“Dudley’s a selfish bastard,” Johnny said, with feeling. “It’s always all about him, isn’t it? His wife dies so he uses it to self-promote. He makes me so angry.” He looked up suddenly. “I’m sorry he’s dragged you into all this too,” he added. “I know all the stuff they’re saying about the two of you getting together isn’t true.”

Lizzie raised her brows. “How could you possibly know that?” she said. For the first time she acknowledged her culpability. “Those photographs from last night looked pretty bad,” she said. “I mean, it wasn’t how it seemed, but even so...”

“I know,” Johnny said. “But pap photos are never really what they seem, are they? Actually, I think Dudley may have set them up.” His eyes met Lizzie’s very directly. “Dudley’s been having an affair with Letty Knollys,” he said, with devastating simplicity. “I think he’s using you to deflect attention.”

Lizzie stared at Johnny incredulously. “What? But... Letty Knollys? Are you sure?” She groped for a chair and sat down. “Letty’s married to Walt, one of Dudley’s bandmates in Call Back Summer,” she said. “I mean, surely even Dudley wouldn’t...” She stopped, frowning. “How do you know this?”

“Millie hired a private detective to follow him,” Johnny said. He caught Lizzie’s expression. “I know. Trust is dead in a celebrity marriage, right? But she thought as they were divorcing, she might get more cash out of him if she could prove he was being unfaithful.” He shook his head. “None of this is pretty.”

“No,” Lizzie said, “it isn’t.” She realised that she was feeling genuine shock at Dudley’s behaviour for the first time in a very long while. “God, I had no idea.”

“I hope you don’t mind too much,” Johnny said politely.

“Not in the least,” Lizzie said, realising as she said the words that they were absolutely true. “Not for myself. Dudley isn’t my property and he never was. But,” she pulled a face, “I do mind him betraying Walt. Walt’s a good guy and friend and I bet he has no idea. That’s really uncool; a horrible way to behave.” She sighed. “Look, Johnny, whilst we’re on the topic of bad behaviour I should get this off my chest. I may not have been involved with Dudley in that sense but I monopolised far too much of his time. It was selfish and needy of me. I know I should be apologising to Amelia for that,” she added, with an awkward shrug, “but for what it’s worth...”

Johnny avoided her gaze, fiddling with the button on his jacket. “It’s OK,” he mumbled, “I understand the two of you have been friends for years.” He looked up suddenly. “But he’s taking you in too, Lizzie. He’s using you.”

Lizzie rubbed a hand across her eyes. It felt as though she was looking into a hall of mirrors. Dudley, who had been one of the few constants in her tumultuous life, was a cheat and a liar. She knew he had used her before and she’d chosen to ignore it because she’d felt a residual loyalty to him. She had thought that no matter how badly he treated other people, she was special to him. Now, though, she felt like a fool, remembering Dudley’s weird declaration of love and how bad she had felt upsetting him with her rejection. If Johnny was right—he had no reason to lie—then Dudley only really loved himself and used everyone else to his advantage. She felt a pang of real regret as she remembered how close they had been as children and how uncomplicated things had been then. She’d been lonely and miserable and Dudley had stood up for her. But times have changed, people change, and perhaps all the fame and acclaim at a young age had soured Dudley beyond saving. He’d always been ambitious; now it seemed he was just a sleaze.