Happily Ever After. Harriet Evans

PC. He got loads of press for it. And Bookprint’s sponsoring it, guess that’s why Libby’s so keen on him.’ His smile became politely fixed as Tom reappeared.

      ‘Thanks, mate,’ Rory said, taking the glass off him. ‘Was just telling Elby about the Dora Trust, very exciting, etc. etc. How’s it all going?’

      ‘Good,’ said Tom. ‘We had a meeting with a PR agency last week. And we’re getting a website, though I’ve no idea what we’ll actually put on it. It’s Greek to me at the moment.’

      An agent, a young, wiry guy called Peter Dunlop, plucked at Rory’s sleeve. ‘Rory, hey. How are you?’

      Elle scrunched up her nose. ‘Well, we set up a MyHeart database, you’d be amazed how many people have the Internet at home now. Or they just give us their work addresses. We email them once a month to let them know what the new releases are and give them special offers. I know it’s silly, but—’

      ‘No,’ Tom said. ‘No, that’s not silly at all. It’s great. Why would you think that?’

      Elle was embarrassed to find herself blushing. ‘You know, romances, all that. It’s not on a par with –’ She waved her arm round the room. ‘You know.’

      Tom smiled in amusement. ‘Are you indicating the Groucho? Or –’ He looked out over the rainy street below, streaked in yellow from the lights. ‘Or the district of London? Or the amazing literary wonderment that is the firm of Eyre and Alcock?’

      She laughed ‘I suppose the latter.’

      ‘They were going out of business before Bookprint bought them up, don’t forget. Bluebird’s still making money, it’s practically the only old independent left.’

      He stopped, as Peter Dunlop nudged him. ‘Hey, Tom, what are you saying about Bluebird?’

      ‘Just singing its praises,’ Tom said. ‘Especially its excellent MyHeart imprint. I hear the books on that list are brilliantly edited.’

      Peter said, ‘You heard the rumour it’s up for sale? Rory says it’s rubbish.’

      ‘It is rubbish.’ Rory was smaller than both of them. He craned his neck up and said firmly, ‘It’s absolutely not true. We’re doing great.’ Elle watched him, trying not to smile; she found Rory at his most hilarious and strangely adorable when he was trying to play with the big boys, she didn’t know why.

      ‘That’s not what I heard,’ said the remorseless Peter. ‘I heard the cousins, Harold Sassoon and that lot, want to get more money out of the company. They think Felicity’s losing her touch. Sorry, mate.’

      ‘Again,’ said Rory, shifting his weight from one foot to another and smiling patiently, ‘it’s not true. Everything’s fine. These stories only come up because people are jealous, they want to see us go under, just because we’re the last of the old school. You know Felicity. She’ll buy some book for two K tomorrow and it’ll sell a million.’

      Peter Dunlop shrugged. ‘Bluebird turned down Polly Pearson because of her, we all know that. That’s what I mean about losing her touch. No offence.’

      There was a short pause. The success of Polly Pearson Finds a Man and the subsequent two follow-ups, Polly Pearson’s Big Drama