Leon pulls her to his chest, strokes her hair. ‘Try to calm down, Alice. This really isn’t helping.’

‘Yes, calm down, Alice,’ Faith spits, her eyes wide. ‘We’re all in a state here – all in the same boat. You don’t see the rest of us acting so bloody crazy.’

‘Bit harsh,’ Leon says, as Alice falls silent, her heart thudding. ‘This is going to affect us all differently, Faith. You need to allow a little.’

‘OK. Sorry.’ Faith raises her palms as though surrendering. ‘I’m just a bit …’

‘Crazy?’ Alice whispers, throwing her a daggering stare.

‘Give me time,’ Christine says with a forced smile. ‘I might be swinging from that crazy chandelier with you girls soon.’

‘Sorry to interrupt, folks, but I still need to use the loo,’ Lori says, and heads out of the bar. They all follow.

Once in reception, Lori takes the three steps down to the ladies’, straightening her flowing dress, and pulling her thick hair over one shoulder as she disappears from view, a door squeaking closed behind her.

‘Wait up,’ Christine says, following.

Alice, Leon and Faith wait on the sofa, not making eye contact – none of them speaking. The house seems to be closing in around them.

Eventually, the door to the loos squeaks once more, and Christine reappears, climbing the steps, tugging at her underwear.

‘I think I’ll go too, while we’re here.’ Alice gets up, passes Christine, before descending the steps.

The ladies’ is immaculate. Black tiles on every wall, two pink sinks – the colour theme matching the rest of the house. Alice goes to the loo then washes her hands with the pleasant-smelling soap. She catches sight of her reflection in the oval mirrors above the sinks. If she had any doubts that this evening has taken its toll, her reflection confirms it has. Her hair hangs lank and damp, her eyes are bloodshot, her skin pale, all smacking of anxiety-fuelled exhaustion.

She sets the dryer going, and moves her hands under it.

‘Everything OK, Lori?’ she calls, over the whirring dryer, glancing over her shoulder at the closed cubicle. When there’s no reply, she feels a small sensation of panic. She crouches down, peers under the door, sees Lori’s bag propped against it, and relief surges through her. ‘We’ll wait for you outside,’ she says, straightening up.

She exits the ladies’ and goes to sit with the others. Faith jumps to her feet – almost as if she has taken a baton from Alice in a relay race. She makes her way down the steps.

‘Should we check on Lori, do you think?’ Faith says when she returns five minutes later. ‘I called out to her, but she didn’t reply. She’s been in there a long time.’

Alice shrugs. ‘I think she may have a tummy upset, or something.’

‘Too much information,’ Leon says, but he doesn’t smile.