Ruby was now, once again, fully focused on her cocktail, apparently intent on downing the remainder of it in as short a time as possible. Alison, meanwhile, was busy relocating the delicate, silver-spiral brooch on her grey silk scarf, while Roger looked on, offering murmured advice on the process. And as for Luke, well, he remained turned in his chair, staring at the door via which Cameron had just left, with the air of a faithful hound, longing for the return of its master.

I leaned back on the bench and took a large gulp of wine, aware that, after a promising start, these were suddenly shaping up to be possibly the most personally depressing set of farewell drinks I had ever attended. I mean, I had expected to feel a bit down at the prospect of saying goodbye to Ruby, but right now, my glumness levels were fast approaching funereal and, on top of that, I was again battling a confusing sense of disappointment in myself. What’s more, as I looked disconsolately around the table, I couldn’t help thinking that there didn’t seem to be anyone in the immediate vicinity particularly qualified to help me make sense of that.

Ruby signalled the end of her cocktail by loudly sucking up the remaining dregs through her straw and then placing the empty glass heavily on the table.

Luke started slightly and turned towards her. ‘Still working towards AA membership, Ruby?’

She hiccoughed quietly. ‘Still working towards your boy scout badge in basic, Luke?’

He laughed, but didn’t seem quite as entertained by the banter as usual and offered no comeback.

I nudged Ruby and, for her sake, dug deep for some party spirit. ‘How about another?’ I asked, pointing to her empty glass.

She tipped her head sideways, resting it on my shoulder for a moment, while patting my hand. ‘Lovely Edie. Lovely, lovely Edie,’ she sighed. ‘Isn’t Edie lovely, Roger?’ She leaned in front of me to gain sight of him.

‘She is that,’ said Roger. ‘And it’s grand of you to notice, Ruby, but I am wondering if your next drink shouldn’t be a soft one, so as you can keep on noticing things and not black out.’

‘Everybody thinks the world of you,’ said Ruby, laying her head once again on my shoulder. ‘Don’t they, Alison? You do, don’t you?’

Alison shifted awkwardly in her seat, clearly uncomfortable at the request for an insight into her personal feelings. ‘Everyone thinks extremely highly of Edith.’

Luke leaned across the table towards me. ‘Just for the record,’ he whispered, ‘I think you’re great too but, more importantly, I’m seconding Roger’s soft drink proposal. Not sure what was in that green thing, but…’ He jerked his head sideways at Ruby and pulled a face.

‘Lovely Edie. Always thinking the best of everybody…’ she murmured.