‘I’m going to have a pee,’ I told Melissa, still dancing happily to ‘Waterloo’. She gave me a thumbs up as I passed Ish, now alone with his little boy.

In the Jacksons’ house, people were still milling about. I glanced into the big front room to see that woman Rebekah leaning over the emerald sofa, fumbling in her handbag, her tight skirt ridden so high her G-string was visible from the doorway.

Horrendously drunk, I presumed, wincing at the sight of her pallid white bum exposed to the whole world.

Hurrying past towards the loo, I collided with someone coming out of a hidden door.

‘Hey.’ Marcus caught me as I stumbled against him and I looked up, feeling his hands inside my jacket, splayed warm over my ribs.

‘I – just—’ I stuttered, looking up into those pale eyes for what seemed like a very long minute I thought, hazily, He’s going to kiss me.

And oh God I wanted him to. I really, really wanted him to kiss me; I hadn’t wanted anything this badly since—

‘’Scuse me.’ There was a tiny cough behind us, and Willow was suddenly there, holding a big bottle of Diet Coke between sparkly nailed hands.

‘Just getting supplies,’ she said politely, edging past to get back to the front door. ‘Hope you’re having fun, Mrs March.’

Sweat broke on my top lip.

‘I’d better—’ Her father had let me go immediately she’d appeared. ‘Just fetching a Philips from the cellar.’

‘Yes.’ My body felt light where he’d been holding me, and I felt as if I might just float away. ‘For the firework wiring?’

Nella appeared in the kitchen doorway, holding a small box of leftover cakes the young Portuguese pair had just handed her: Marcus’s favourites.

‘OK, Ruby?’ she asked distractedly, as if she too was searching for something.

Marcus headed back towards the front door. ‘See you, darling.’

‘Hey, guys!’ Now Lena walked out of the bathroom, holding her phone. ‘Having fun? Your son’s such a diamond, darl. He picked Heathy up just now when some little blighter pushed him over outside.’

‘Oh dear.’ Still, pride pierced my now-thumping heart. ‘Is he OK?’

‘Ah, yeah, he’s fine. All the little kids were outside with Melissa’s stepdaughter, watching her do magic, and someone was too keen to get a coin she’d pulled from her sleeve. Actually’ – Lena’s eyes blazed – ‘it might have been that Lola Vermaak who pushed him—’

‘I’m sure not.’ Nella looked worried. ‘Really, Lena.’

My pulse was racing so fast, I thought my heart would come up through my throat. I wished Lena would hurry up.

‘Well, she is sister of that little shit Audrey, who was so foul about Heathcliff’s colour.’ Lena glared at Nella as if it had been her. ‘Anyways, your Zach stepped in and picked him up.’

‘That’s nice.’ I smiled at both women as best I could, keen to get away from the tension. ‘Sorry, just using the loo.’

Scooting into that white, white bathroom, I closed the door and stood against it.