There was silence as the two women thought hard. ‘I know!’ said Laura. ‘A panel! We’ll get a selection of the authors who are coming to talk about their writing practice. It’ll be brilliant! Far better than me trying to interview Dermot!’ Even the thought of it made her feel weak.

‘Fab. I’ll email all the authors and ask them. How many do we need?’

‘Ask everyone and see how many we’re left with.’ Laura gave a huge yawn.

‘Gracious,’ said Fenella. ‘You’re still tired, in spite of your early night. I didn’t realise Ireland involved a change of time zone.’

Laura nodded sagely. ‘Oh it does, it definitely does . . .’

Laura had pondered the question about losing one’s virginity showing from the outside for some time. A couple of days later, when Monica picked her up in her car, to take her to Bristol, she had her answer. It did.

‘So, what was it like?’ Monica said the moment they were at the bottom of the Somerby drive. They were on their way to Seamus’s gig. Laura was checking the band out to see if it was remotely suitable for a potentially raucous evening with free beer and Rupert, with or without an Irish accent, or as the more cultural backing for Dermot reading some of his work.

‘What was what like?’

‘Oh, for God’s sake! Don’t mess me around! Sex with Dermot!’

‘Ssh. Keep your voice down!’

‘It’s all right. We’re in a car. No one is going to hear. So tell me!’

Only for a second did Laura consider pretending nothing had happened, but she knew Monica would see straight through her. ‘OK. Well. It was amazing,’ Laura said quietly, half hoping this would satisfy Monica, and half hoping she’d have an opportunity to talk.

‘I don’t believe you.’ Monica banged her hand on the steering wheel to emphasise her incredulity. ‘First times are never amazing, let alone the first time ever. You’ve spent too much of your life reading romantic novels. Sex is one of those things you have to learn how to do.’

‘I accept that. And I know I probably have spent far more of my life reading about sex rather than having it than most normal people, but I’m telling you, it was amazing.’

Monica considered for a moment. ‘Well, stripe me pink!’

Laura laughed. ‘I think someone already did that.’ She indicated the wide pink stripe in Monica’s hair. She obviously enjoyed wearing her pink wig so much she’d decided to add a bit of colour to her own hair.

‘Laura! I’m trying to have a serious conversation, to help you live through the ramifications of what’s happened to you, and you just make stupid jokes.’