She sat on the stage waiting for the torture to end, grateful that the audience was so enraptured by Dermot that none of them was looking at her. Thankfully no one would connect the story with her, there was no reason why anyone should. That helped. She felt now she could finish the event with dignity even if she felt like crawling away and hiding from the world for ever. She realised a small part of her had still hoped, but he couldn’t have been clearer. How could she ever face him again? A glance at her watch told her there’d be no time for questions. She knew Dermot would be glad of this.

When his story came to an end the audience got to its feet, thundering applause as loud as possible. She was vaguely aware of mobile phone cameras clicking and even some flashes. Had some press got in the event? She knew they weren’t supposed to be there, but how could they be stopped really?

Dermot came to the front of the stage with his hands held up to silence them. Laura crept off the stage into the sanctuary of the darkened wings.

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty

She knew that however much she wanted to, she had one more task to do before she could head for the sanctuary of the cottage. Seeing her old boss Henry in the book room was a lovely surprise. It shouldn’t have been, of course. She knew he was supplying books for the festival but it was the first time they’d caught up with each other. His dear old face was a welcome sight after what she’d just been through.

‘Sweetie!’ he said, leaping to his feet, then added, less enthusiastically, ‘You’re looking rather tired.’

‘Hardly surprising,’ said Laura, smiling widely, hoping he wouldn’t spot the effort it took, ‘we’ve been fantastically busy.’

‘But hugely successful,’ Henry said approvingly. ‘All the literary world is here and listening to every word Dermot utters.’

Laura shuddered and then hastily turned it into a shrug. ‘His events have been very well attended, but so have all the others. Now, am I really needed here? Or shall I get back?’ She so wanted to creep away to a darkened room.

‘You’re needed here.’ Henry was firm. ‘You’ve just interviewed the star of the show. That means you’re a bit of a star yourself. Ah, here’s Eleanora.’

Eleanora swooped down on Laura in a cloud of black sequins, shocking pink bugle beads and marabou. Her earrings bit into Laura’s cheek as they kissed. ‘Darling, if you’re even dreaming of escaping before Dermot’s done his signing, forget it. He’s having a late supper with Jacob Stone, but right now he’s fighting his way through the autograph-hunters. He’ll be here in a minute to sign books.’