Come up

But as the last guests departed Irene looked wordlessly at Murad Fullbuster and drew a deep breath she let out very, very slowly.

His eyes crinkled at the corners. ‘That was quite a performance, Ms Josephine. I salute you. But would I be right in thinking you’re exhausted?’

‘I feel as if I’ve been through a wringer,’ she said candidly.

‘Then go through to the green room,’ he instructed. ‘I’ll bring a restorative.’ Irene hesitated. ‘I should be going home.’

‘In a while. Here we go.’ He scooped two glasses of champagne from a passing waitress. ‘After you.’

She hesitated a moment longer, then did as she was told. This time, her second visit to the green room, she sat down on a settee and removed her shoes with a genuine sigh of relief. ‘Sorry,’ she murmured as she arched her feet and accepted her glass from him. ‘New shoes.’ She studied her feet, then lifted her head to him. ‘That was quite a party. I guess it’s going to take some deconstructing.’

‘Diane and Jake are experts at it—they’r