appeared in the witness box, he hadn't given Danny a second look-no doubt part of the tactics Craig had advised him to adopt.
Danny helped himself to a smoked salmon blini while listening to Craig's conversation with the two girls. He was delivering an obviously well-rehearsed line about the courtroom being rather like the theater, except that you never know when the curtain will fall. Both girls dutifully laughed.
'Very true,' said Danny in a loud voice. Craig and Payne both looked at him, but without a flicker of recognition, despite the fact that they had seen him in the dock only two years before, but at that time his hair had been a lot shorter, he had been unshaven and wearing prison clothes. In any case, why should they give Danny Cartwright a thought? After all, he was dead and buried.
'How are you getting on, Nick?' Danny turned to find Paul standing by his side.
'Very well, thank you,' said Danny. 'Better than I expected,' he added without explanation. Danny took a pace closer to Craig and Payne so that they could hear his voice, but nothing seemed to distract them from their conversation with the two girls.
A burst of applause erupted around the room, and all heads turned to watch Lawrence Davenport as he made his entrance. He smiled and waved as if he were visiting royalty. He made his way slowly across the floor, receiving plaudits and praise with every step he took. Danny remembered F. Scott Fitzgerald's haunting line:
'Would you like to meet him?' asked Paul, who had noticed that Danny couldn't take his eyes off Davenport.
'Yes, I would,' said Danny, curious to discover if the actor would treat him with the same indifference as his fellow Musketeers.
'Then follow me.' They began to make slow progress across the crowded ballroom, but before they reached Davenport, Danny came to a sudden halt. He stared at the woman the actor was addressing, with whom it was clear that he was on intimate terms.
'So good-looking,' said Danny.
'Yes, he is, isn't he,' agreed Paul, but before Danny could correct him, he said, 'Larry, I want you to meet a friend of mine, Nick Moncrieff.'
Davenport didn't bother to shake hands with Danny; he was just another face in the crowd hoping for an audience. Danny smiled at Davenport 's girlfriend.
'Hello,' she said. 'I'm Sarah.'
'Nick. Nick Moncrieff,' he replied. 'You must be an actress.'
'No, far less glamorous. I'm a solicitor.'
'You don't look like a solicitor,' said Danny. Sarah didn't respond. She had clearly heard that dull response before.
'And are you an actor?' she asked.
'I'll be whatever you want me to be,' Danny replied, and this time she did smile.
'Hi, Sarah,' said another young man, putting an arm around her waist. 'You are without question the most gorgeous woman in the room,' he said before kissing her on both cheeks. Sarah laughed. 'I'd be flattered, Charlie, if I didn't know that it's my brother you really fancy, not me.'
'Are you Lawrence Davenport's sister?' said Danny in disbelief.
'Someone has to be,' said Sarah. 'But I've learned to live with it.'
'What about your friend?' said Charlie, smiling at Danny.
'I don't think so,' said Sarah. 'Nick, this is Charlie Duncan, the play's producer.'
'Pity,' said Charlie, and turned his attention to the young men who were surrounding Davenport.
'I think he fancies you,' said Sarah.
'But I'm not…'
'I'd just about worked that out,' said Sarah with a grin.
Danny continued to flirt with Sarah, aware that he no longer needed to bother with Davenport when his sister could undoubtedly tell him everything he needed to know.
'Perhaps we might-' began Danny, when another voice said, 'Hi, Sarah, I was wondering if…'
'Hello, Spencer,' she said coldly. 'Do you know Nick Moncrieff?'
'No,' he replied, and after a cursory handshake, he continued his conversation with Sarah. 'I was just coming across to tell Larry how brilliant he was when I spotted you.'
'Well, now's your chance,' said Sarah.
'But I was also hoping to have a word with you.'
'I was just about to leave,' said Sarah, checking her watch.
'But the party's only just begun, can't you hang around a little longer?'
'I'm afraid not, Spencer. I need to go over some papers before briefing counsel.'
'It's just that I was hoping…'
'Just as you were on the last occasion we met.'
'I think we got off on the wrong foot.'
'I seem to remember it being the wrong hand,' said Sarah, turning her back on him.
'Sorry about that, Nick,' said Sarah. 'Some men don't know when to take no for an answer, while others…' She gave him a gentle smile. 'I hope we'll meet again.'
'How do I-' began Danny, but Sarah was already halfway across the ballroom; the kind of woman who assumes that if you want to find her, you will. Danny turned back to see Craig looking more closely at him.
'Spencer, good of you to come,' said Davenport. 'Was I all right tonight?'
'Never better,' said Craig.
Danny thought it was time to leave. He no longer needed to talk to Davenport, and like Sarah, he also had a meeting he had to prepare for. He intended to be wide awake when the auctioneer called for an opening bid for Lot 37.
'Hi, stranger. Where did you disappear to?'
'Ran into an old enemy,' said Danny. 'And you?'
'The usual bunch. So boring,' said Katie. 'I've had enough of this party. How about you?'
'I was just leaving.'
'Good idea,' said Katie, taking him by the hand. 'Why don't we jump ship together?'
They walked across the ballroom and headed toward the swing doors. Once Katie had stepped out onto the pavement, she hailed a taxi.
'Where to, miss?' asked the driver.
'Where are we going?' Katie asked Nick.
'Twelve The Boltons.'
'Right you are, guv,' said the cabbie, which brought back unhappy memories for Danny.
Danny hadn't even sat down before he felt a hand on his thigh. Katie's other arm draped around his neck, and she pulled him toward her.
'I'm sick of being the understudy,' she said. 'I'm going to take the lead for a change.' She leaned across and kissed him.
By the time the taxi drew up outside Nick's home, there were very few buttons left to undo. Katie jumped out of the cab and ran up the drive as Danny paid for a second taxi that night.
'I wish I was your age,' remarked the cabbie.
Danny laughed and joined Katie at the front door. It took him some time to get the key in the lock, and as they stumbled into the hall she pulled off his jacket. They left a trail of clothes all the way from the front door to the bedroom. She dragged him onto the bed and pulled him on top of her. Something else Danny hadn't experienced for a long time.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
