‘I thought you knew by now I’m not very good at saying things for effect,’ Jack said. ‘If you can’t be honest with someone, then what’s the point? Of course, one should always be tactful, but…’ He shrugged to punctuate the point, then tilted his head. ‘And now you’re studying me as though I’m a very rare specimen. What’s going through that brain of yours now?’

To be honest, there was a lot going through my brain, or rather being washed around by several glasses of expensive champagne. One of the thoughts was that I was staring at one of the best-looking men I’d ever met. The truth was I liked this new Jack, not just because he was jaw-droppingly handsome, but because he was kind and thoughtful and also because he challenged me. He didn’t pander and he certainly didn’t take any bullshit.

‘I was wondering if you might like to dance?’

A dance floor had been set up in one part of the venue, and it was already beginning to get quite crowded as a DJ, apparently someone extremely well-known but whose name meant nothing to me, was seamlessly mixing one track into another.

‘Somehow, I don’t believe that was the only thing you were thinking, but yes, I would like to dance,’ he said, taking a step closer to me. ‘Very much so.’

I couldn’t remember the last time I’d danced in public. Normally, I kept my moves to myself, although I now shared them with Clive as I prepared dinner or baked in the kitchen. But here I was, at an after-party of a major film premiere, dancing among faces I recognised from the big and small screen and opposite Jack Coulsdon-Hart. When I made a change, I certainly didn’t do it by halves.

As the music shifted to a slower pace, various couples paired up, some of which surprised me, but I did my best not to show it.

‘May I have this dance?’ Jack asked.

I looked up into the handsome face that now had a hint of seriousness about it and realised he was unsure of my answer. A few months ago, I would have politely turned him down. But now I didn’t want to.

I nodded in acceptance and felt my body fizz with excitement as one strong arm slipped around my waist pulling me closer, and the other gently took my hand. He led confidently and skilfully, and as one song merged into another there was a brief question in his eyes. I held myself just that little bit closer to him as an answer and we continued the dance. The music was loud and whenever Jack wanted to speak to me, he had to bend until his lips almost brushed my ear to make himself heard. Every time he did, a fresh wave of excitement rushed through my body in a way that it hadn’t done in over a decade.

It was nearly three o’clock in the morning by the time we’d done our rounds of goodbyes, practically falling into the limousine waiting to take us to the hotel, which thankfully wasn’t far. The doorman opened the car door, but it was Jack who helped me from the limo and offered me his arm as we walked into the hotel foyer, a shining confection of white marble, crystal chandeliers and subtle gold accents. I was grateful of his strong body next to me, due to both the heels and the copious amounts of champagne I had imbibed during the evening, but also because it felt nice. Walking in tonight, in fact the whole evening spent with Jack just felt right but I wasn’t ready to acknowledge that, let alone accept it.