— You’ve had too much to drink, Alex. What about that speech of yours? It’s supposed to be funny, you know. You’re not supposed to make it sound as if the wedding’s all a disastrous mistake.

— It is a mistake. He’s chosen the wrong woman. She’s pretty, but I thought that he’d want someone with more depth.

— You hardly know Lydia, Christine said indignantly. — You don’t know what her depths are.

Juliet was heading through the crowd towards them, purposeful but unsteady on her high heels. Relieved, presuming she was coming to take Alex home, Christine stepped back to be out of her way; then in an ugly transformation, Juliet was suddenly hissing into her face with pent-up vindictiveness. — Don’t think I didn’t know what you were up to, she said. — You little cow. Worming your way into my home and all the time making those soft eyes at my husband, imagining you could fool around behind my back.

— Christ, Juliet, Alex said. — You’re humiliating yourself.

— I think you’ve got the wrong end of the stick, said Christine, astonished – though not without some twinge of unease, thinking of that night they’d rummaged through Juliet’s cupboards and read her letters. Then Juliet lunged and slapped her very hard, knocking her head sideways. Scuffling with his wife, Alex grabbed at her flailing wrists and swore at her. Wedding guests began to look over at them. Juliet kicked at her husband’s shins with her heels and tried to kick Christine, who jumped back out of range. Someone who knew Juliet took her by the arm, persuaded her to sit down inside the house. — That’s not the end of it, she shouted across her shoulder. Christine put her hand to her face; tears sprang into her eyes for the shock and stinging pain, and for how virtuous she was, and how wronged. — I can’t believe she just did that, Alex said, appalled. — She was drunk, I can’t believe her stupidity. Did she hurt you? I’m so sorry. Did she leave marks? Let me see.

He touched her face gently with his fingers, tilting it up towards him, scrutinising it tenderly and close up, frowning; she proffered herself for his attention acceptingly. Then he put his cool palm on the hot marks on her cheek.

For such a long time, when Alex declared his feelings for her, Christine couldn’t allow herself to believe in them. She was in no hurry to introduce him to her parents.

— Why have you chosen me? Why would you choose someone like me?