She is the beautiful poet 32 years his junior who is believed to be helping nurse Sir Salman Rushdie back to health.

Rachel Eliza Griffiths, 43, enjoyed a romantic 'writer's retreat' with Sir Salman in a 15th-century Italian castle just weeks before a crazed knifeman tried to stab the 75-year-old author of The Satanic Verses to death.

Last night Dana Prescott, who organised the retreat, confirmed the couple spent 18 days together at Civitella Ranieri Castle in Umbria last month and claimed Sir Salman declined her offer to provide security.

'I did ask him if he had any security concerns as I am able to ask the carabinieri [police] to attend our events, or be present at the entrance, and he said, 'Absolutely not, that is in my past.''

Ms Prescott said the couple gave a joint talk at the castle.

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Rachel Eliza Griffiths (pictured), 43, enjoyed a romantic 'writer's retreat' with Sir Salman Rushdie weeks before the attack in New York

Sir Salman has been under a 'fatwa', or death sentence, since 1989 when his controversial novel was called blasphemous by some Muslims. 

Last night he remained in hospital with life-changing injuries after being stabbed 15 times in the neck and torso at a literary event in New York state on August 12. His agent has said he may lose an eye.

Suspect Hadi Matar, 24, appeared in court last week and pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and assault.

It is unclear when love first blossomed for American-born Ms Griffiths and the author. 

Her social media account contains photographs of the pair at events beginning in 2017 and she was by Sir Salman's side when he celebrated his 72nd birthday in London in June 2019. 

They were photographed together at literary gatherings in New York and London earlier this year.

She is represented by the same New York literary agency, Wylie, as four times-married Sir Salman.

His last wife was Padma Lakshmi, the television host and model, with the couple splitting in 2007.

When Ms Griffiths published her first book of poems and photographs in 2020, Seeing The Body, she cryptically thanked: 'My beautiful and extraordinary love, S.'

Public records in the US appear to show Ms Griffiths and Sir Salman may have purchased a home together in Delaware earlier this year.

While she has declined to comment publicly on the attack, she posted a photograph on Instagram for her 6,500 followers this week of herself in a field of sunflowers writing: 'Gathering every strength and wound love gives us. Let me have awe', followed by a praying hands emoji.

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Left to Right: Milan Rushdie, Eliza Griffiths, Salman Rushdie, Natalie Rushdie and Zafar Rushdie attend The 2019 Booker Prize at The Guildhall on  October 14, 2019 in London