‘You still up for coming to visit my parents?’ said Jack.

I could hardly say no, knowing the premiere was looming, and the relief on my agent’s face when I told her there was a chance I’d be coming for a short time had been obvious.

‘The publishers will be thrilled, darling. This will give us more exposure and more leverage when it comes to negotiating your next contract.’

I tried not to freak out at the word exposure and concentrate on the fact that I didn’t have to stay long, and that I had moral support in the large form of Jack. Assuming he didn’t disappear off with a starlet/model/both. I hadn’t actually considered how many beautiful people I’d be surrounded by, and decided it was best not to go down that road.

‘I said I would.’

‘I know. It’s just that I think it’s fair to warn you—’

‘Oh God. This sounds bad. Is it bad?’

‘If you stop panicking for a moment, I’ll tell you.’

I sat down immediately and looked up, feeling my eyes wide as I waited for the news.

‘My parents felt the best thing to do, having not seen their eldest son for several years, was to make a gathering of it. It seems they’ve invited a few people.’

‘How many is a few?’ I asked.

He was shifting his feet and making a conscious attempt not to let his gaze meet mine. ‘Mmmfty or so,’ he mumbled, suddenly incredibly interested in the poker resting on the fireplace.

‘I’m sorry. How many?’

He let out a sigh. ‘Forty or so.’

‘That’s not a gathering.’ I shot up. ‘That’s a bloody party!’

‘Two hundred is a party in their eyes.’

‘Oh God. That’s a lot of people.’

‘To be fair, there’ll be a lot more than that at the premiere.’

I shot him a look and he held up his hands. ‘Sorry. I was just saying.’

‘I realise that, but having to deal with a large gathering there is part of my work. This is supposed to be moral support for you, to reunite with your family, not visit with half the bloody county.’

‘That’s a bit of an exaggeration.’

‘For someone who rarely leaves their house, believe me, it feels like the entire county. I was being generous.’

‘Point taken.’

I began chewing the corner of my lip.

‘You don’t have to come. I’m sorry. I only just found out about this. It’s not what you agreed to. I promise it will have no bearing on me coming to your event. I already agreed to that, and I won’t go back on that.’

I looked out of the window at the twilight settling around the garden and countryside beyond. Stars began to glitter in the sky and somewhere the remnants of an earlier bonfire drifted wisps of smoke and the faint smell of embers floated through the still open window.

‘No. I agreed to come, and I will. You volunteered to support me. It’s only fair I stick to my promise too. How bad could it be?’ I forced a laugh which I immediately swallowed as I looked back at Jack and saw the expression on his face.