Rupert says nothing for a moment. ‘I’m sure something else will come up,’ he says eventually, the relief when our cab pulls up outside the restaurant and he can avoid talking about it anymore evident on his face. He helps me from the car, pulling me to his side as we step over a large puddle. ‘Come on,’ he says, squeezing my shoulder a bit too tightly, ‘it’s not the end of the world. I’m sure, if you really, really want to volunteer then there will be somewhere else that could make good use of you.’

I can’t help feeling as though Rupert has just brushed the whole thing away like it’s nothing. Again. And it’s not nothing, not to me anyway. I can’t help believing that he wouldn’t have reacted that way if Caro had been upset. I have to force myself not to think like that, and I sneak a glance at Rupert, as we enter the upmarket Chinese restaurant Miles has chosen, reminding myself that he’s my husband now.

I shake the feeling off, determined not to spoil the evening and soon feel better once we get inside. The others are already here and are seated with the men at one end of the table and the wives at the other, and I won’t lie, I feel a little relieved by this seating arrangement. At least I can relax and have a drink with Sadie and Amanda without having to pretend I’m not annoyed with Rupert. I hope they will be a little more sympathetic to my disappointment.

‘You look gorgeous, I love how you’ve done your hair.’ Sadie sits down next to me and passes me a pisco sour. I have never had one before, not that I’m going to admit that to Sadie, and the combination of pisco and lime dances on my tongue.

‘Thanks. I’m looking forward to having a drink tonight, if you must know.’ I raise my cocktail glass, the foam from the egg white running over the top, making my fingers sticky.

‘Bad day?’ Sadie puts her head on one side and pouts. I get the feeling that maybe this cocktail isn’t Sadie’s first drink of the day.

‘Ugh. You could say that. I got a phone call from the guy at The Children’s Trust.’

‘Oh?’ A look crosses Sadie’s face, her brows drawing tightly together. ‘What about?’

‘After we talked about doing charity work at lunch the other week, I went to see him about volunteering in their fundraising department – basically he called me today and turned me down.’ I make a face and sip at my drink, the alcohol buzzing straight to my head.