Laura had refrained from asking him why he was a publisher if that was his attitude, because she did understand. Her experience with the writing course had taught her a lot. Manuscripts could be promising, good even, but still a long way from being something the public would want to read. But Laura’s bookshop experience, however, told her that lots of the books that did get through this process were still not, in her opinion, actually good.

Gerald had told her to ring him when she’d done the slush pile, so after a couple of days, she did.

‘Laura! You’re a wonder! I’ll have to send Eleanora flowers to thank her for putting us together.’ He paused. ‘Are you doing anything on Thursday night? Cara and I were thinking of coming down. We can have a look at the house and I can pick up anything you might have to give me.’

‘I don’t think so, but I have to say, and it’s all down to you, I have been invited out for meals several times already. People have been so kind.’ She had been dreading feeling lonely at the end of her working day, far away from home and family, but she hadn’t had a chance to, and as books had always been her friends, the odd night on her own had been welcome. But somehow, being in Ireland made putting Dermot out of her head harder than ever. She missed him dreadfully. How long did it take to get over a broken heart? At least she was busy, she had a social life and she was surviving.

‘You’re kind too,’ said Gerald. ‘And people are curious. They want to have a look at the new arrival in the area.’

After he had put the phone down, having arranged to come up to collect the manuscripts, insisting that she was going to be taken out to dinner by him and his wife, a sudden thought struck Laura. Did all the people who had been so kind to her know about her connection with Dermot? Had Gerald told them, or hinted at something? There had been that mention in the trade press but ordinary people didn’t read that, did they? Or was that why they were all being so nice? Then she realised she was being neurotic. No one had mentioned his name to her. Just because he was on her mind every minute of every day, it didn’t mean other people were similarly afflicted.