‘Drinks! Do let’s have drinks – and something to eat. I hope you like pheasant pate? It’s organic. We look awfully solemn – awfully static – or is that the light? The light is all wrong tonight.’

‘I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it,’ Winifred said.

‘I’m afraid I am too temperamental. I seem to be one of those unfortunate human beings on whom fairy godmothers bestow moods rather than qualities. This is supposed to be the happiest day of my life. I should be in a blissful, glowing, untouchable kind of state, only I am not! There’s plenty of crushed ice, thank God. I don’t think I could have survived without crushed ice.’ Once more Melisande laid her hand on Payne’s arm. ‘Hugh, would you be an angel and open one of the windows? There isn’t enough air in the room. Am I being neurotic?’

‘You are being neurotic,’ Winifred said good-humouredly.

‘I do feel awful. I may need an oxygen mask soon- Oh! That must be James!’ Melisande exclaimed as the front door bell rang. ‘Thank God! At long last! I’ll never forgive James for making me wait, never! One thing I hate more than anything else in the world is waiting. I forgot to mention it, but James is bringing some people I’ve never met before, he told me at the eleventh hour. Hope they won’t be too boring. I have no idea who they are.’

2

The Uninvited

‘Whatever took you so long, darling? I was getting really worried. I thought something truly dreadful had happened. Why don’t you answer your mobile? My fiance, James Morland.’ Melisande introduced him somewhat huffily. She was holding on to his arm.

‘So sorry, Meli. We were held up.’

‘Held up? You mean you were set upon by men with guns?’ She opened her eyes wide.

‘No, not by men with guns. Wherever did you get that idea? The traffic was quite appalling-’