I sighed. Perhaps a little too loudly, because Godfrey turned his head, concerned. “Are you well, Clara dear?”

“Yes, perfectly, thank you.” I tried to brighten my expression. “I was just … Godfrey, don’t you ever think that the way we do a film, cutting it in bits, then sticking them together, is just … lying?”

His elegant features disappeared under a beaming smile. “Oh, Clara, you are wonderful! It is not lying, it is illusion, which is the essence of entertainment! Audiences don’t care if what they see is authentic. They only want to be moved, to tears or laughter or both. So that’s what we do for them: we give them what they want. And it’s not cutting up and sticking together, it’s called editing. Here, let me pour you some more bubbly. Good for a weary soul, don’t y’know.”

I put my hand over my glass. “No, thank you, Godfrey. And my soul is not weary, but I’m afraid my body is. Would you be so good as to call me a taxi? I simply must go back and get some sleep.”

This speech was worthy of Jeanette or Simona or even, I supposed, Marjorie. It came out in a high, clipped tone I did not recognize as my own voice. Yet when I was with these people I could not help copying their speech. David’s “stuff and nonsense!” and Godfrey’s frequent unquestioning question, “don’t y’know”, would never find their way into the mouths of anyone at home, yet they seemed natural to me now.

I was half proud and half ashamed. I longed to be accepted by these people, yet I did not feel comfortable in their world. I admired and despised them simultaneously. Even my infatuation with David did not smother the knowledge that his behaviour was erratic and sometimes unfathomable. And yet I wanted him desperately, as desperately as I wanted to be in, and yet not of, this topsy-turvy out-of-sequence world.

“Oh, come on, Clara,” called Robert, who had overheard my request. “This place serves after hours. It’s got good strong doors and an excellent warning system, so don’t worry about the police and their silly licensing laws.” He raised his glass. “We’ll be here till dawn and go straight to Sheppers in the morning!”

I used my new voice again, giggling apologetically. “But I need my beauty sleep!” I trilled, leaving unsaid the reason, but knowing it was implied: after all, I am the star!

Aidan shot me an amused look, the first look of any kind he had given me that evening. “Better do as the lady wishes, Godfrey. When Miss Hope speaks, we obey.”

Godfrey whispered something to a waiter, and we said our goodbyes, kissing cheeks as was the fashion in Paris, and therefore in London. Robert and Godfrey expressed their regret that I was leaving so early, but Simona said nothing. I was glad she was jealous of me. And if Aidan was truly what she wanted, she was welcome to him.