‘Blimey. Do they?’ My ears were ringing with the vitriol. ‘And you?’

‘What?’ Again Melissa gazed at me, and I had the strangest feeling I was looking at a mask. ‘I know I’m born, yes. Not sure my mum did though – and my dad definitely didn’t.’

‘But are you OK?’ I felt a huge wave of sorrow for her.

‘Me?’ She grinned widely. ‘Never better, hon, never better.’ She sloshed ice and no mixer into the gin and toasted me. ‘Top of the world.’

‘Is—’ I took a deep breath. ‘Is everything – you know – OK, with you and Rex?’

‘Course.’ She dropped her gaze to her drink, circling it lazily so the ice hit the side. ‘Why wouldn’t it be?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘We can’t all be as perfect as you and Jonny, you know.’ She looked at me, very directly.

‘God, Melissa.’ I felt my stomach roil. ‘I never said it was perfect.’

‘Didn’t you?’

‘I’m pretty sure I didn’t – because it wasn’t,’ I said, as carefully as I could.

Melissa could be caustic and upfront, certainly; rarely minced her words. I knew enough about her start in life to know it had been really tough, and I understood how it must have taken its toll – but I also knew she usually saw the good in people. It was one of her – many – great assets.

‘What?’

‘It’s not like you to be so nasty.’

‘Well, it’s not like you to be so pathetic.’ She grimaced, downing most of the drink.

‘Really?’ The ice cubes clattered against her empty glass. ‘That’s actually what you think of me? Pathetic?’

‘You shouldn’t worry so much what people think about you, Ruby,’ she retorted smartly. ‘It’s just a bit – a bit sad, isn’t it?’

But our eyes met, and I thought I read some remorse in her face. Then she turned and, although I tried to catch her arm, to keep her with me, she pulled away.

‘Fireworks soon, isn’t it?’ Her voice seemed very loud still. ‘I love fireworks! Just need the loo first. There must be at least ten in this house.’

And she was off before I could stop her.

I looked up, shaken, and saw Lena watching me from near the door, eyes narrowed, as Ish refilled their glasses from the sideboard.

‘OK?’ she asked over the chatter in the room, and I nodded cautiously.

‘Fine, thanks.’

Lena had her own secrets, I thought. And it was funny; all the clothes she’d poured out of the Harvey Nichols bags onto the vintage stall had been chain-store bits.

Had it really been that important to her to impress us?

The discomfort as Melissa left the room was making my skin itch.

The truth was, none of it felt very fine, right now. Not fine at all.

Melissa

Upstairs, despite my desperation – or maybe because of it – someone was locked into the bathroom – and in absolutely no rush it seemed.