Before Kit could try to flirt for phone privileges, a man dressed in full black tie came bustling through the crowd carrying a loaded silver tray on one hand, his remaining hair slicked back from his round, red face.

‘Ah, here’s Marcus,’ Clementine said, beckoning him over.

‘Is he the butler here?’ Kit asked. ‘Because I could definitely use a glass of whatever he’s got on that tray.’

‘He’s the boss, this weekend at least,’ Anton corrected. ‘But I second the drink request.’

‘Marcus is the head of the Lettice Davenport fan club,’ Clementine said. ‘And the organiser of this convention, which makes him my boss, at least. But he likes to play the butler at events like these, sometimes.’

‘He’s a Dahlia Lively stalwart – you know, he even ran last year’s convention a few weeks after his heart bypass op,’ Anton added. ‘That’s dedication.’

‘Anton! You made it.’ Marcus lowered his tray from above his shoulder to allow them to take a glass. The others reached for the bucks fizz, while Posy held back. ‘And you brought your stars with you. Excellent!’

‘Marcus, this is Kit Lewis and Posy Starling – our Johnnie and Dahlia.’ Anton indicated them each in turn, before turning to Libby. ‘And this is our own Lettice Davenport, our script doctor Libby McKinley.’

‘Delighted to meet you all!’ Marcus boomed. ‘I used to be something of an actor myself, you know. In fact, I am the only actor to have appeared in both the original films and the TV series with Caro Hooper. You know, Anton, a cameo in the new movie would complete the hat-trick …’

Anton’s smile seemed a little forced. ‘Let’s see how we get on this weekend, first, shall we?’

‘Of course, of course.’ Marcus clapped a hand on Anton’s shoulder. ‘Still, it would be something to talk up in the media – something other than this damnable curse anyway! So unfortunate, that script getting out that way.’

Anton’s mouth had settled into a tight line, and Kit spoke up instead, his smile firmly in place. ‘Ah, but without it we wouldn’t have the lovely Libby on board, and that would be a travesty!’ Somehow he’d managed to get himself between Marcus and Anton without seeming to move at all. Impressive. ‘Now, what I want to know is who these VIP delegates are. I mean, I was pretty sure that we were the VIPs. I’m starting to feel offended over here, Marcus.’ The spark in his eyes made it clear that he was joking, and Marcus laughed.

‘Oh, you four are our most important guests, of course.’ Marcus still sounded faintly obsequious, all the same. ‘The VIP delegates are the few, specially selected attendees, who’ve paid a little extra—’

‘A lot extra,’ Clementine murmured next to Posy.

‘For some added benefits this weekend. Like the chance to actually stay at Aldermere House, with all of you!’ Marcus finished.