It is perhaps most feverishly imagined divorce hearing ever seen in the British courts: the cross-examination of Paul McCartney, the former Beatle, by Heather Mills, his volatile wife of four years vying for a hefty slice of his considerable fortune.

Today, after a six-day hearing behind closed doors at London’s High Court, Ms Mills and Mr McCartney moved one step closer to a lurid public airing of their four-year marriage after apparently failing to reach a settlement.

Speaking as he left the court this morning, Nicholas Mostyn, the lawyer representing Mr McCartney, confirmed that Judge Hugh Bennett had retired to consider the case and would give his ruling in several weeks’ time.

Unsourced newspaper reports at the weekend had claimed that the couple had thrashed out a deal between each other, but the reserved judgement confirms otherwise.

Should either side disagree with the ruling, the case would then go to the Court of Appeal, where it would be heard in public. The former Beatle is said to want to avoid such a media spectacle but Ms Mills has made no secret of the fact she considers herself the victim in their marriage and would willingly seek redress in a public forum.

The High Court judgement will remain private, unless the pair decide otherwise.

Mr McCartney, 65, and Ms Mills, 40, announced their separation in May 2006 after four years of marriage during which they had a daughter, Beatrice, now aged four. The musician then filed for divorce on the grounds of unreasonable behaviour on his wife’s part.

They have been in legal discussions ever since to determine how much the former model turned charity campaigner would receive from Mr McCartney’s estimated £825 million fortune. The wrangling has seen Ms Mills, derided in the tabloid press as an emotionally unstable banshee, break down in tears on television and publicly accuse her husband of alcoholism and abuse.

Ms Mills was beaming today as she left the court with her entourage. Mr McCartney did not attend, although he was in court to face his estranged wife every day last week. He was believed to be rehearsing for the Brit Awards on Wednesday, where he is due to perform a medley of hits.

Subject to a strict confidentiality order, the pair revealed nothing about proceedings to the media camped outside the court, but it emerged that Ms Mills was acting for herself after a falling out with her law firm, Mischcon de Reya, and as such would cross-examine her husband herself.

Media reports have suggested Mr McCartney offered his wife around £25 million, but that she is seeking around double that amount. Other points of contention are said to include provisions for Ms Mills’ security and the inclusion of a confidentiality clause preventing her from selling her story to the media, or co-operating with a film or book about the marriage.

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