I shoot her a disdainful look, but she is leaning in towards Matt and whispering something in his ear. After how she was upstairs, before dinner, when I’d felt closer to her than I had for a very long time, I thought things might be starting to change. I thought she might at least make an effort, given that Cameron is here and he could be important to the business. But no, here she is getting embarrassingly drunk and flirting with the rep. My face feels hot and I have a sudden need to be outside. I stand up too quickly, bumping the table and at least four glasses tip over, red wine spilling on to the pristine white tablecloth.

‘Shit! I mean, argh, I’m so sorry.’ I right the glasses as Millie dashes over with kitchen roll and cloths and starts dabbing at the mess.

‘It’s no problem, don’t worry at all,’ she says. ‘If everyone’s finished, it might be easiest if I simply clear things away? Perhaps you’d like some more wine or digestifs in the living room?’

‘That’s my girl, Millie,’ Cameron says. ‘Hugo,’ he claps me on the shoulder as he passes, before lifting one of the remaining glasses of wine and downing it, ‘it’s no big deal. Don’t worry about it for a second. That’s what the rich fuckers who come here are paying for – being able to make a mess and have someone else clear it up.’

I try to give Millie a sympathetic look, but she is already busily tidying and dabbing. I’m not the best at social situations but even I am appalled by Cameron.

While everyone moves from the table to the living room, I go to the front door and step outside for some air, but have to come back in straight away as the wind is now even stronger than it was earlier and it’s snowing pretty much horizontally. I go back into the living room where everyone is sprawled out on the fur-throw-covered sofas. Simon is telling some long-winded and no doubt filthy joke to Cameron, and Cass is looking embarrassed. Ria is sitting way closer to Matt than I’d like. She’s knocking back yet another massive glass of wine even though, for all she knows, she may be pregnant.

Millie comes in and tops up everyone’s wine yet again. ‘Cameron, I’ve had a call from the taxi company – the car they sent is stuck in a drift. Are you OK to wait? I’m not sure what else we can do, to be honest.’

‘There must be a spare room here he can crash in, Millie?’ Simon booms. ‘Shame to break up the party anyway.’

‘Cameron, would you like me to make up the bed in the attic room as a contingency?’ Millie asks. ‘That is, if no one has any objection?’