‘I think you’ll sleep just fine,’ I say with a smile.

‘Don’t laugh at me.’ She stops walking and wags her finger in front of my face.

‘I’m not laughing, I’m just saying, you’ve had a bit to drink. A coffee will take the edge off, stop the room spinning later.’

‘No thanks.’

‘Water, then. Or a soft drink.’

She waves me away and carries on walking.

‘We’re good now, though, right?’

‘You’re Toby’s wife.’

‘Yes, that’s right. You really are quite drunk, Madeline. Where’s Nick? Do you want me to get him?’

‘You’re Toby’s wife. But I know what you did.’

Now it’s my turn to stop walking. ‘Wait, what are you talking about?’

She keeps going without me. ‘You shouldn’t have done that. Poor Toby.’ She shakes her head and repeats, ‘Poor, poor Toby.’

I’m not sure if her words are the incoherent ravings of an extremely drunk person, or if there’s something she wants to tell me. I call after her, ‘What do you mean “Poor Toby”? What’s the matter with him?’

‘Don’t pretend you don’t know.’ She stops and looks around. ‘Where’s the lift?’ I catch up to her, but she’s ignoring me, trying instead to get her bearings.

‘I’ll take you up to your room, if you like.’

‘Yes please.’ Her shoulders drop and she seems relieved. ‘I’m a bit pissed actually.’

‘You’ll be okay,’ I say, linking my arm through hers. ‘Come on, let’s get you upstairs. You’re on the same floor as me and Toby.’

‘It’s a shame what you did, Zoe.’ She looks at me sadly and strokes my cheek.

‘What did I do?’

‘You know.’

‘Remind me.’

‘The affair.’

I stop dead and unlink my arm from hers. ‘Um, Madeline, I didn’t have an affair.’

‘S’okay, you don’t have to lie to me. I know all about it. Nick told me.’

I speak slowly and clearly so there’s no misunderstanding. ‘I have no idea why Nick would tell you that, but I’m telling you now, Madeline, I absolutely did not have an affair.’

However, my sister-in-law doesn’t appear to be listening. ‘I’m so disappointed in you, Zoe. Toby didn’t deserve that. The worst thing… the very worst thing…’ She makes jabbing motions towards me with her forefinger. ‘Is that I thought you were better than that. I actually looked up to you – bet you didn’t know that! Not anymore though. No. Not anymore. No more looking up to the wonderful Mrs Zoe Johnson.’