Rosalee sat beside Briony, a weak rum punch in her hand. Briony noticed she had difficulty in holding the glass and took it from her gently, holding it to her lips. Rosalee sipped it and Briony smiled at her.

‘All right, Rosalee?’

‘Bri ... Bri ...’

Her voice was lower than usual. She held her right arm to her chest, her expression pained.

Briony decided that as soon as Christmas was over she was taking her sister back to the Mile End Hospital and getting her the once over by Dr Matherson. He liked Rosalee and was good with her. She wasn’t right, and Briony wondered if maybe her sister was getting her change. Maybe it was coming early? She seemed to sweat an awful lot lately, as cold as it was out, and she seemed to be bloated around the face though she was losing weight. Her arm seemed to pain her as well. There was something not right with her.

Briony kissed her face gently and Rosalee smiled, looking more like her old self.

Briony’s eyes strayed to Tommy, her own personal present. Together they made one hell of a team. There was a knock at the front door and she got up to greet Mariah. Now everyone was here they could sit down to eat.

‘Come in and get your coat off. We’re eating soon. Have you been to the houses, is that why you’re late?’ Briony raised an eyebrow and Mariah laughed.

‘Well, let’s just say I had a quick peep! It’s always a busy night and I thought I’d give the girls a bit of moral support.’

‘You’re coming to Midnight Mass, I take it?’

Mariah slipped off her coat and displayed a white and gold evening dress that was gaudy and tight and much too young for her. ‘Of course. If Mary Magdalene was good enough for old JC, I’m sure I am.’

Briony laughed at the blasphemy, though she wouldn’t have if anyone else had said it.

Bernadette was quiet and Briony found her eyes straying to her throughout dinner. She hardly ate anything, and there was a tracery of fine lines around her eyes that was more pronounced than usual. She wished Bernie would smarten herself up. It wasn’t as if she had no time, everything was done for her. She could spend time on herself if she wanted to.