She said it with such a puzzled air, that Charity and Maggie caught each other’s eye and grinned and the next moment, all four of them were laughing. The airman had sent them quite giddy. Nancy’s donkey laugh was drawing glances from the other guests, but none of them cared.

Oh, this was fun. Despite the horrid start to the evening, Maggie was actually enjoying herself. Maybe tonight wasn’t turning out so bad after all.

‘Excuse me, Miss.’ A balding middle-aged man in a dogtooth checked jacket was tapping Maggie on the shoulder.

Still laughing, she turned to face him. She covered her mouth with her hand. ‘Yes?’

‘Is there any chance,’ he asked pleasantly, nodding at the woman by his side, ‘that my wife could have a glass of water, please?’

Maggie’s hand dropped. Goodness. A waitress! Even without a frilly white apron, one of the guests thought she was a waitress. It was too humiliating.

Pam and Nancy were nudging one another and trying – unsuccessfully – not to giggle.

Charity glared at them until they stopped and immediately accosted a passing waiter. ‘I’m sure this chap can help you, Sir,’ she said to the man in the checked jacket.

She took Maggie’s arm and steered her away. ‘Silly old duffer,’ she muttered. ‘Here, take this.’ She pulled the cream lace shawl from her shoulders with a flick of her wrist and held it out to Maggie between two fingers.

‘No, I couldn’t possibly—’

Charity shoved her wine glass into Pam’s free hand, her cigarette holder into Nancy’s and arranged the shawl around Maggie’s shoulders.

‘There! I know how it is when you don’t have time to get ready, press a frock or find the right thing,’ she said.

‘But Maggie had lots of—’ Nancy started. She stopped as Charity shot her a dirty look.

There was a moment’s awkward silence.

Nancy bit her lip and looked remorseful. ‘That shawl does look well on you, Maggie,’ she said.

‘Yes,’ Pam said. ‘It suits you, I must say.’

Charity gave them both an approving nod. She took back her glass and cigarette holder and looked appraisingly at Maggie. ‘It looks perfect. To be honest, I was wondering whether a shawl was rather de trop with this frock, so you’ve done me a favour.’

Maggie blushed. They were all staring at her.

Charity raised her glass to her lips and her attention was caught by something. She gave a little start of recognition. ‘Oh, I say, there’s Esther!’ She stood on tiptoe and waved to someone on the lawn behind them. ‘ESTHER!’

They all turned to look at a woman twenty yards away, wearing a long crimson gown and matching turban.

‘Oh! Do you know Lady Ashford?’ Pam asked, sounding impressed.