest.’

Laura buried her face in her hands. ‘This is dreadful.’

‘It’s jolly good for the festival!’ said Fenella. ‘I’ll be able to tell everyone that he’s coming and then may be all those writers who haven’t yet confirmed, will. And people will be queuing for tickets.’

Laura reappeared from behind her hands. ‘I just don’t know what Dermot will do when he hears about this.’

‘Well, we can’t do anything about it until he does hear,’ said Rupert. ‘I think we should all calm down. Let’s go into the house and have a cup of coffee.’

Laura was plucking up courage to ring Eleanora when her phone went. Eleanora was phoning her. ‘Laura?’ she snapped. ‘Did you put this story about?’

‘No! Did you really think I had?’

Eleanora subsided. ‘No.’

‘In fact, I thought you might have released it,’ said Laura.