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your news,” Ellie called to Sophie, who had gone into the back room to put the kettle on. “What’s this about the pot?”
    â€œWell!” Sophie reappeared with a smile on her face. “Like I said, it’s not confirmed yet, but a man phoned me up the other day and said he was interested in my pots. He’d seen them in the little gallery near where I live, and had picked up one of my cards. He was particularly interested in my glazes, you know, the colours I use, because I mix them myself.”
    â€œThat’s great!” said Ellie, feeling very pleased for her friend. “You’re on your way.”
    Sophie bit her lip. “It is great,” she said. “Or at least it will be if he really does buy one.” She paused, and looked at Ellie. Her eyes were shining, and there was an undercurrent of nervous excitement in her voice. “Especially,” she went on, “as I thought I recognized his name, he’s called Mark Kettle. When I looked him up on the internet I discovered that he’s a big name in the ceramics community as an avid collector of studio pottery.”
    â€œReally?”
    â€œYes. And he has a load of workshops he rents to craftspeople, next to his museum, with a restaurant attached. He’s a celebrated patron of the arts, Ellie…but…”
    â€œWhat?” Ellie was puzzled. “Aren’t you thrilled?”
    â€œI just wish now that I hadn’t told Flynn. He’s gone totally over the top about it. He thinks I’m going to be famous overnight, a recognized studio potter who every gallery will want to collect. But it’s not like that! I’m only just starting out. I’m thrilled that Mark Kettle has noticed me. It’s fantastic, but if he is genuinely interested he’ll want to see how I develop over the years. He’s not going to rush off and announce to everyone in the art world that he’s discovered a genius.”
    Ellie could see what Sophie meant. “Well, Flynn will get over it,” she said, giving Sophie a hug. “He’s proud of you, that’s all.”
    â€œI know,” said Sophie with a crooked smile. “I just wish he’d rein back his enthusiasm a bit. It’s all totally impossible to live up to.” Her phone buzzed and she looked at the screen. “He’s on his way down. Now please, Ellie, try not to encourage him.”
    Before Ellie could reply, Flynn appeared at the door with a beaming smile across his face. “Ellie! How are you? Have you heard Sophie’s news?”
    Ellie grinned back at him. “Yes I have. And I’m very well thank you, and glad to be back at Heart .”
    â€œGood. So, aren’t you impressed? I am.”
    â€œOf course I am. It’s great news!” said Ellie, trying to walk the narrow line between sounding too enthusiastic, which would annoy Sophie, and sounding totally disinterested, which would probably upset Flynn. “Guess what!” she added, trying to steer the subject away from Sophie and her pots. “I’m trying to get an interview with Charlie Daniels.” But Flynn couldn’t be deflected. He was opening his laptop as Ellie spoke, and didn’t seem to have heard her at all.
    â€œI bookmarked Mark Kettle’s website,” he said. “You won’t believe how influential he is!” He put the laptop on the table, and opened it up. “He’s an entrepreneur,” he told Ellie. “And a patron of the arts. Apparently he’s seen everywhere with famous people. He’s seriously good news. Just imagine. Sophie could end up with her work in his collection of modern European studio pottery. How about that?”
    Before Ellie could frame a sensible answer, Flynn clicked on another page in the website.
    â€œYou can read about him here.”
    Ellie was actually quite interested in finding out a bit about the man who might be buying one of