‘So who did? I’m just trying to think who knew.’

‘All the literary blogs have got hold of it,’ said Eleanora gloomily. ‘Why people have to spout on about their doings to the world I can’t imagine.’

‘Let’s have a look at one of the blogs, see if it gives us a hint,’ suggested Laura.

‘My computer’s in my office,’ said Eleanora. ‘You have a look while I deal with supper. It’s a ready meal, I’m afraid.’

‘I don’t care what I eat, really,’ said Laura. ‘Where’s your office?’

‘Room at the end, down the hall. The computer’s on.’

Laura typed Dermot’s name into the search engine and a whole host of blogs came up. She went through them quickly, ignoring those that referred to his first two novels. Then she found what she was looking for. It was a blog done by Gareth Ainsley – one of the students. Although he styled himself as ‘writerfrombeyond’ his identity was obvious. And he mentioned the course. The strange thing was, though, she was fairly sure that she’d never mentioned the fact that Dermot was appearing in the festival. She’d been protecting Dermot’s privacy so carefully.

As she read the blog, which went on about Dermot’s teaching, the other people and the accommodation quite a lot, she realised that this student had probably told the trade press and the gossip magazines before he’d written this. He’d been a very ambitious young writer, convinced of his talent, not entirely erroneously, and had apparently really admired Dermot. So why do this to him? Perhaps he thought it would further his own literary career.

Laura joined Eleanora in the kitchen. ‘I’ve found the culprit, I think. One of the students. But what I can’t work out is how he found out that Dermot was due to appear at the festival. I’m ninety-nine per cent sure I didn’t tell anyone. I was so careful not to.’

Eleanora tipped the contents of a foil container onto a plate. ‘Well, maybe Dermot did. I gather there was a fair bit of late-night drinking.’

Now Laura felt guilty for not being able to stay up late, as well as just feeble. ‘There was, and I didn’t stay up for it, so Dermot could have said something that gave him away.’ She sighed. ‘Well, there’s nothing we can do about it now. The secret’s out, except I’m sure Dermot won’t appear now.’

Eleanora picked up the two full plates. ‘Bring the glasses and the bottle, darling.’

Laura followed her hostess into the dining room, aware that she had more to say. Suddenly things had changed slightly, and now she felt that perhaps Dermot was better just left alone. The festival would have to do without him.