‘It’s George’s firm’s annual do. I have to be there for the duration. Ordinarily it wouldn’t matter if I left early, but there’s stuff going on that makes him need support just now.’ ‘Whose career is more important?’ Trish hadn’t heard Antony’s voice as steely and precise for a long time. She couldn’t answer. ‘Come on. Be honest, Trish. Whatever you feel for him, you’ve got to look after yourself. If your practice is to survive, let alone thrive, you need to be seen to be untouched by all this publicity. Gina Mayford has promised to play, so you get yourself into your best frock and be on my doorstep no later than eight o’clock on the sixth of January. Is that understood?’ ‘Mrs Mayford?’ ‘Luckily she’s on your side. I phoned her to ask for help and she was generous enough to agree at once. She’s going to get the Mercury to print a retraction tomorrow, so you don’t need to do anything about that, and she’ll show everyone at the party how much she trusts you.
