Okay.That was decent tantrum-management: get Wesley off hissoapbox and out of public view with a show of sympathy.Laurierisked looking again.But Wesley remained poised exactly where hewas, Brett and the audience attentively waiting.“She said,” Wesleybegan—and his projection was better now, as if he'd been waitingfor a full house—“that Valentine’s costumes from three monthsago—three fucking months!—wouldn't fit unless I wore afull-compression body shaper.Then she had the goddamn nerve tooffer me her nip-tuck guy for some botox shots.”Wesley folded hisarms.A horrible smile snaked across the outrage in his face, andLaurie thought—Christ, you're enjoyingthis!“Jesus.Even if I took her shapervest, I wouldn't take her doctor on a silver plate.Look at thefucking state of her, the shrivelled-up tramp.”
“Oh Christ, this is ridiculous,” Laurie muttered.Zara hadsucceeded in getting him out of his shirt and into the silken togaalmost unnoticed.He waited till she'd cinched its broad belt tightround his waist, then he stepped out of her net of tapes and fabricswatches.She made a grab at him which he neatly evaded.He feltlike a soldier called up to some absurd battle where he didn't givea damn for either side, but a gentleman could only take so much.Hestrode in amongst the spectators.Wesley swung round to look athim, which was useful.“Hoi, you,” Laurie called.“Yes,you—Valentine.Don't talk to her like that.”
DouglasBrett grabbed Laurie by the back of the belt.His grip was harderthan Zara's and he dragged him to a halt.“Fitzroy,” he saidwarningly.“It's not the right thing to do.”
“Youdo the right thing, then.Bringyour actor into line.”
“What?”Wesley demanded.He'd finally noticed Laurie.“Who thefucking hell are you?”
It wasjust possible he didn't know.He'd made himself scarce when Lauriehad first arrived that morning, during the introductions when evenNicole had condescended to give him the tips of her fingers.He waslooking Laurie over with the best display of blank contempt hecould manage, but Laurie saw where his gaze stopped: his shoulders,his hips, the absurd belt that would never fasten aroundValentine's waist again.Laurie saw Wesley's weak spot, and a devilrose up in him.“Me?”he said cheerfully.“I'm the bloke who's cometo replace you.”
Wesleywent white, then scarlet.For a moment Laurie thought he would leapdown from his perch and take him on.He readied himself.A hell ofa scene for his first day on set, but maybe a punch-up would settlethings...But now at last Douglas did intervene.He pushed Lauriebehind him.“Wesley,” he said, calmly as a chess player reviewinghis board, deciding which piece he could sacrifice.“No-one's aboutto replace you.You're happy with your contract, aren'tyou?”
“Yes, but...”
“That's right.It's watertight.So is Mr Fitzroy's here, so Ican't get rid of him for you, even if I wanted to.Bearing all thatin mind, what do you want?”
“Fire Libby Palermo.Not instead of him—because ofhim.”
Douglasshrugged easily.“Okay.Done.”
Lauriestruggled free.“What?No!You heard how he was speaking to her—Iwas trying to...”
“Knight-in-shining-armour tricks are great for the screen, MrFitzroy.In life, you're as liable to run the maiden over with yourhorse.”
That gota big sudden laugh from the crowd.Laurie stepped back, aghast.Even Wesley was smiling, coming down off his stool as if honour hadbeen satisfied.The tensions in the room dispersed, focus shifting.“Good,” Douglas continued.“All right.Back to work, everyone.Bailey Price, Mr Fitzroy, I need you ready in twentyminutes—costume, makeup, then we run the market-place sequenceagain.Miss Palermo, please collect your things.A security officerwill accompany you out.”
Laurielooked frantically around him.The crowd was beginning to scatter.Off in her cubicle, Nicole had returned to her magazine as ifnothing had happened.“No,” he said again, to anyone who wouldlisten.“Mr Brett!For God's sake, I never meant to...”
ButBrett was already halfway through the double doors.Beached,desolate, Laurie stood in his semi-pornographic priest'soutfit—whose historical authenticity could only have existed in themind of its creator—and watched him go.
Something bumped his shoulder hard from behind.He whippedround.There was Libby Palermo, a box file clutched to her chest,laptop case clasped tight.If she'd had a hand free, Laurie thoughtshe'd have taken his eyes out with one swipe.“Libby...”
“Don't you say a word to me, you arrogant fuck!”
“I tried to stay out of it.But I can’t let anyone attack awoman and—”
“Oh, and what, Sir Galahad?”Her impression of his accent wascruel but accurate.“Jolly well get away with it?Wesley Lombardloses his shit with someone here three times a week.He gets overit, unless some goddamn little English prick comes along and pusheshim over the edge.”
“I'll talk to Brett.I'll get you your job back.”
“Don't you dare say or do one more thing.”Her face was a rigidmask, but to Laurie's horror tears suddenly gathered in her eyes.“Jesus.I've been with this production for five years.”
“Miss Palermo?”
Theyboth flinched.A uniformed security guard had appeared at Libby'selbow.“I'll need to take a look at that file before you leave, I'mafraid, ma'am.And make a brief scan of your computer.”
“You're kidding.Who would I sell the plot of this turkeyto—Vampire SesameStreet?”
“Nevertheless, ma'am.”
“All right, I'm coming.”She turned back to Laurie, gaze aridlydry once again.“Good luck, Your Lordship.You've made an enemy ofWesley Lombard, and he won't forget it unless you can give him tenyears of your life and take seven inches off his hips.”She paused.For a moment Laurie thought she would soften, but she was onlyshifting focus, taking another view.“But you know what?It's yourbuddy Bailey Price who'll bringyoudown.I can see it in your eyes—that same greatbig hole that can't ever be filled.What is it for you—smack?Booze?You hide it better, don't you?For now, anyway.Don't worry,he'll bring it out in you.If it's there, he'll bring itout.”
Chapter Seventeen
Despiteeverything, Laurie had only been an hour or so late home.Sasha hadgreeted him quietly—taken instant pity on his headache and fatigueand steered him up to bed.Only when Laurie was lying in the sweetcool twilight, an ice pack on his brow, had Sasha ventured to askabout his day.And Laurie had told him all about it.Almostall...
“So...let me get this straight.You had a row with yourco-star, got someone fired and went out on the lash with someonewho sounds like he should be in rehab?”
