I returned to the room about eight-thirty and Alice was still in the position she'd gone to sleep at about one. She was snoring, but not loudly. I stroked her hair to wake her up gently. 'Alice! It's time to get up!'

'Go away!' She turned on her back and opened her eyes. 'I feel terrible! I'm going to stay in bed.'

'You have to go home!' I handed her the glass of orange juice I'd brought from my breakfast. 'I've collected the car and it's outside. What time are we due at Josh's house?'

'Oh God!' She rose quickly and rushed to the bathroom. I could hear her being sick.

In a way I smiled, as Alice with any sort of hangover was a complete no-go and do-nothing area. Not that it happened often. 'Can I help?'

More retching and various expletives were returned from the bathroom, before she staggered back into the room and laid on top of the bed.

***

'You're a sadist, you are!' She was wrapped in a towel sitting on the end of the bed. 'Did you have to make the bath so cold?'

'Do you feel better now?'

She shook her head, but a slight smile said that perhaps some of the excesses were receding. 'Perhaps! I've certainly got to get myself together!'

'Good!' I looked at my watch. 'You said last night, that we've got to be at the house by eleven. That means we have just under two hours. Where are your clothes?'

'Not here!' She stood up unsteadily and grabbed her underwear from the chair, before disappearing into the bathroom. More expletives echoed from behind the door.

'Can't you wear what you wore last night?' It was a silly suggestion and it got the contempt it deserved. I thought again. 'On the other hand, could this Alistair bring it up to Josh's house? He could easily be there by half past ten!'

Alice emerged from the bathroom. 'Perhaps!' She started searching in her bag for her mobile phone. 'I'll give him a call!'

I looked as her face grew progressively more irritated as the phone kept ringing. 'I guess he's left for Chambers!' I thought again. 'What time do the shops open?'