She put her head to one side and seemed to think about this.

‘Do you go to these things with him much?’ I said.

‘No. I’m making an effort to get out more.’

‘For what reason?’

‘I ask myself the same question. The usual reasons, though. Other humans. The hope of stimulation.’

‘Stimulation?’

‘Stop it.’

‘Stop what?’

‘That grin.’

Leo strode towards us. ‘Hello, hello, hello! Aren’t you Emily Nardini?’

‘I am,’ she said.

‘Leo,’ he said. ‘I’m a big fan. I have my own novel coming out next year, actually.’

She shook his hand. ‘What do you mean, actually? Did I imply the contrary?’

‘We’re colleagues,’ I said.

‘I brought him down here, actually,’ said Leo.

‘Actually?’ she said.

‘Literally,’ I said.

Leo scratched his bald spot. ‘Did you enjoy the debate?’ he asked Emily, not me.

‘Yes, I did. But do you mind giving us a moment? I was just discussing something personal with Paul.’

‘Oh! Yes, of course. Ha ha! I’ll just join the queue to talk to the speakers.’

‘See you later,’ she said.

He went and stood in the queue and tried not to look at us.

‘I can’t stand men like that,’ she said.

‘I love you,’ I said.

‘Thank you.’

‘I really do.’

‘That’s your prerogative.’

‘You can do what I want to do,’ I sang.

‘That’s your prerogative,’ she sang back.

We looked at each other and grinned. We were from the same era with the same bad songs clogging up our memory.

‘I’m sorry I didn’t get back to your note,’ she said.

‘What note?’

‘The one you sent with the magazine.’

‘I’d forgotten I even sent one,’ I lied.

‘The photo came out well. I was too vain not to look at that. I couldn’t go any further but, like I say, Andrew says it was fine.’

‘Do you trust him to be honest about things like that?’ I said, and looked over to the table where his admirer was watching him sign books and talk to his fans.

‘Oh, yes,’ she said, following my eyes. ‘He’s very articulate about the things he considers stupid. It’s what I like most about him.’

‘Well, that’s reassuring. What are you doing now?’

‘I don’t know. Something. Drinks, dinner. His publisher Susannah is here; they’re old friends; we’re going on somewhere. Why? Do you want to come?’

‘I’m, er—’

‘You could come. It would be nice to have someone to talk to who isn’t here to worship Andrew. I’ll introduce you to him in a bit.’

We waited for the queue to run down and found a sofa to sit on. ‘This is my first glass of wine this year,’ she said to me.

‘It’s nearly not your first glass of wine any more. I’m going to get another.’

‘Go on then,’ she said, holding out her glass to me.