‘Shit,’ I whisper to myself, thrusting the brooch back into the jewellery box, knocking the whole thing from the table in my haste to put it all back where it was. Gold and silver spills from the box and I scramble onto my hands and knees, scooping up rings and earrings, tumbling them all back into the box, reaching right under the dressing table to pull out an expensive-looking diamond stud earring that has rolled almost out of arm’s reach. I fumble under the dressing table, looking for the other one but it’s no good, I can’t find it. Flushed and panting, I shove the box to the back, behind the mirror, and am sitting fixing my hair, which has escaped its grips, by the time Rupert comes out.

‘Mmmm,’ he kisses the back of my neck as he passes, ‘you look fabulous.’

I give him a smile and slide a secret glance towards the box, making sure it’s exactly as it was, hoping that by the time we get into the cab to go to dinner, my heart rate will be back to normal.

Amanda has cried off the dinner, citing extreme morning sickness, so I am sitting with Sadie, according to the table plan. Rupert sits opposite me, next to Miles, and another couple I’ve never met before also are seated with us.

‘Hi,’ I whisper, sliding into the seat next to Sadie. We are slightly late – it turns out Rupert really did think I looked wonderful, and I ended up taking my dress off before the cab arrived. ‘Sorry we’re a bit late.’

‘How are you?’ Sadie asks, head on one side as she lays her hand on mine. ‘I’m so sorry about the other day, at Amanda’s. I just assumed that Rupert would have told you. You didn’t have a frightful row, did you?’

‘No,’ I lie, picking up the small menu in front of me. I have no idea what half the items on it are, so I lay it straight back down. ‘Of course not. It’s fine, nothing to worry about.’

‘Oh, thank goodness,’ Sadie presses her hand to her chest, ‘I’d hate to think that I’d caused any trouble between the two of you. He’s so happy since you came on the scene and we see so much more of him.’ She looks across the table and I follow her gaze to where Rupert is listening to something Miles says, before tipping his head back and letting out a huge belly laugh.

I scan the room anxiously, looking for Caro’s parents. ‘Have you seen the Osbournes? I’m a bit worried about bumping into them.’