June introduces me to Lucy and Becky, the two receptionists, and for a moment I’m almost tempted to go for that job Ross was on about. If I do a part-time degree, maybe I could manage a couple of mornings a week at the surgery. It’ll depend on the times of the lectures, of course.

“You look utterly gorgeous in that dress,” Ross whispers in my ear. At last, he’s starting to relax. I’m so glad I agreed to this party. Getting to know all his colleagues like this makes me feel part of his world. I don’t even mind when his old medical-school chums turn up with enough alcohol to keep them going till next weekend. Their noisy exuberance and big, beery hugs make everyone relax and start laughing.

By ten thirty, even the rather staid Gloria Williams and her professorial-looking husband are flinging themselves around to Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl” like a couple of loved-up hippies.

I’m surprised when the doorbell goes, because I thought anyone who was going to come would be here by now, and though it’s fun and I’m having a good time, I’m really tired after all that anticipation and preparation. I’ve been rather hoping people might start drifting away in half an hour or so, and that it’ll just be Ross’s hardcore medical chums left and I’ll be able to go up to bed and leave them to it.

“Don’t panic, darling. It’s probably just the police!” Ross laughs, squeezing past me to the front door. “Anyone want another drink, by the way?” he calls back into the room as he goes.

“I’d love some more red wine,” Gloria says. She looks at me apologetically. “Poor Lizzie, you’ve only just sat down. I’ll go and help myself, shall I?”

I leap to my feet. “No, don’t worry. You stay here and enjoy yourself.”

As I head back to the kitchen, I glance down the hall and see Ross helping someone off with their coat. If people are going to start arriving at this time of night, God only knows when it will end. Still, the party is a success. That’s the main thing. Even if it takes us all of tomorrow to get the house back to normal.

Someone has left the back door ajar and the smell of cigarettes wafts in. I close it softly. Then I find a tray and put the open bottle of red wine and some more glasses onto it, just in case anyone else fancies one. Like me, for instance. Perhaps tonight I should take a risk and have a drink at my own party. Besides, one small glass of red won’t do me any harm.