‘I never thought you were gay, obviously,’ said Nicky, placing a hand on her chest, ‘and absolutely everyone I told you were gay was really shocked too. I can’t think who started the rumour. Can you, Andy?’

Andy turned and placed his glass down heavily on the sideboard behind him. ‘Let’s go and get you some water.’

‘Why?’ she asked. ‘I haven’t finished my wine.’

All eyes turned towards the completely empty wine glass in her hand. It appeared to have been licked clean.

‘Oh, God,’ she gasped, looking first at the glass and then down at her feet. ‘Did I spill it on June’s carpet?’

‘You spilled it down your throat, Nicola,’ said Andy quietly. ‘Along with two other glasses and lots of cocktails. Come on, let’s go and find a tap.’

She beamed up at him. ‘OK,’ she said. ‘And I forgive you.’

‘Very gracious,’ he sighed. ‘I’ll catch up with you later, Giles.’

‘Super,’ said Giles.

‘Yeah, later, both,’ said Nicky, grinning and wiggling her fingers over her shoulder at us in farewell, as Andy began to lead her away.

I waved in return and was just about to ask Giles for a bit more background information on Nicky, when he said. ‘I wonder where Kerry and Ronald are.’

‘Oh yes, that’s right,’ I replied, as he scanned the room. ‘I’d forgotten they were coming. You’re not worried, are you?’

‘No, no.’ He shook his head. ‘I had just thought that, bearing in mind how you’re feeling about work, Ronald might be a handy bit of networking for you.’

‘Definitely,’ I said, smoothing my hair and straightening my dress. ‘But do I look professional enough? I’m probably on my second bottle of wine by now. Hope I don’t talk bollocks and embarrass myself.’

He laughed and then turned as his name was called. It was Kerry, weaving her way towards us, wine glass in one hand and several cherry tomatoes in the other. She popped one of the latter into her mouth as she approached.

‘Hello,’ she mumbled through a mouthful of tomato. ‘What time did you guys get here?’

‘Yesterday,’ said Giles. ‘You?’

She chewed some more. ‘Been in the kitchen for ten minutes with June talking me through her veg drawer. You enjoying the do, Edie?’

‘I am loving it,’ I said, my enthusiasm for the event growing with every successive sip of wine. ‘Can’t remember the last time I enjoyed myself so much.’

Kerry nodded. ‘Knew you would. I could tell you were a people person from the off.’

I grinned, feeling hugely complimented.

She stood on tiptoe and looked towards the back of the room. ‘Hey, I’ve just realised, I’ve lost Ron.’

‘Where did you last have him?’ asked Giles.