Zachary was besotted with Lydia, Christine explained, but he didn’t think he had a chance, he saw that all her attention was for Alex. And anyway he believed she was a goddess, and was so sweetly modest he’d never hope that goddesses might condescend to him. He didn’t think he was much good with women, not in that way: although he was quite wrong, he could make any woman very happy. Lydia’s face for once was quite slack and empty with surprise as she took in what her friend was telling her. Then gradually her expression filled up with new knowledge – which was not even slyly jubilant, only disturbed and heavy. — But are you quite sure? she insisted.

— Aren’t you sure too, now you think about it?

Slowly, one by one, Lydia picked up all the rest of the slices of Mars bar in her chipped, blue-painted nails, and ate them. Christine wouldn’t sit down with her at the table or even take her coat off. — You can have the whole thing now, if you want it, Lyd, she said. — I mean, the money and the beautiful houses and the life of leisure and everything you were selling so hard to me. You might as well, because I don’t think Alex is interested.

She saw how carefully Lydia was listening.

Alex came with Juliet to Lydia and Zachary’s wedding and they both drank too much champagne. Apparently they were back together but it wasn’t working out, and Alex’s best-man speech was so sardonic no one knew whether to laugh. Sandy was obnoxious, running out of control, pretending to knock into the guests’ wine glasses accidentally. Christine had asked Lydia before the wedding how she felt now about Alex. Lydia was sublimely assured, impatient as if Christine were dragging up ancient history. — Oh no, all that’s completely over. It was just a silly game. You were right at the time, you’re always right. I set my heart on what I couldn’t have, although I knew it was bad for me. Just because I knew it was bad for me.