Of course, she couldn’t do much except agree. Hereward was a very entertaining but very naughty old boy and told me some stories about Miracle (who was his agent) that I hadn’t heard; but of course he’d been with her from way back, even before she set up her own agency.

We shared the rest of my bottle of wine after he’d given his rather risqué but fun talk to the assembled Teds and Moiras, then we retired to a quiet corner of the bar and spent the evening together – but not in any amorous way on my part, I hasten to add.

But I did buy his latest book, The Nelson Incident, and he signed it ‘To that rare sexy flower, Tina Devino, from her would-bee pollinator!’ He was absolutely wicked, but actually he was still very dishy, so you can imagine what he would have been like twenty years earlier – he’d have given Sergei a run for his money.

At the end of the evening he was collected by a big black car and departed waving regally, since he lived somewhere within ferrying distance, and I wished I did. (And don’t think he didn’t pressingly invite me to go back with him, either – but of course I tactfully declined.)

I was certainly glad to get back home next day, all laden with books and pottery as I was, though fortunately a very nice man helped me off the train and into a taxi with them, so it was not as difficult as I’d envisaged.

The answering machine was crammed full of tearful, hurt and/or indignant messages from Sergei and Linny, which I quickly deleted.

Minnie wore the smug expression of a mouse who’d been spoilt rotten in my absence and her furry little belly was so full she was practically dragging it along the cage floor.

‘Get on that treadmill and run!’ I told her, but she just gave me a look of disdain and twitched her whiskers a bit.

Twenty-Five

Watering Places

Dear Tony,

I was deeply touched by your brotherly offer to go and duff Sergei up personally for breaking your sister’s heart.

However, my heart isn’t broken, just a bit bruised, so I would much rather you didn’t attempt any such thing.

Do thank Mary for the delicious home-baked cake, made to that recipe given to you by our cousin umpteen times removed, Tullia, the one you unearthed on your fact-finding mission to Italy in search of the ancestors. I’m glad something constructive came out of the trip.

Your affectionate sister,

Tina

Next day my author copies of both the paperback and hardback of Dark, Passionate Earth arrived, and rather splendid they looked, too; it was nice to have them before they actually came out in the shops, which is what used to happen.