After thinking about it I came to the conclusion that my invitation wasn’t sent at the last minute as an insult, which was my first thought, but because sales of Spring Breezes were proving so embarrassingly good Salubrious simply couldn’t ignore me as they’d clearly intended to. Miracle had called to inform me that Spring Breezes was at number twenty-two and still climbing in the Hot Chick Fiction Chart, and although I am not a chick, I am fiction and hot, so I was very pleased.

I thought I would go … although the event was always held in one of those huge glittering dining rooms with mirrored walls and doors, and after only a couple of drinks it all got very confusing. The last time I was blundering about for ages trying to sneak out to the (very swish) ladies’ cloakroom until a waiter kindly took pity on me and opened a door, though fortunately I was far from being the only one batting against the walls like a moth against a lantern, so the staff were used to it, and they might as well detail one of those nice young men to point out the door permanently at these functions and have done with it.

Just as well I already had the suit I bought for the Brown’s Flowers of Fiction thing because there was no time to find anything new. I wondered whether if I wore my amazing corset-style bustier under it that would be too over-the-top for lunchtime in more ways than one …

Miracle didn’t ask me to sit at her table for the lunch, like she usually did (though she always expected me to pay for my own ticket), but there is a limit to the number of blonde one-hit wonders you can accommodate at one table, and at this rate they would soon only be able to attend stand-up buffets.

Seventeen

Fresh Cuttings

NOVELTINA LITERARY AND CRITICAL AGENCY

Mudlark Cottage, The Harbour, Shrimphaven

Dear Neville Strudwick,

Thank you for your letter.

No, I absolutely can’t make any exceptions among my authors, and so will unfortunately have to decline that dinner invitation. I have heard that the Robust Langoustine at Priory Chase is very well thought of, though, so perhaps you and your friend George could enjoy that ‘intimate dinner for two’ instead?

I am so glad you are pressing on with your rewrite, but unhappily, due to sheer pressure of work, I find I will be unable to critique the finished novel after all, which in any case might now be much better suited to a male reader. I have suggested one or two names and addresses for you to try on a separate sheet, and wish you good luck with your future writing.

Yours sincerely,

Tina Devino