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 chaotic 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. 'It's nine-fifteen now. What time do the shops open?'

***

'Look!' Alice was back sitting on the bed and a little bit more composed. 'I could get a nice suit from someone like Caroline Charles in St. Christophers Place by Selfridges.'

'Good!' Alice smiled and I could see the normal in-control Alice fighting its way through the alcohol of last night. 'I have little to do, as all my clothes are organised.' I smiled at Alice and thanked her. 'I have also bought them a present.' I reached in a drawer and held out a wrapped box.

Alice took it and shook it. 'So what is it then?' She hated me to hide things from her, even if they were trivial.

'A surprise!' I reached into the drawer again and withdrew Jacinta's red parcel. 'I also have something from Jacinta Hong Kong!'

'Huh!' Alice shrugged her shoulders. 'The flower lady?' She returned the first parcel and took the second. Again she shook the parcel for any clues as to its contents. 'It's heavy.' She shook her head. 'Have you any idea what it is?'

'No!' I took it back. 'Jacinta didn't tell me. And she gave it to me just before I got on the plane.' I paused and thought. 'But knowing her, it would be something of exceedingly good taste. She had a lot of class!'

'I bet she did!' She laughed. 'Judging by the phone call, she had it in bed too! But at least ...' She was obviously going to make a further comment, stopped abruptly. 'I would hate to see you hurt!'

I sat down on the bed beside Alice and raised my right arm around her shoulders. 'Thank you!' She pulled away as I tried to kiss her. 'We did have a lot once! So let's make today, a day to remember for Josh and Lucinda.'

She had second thoughts, turned back and kissed me gently on the cheek. 'Yes! It's their day.' Perhaps, that was not a bad idea, as her breath wasn't its usual sweet self.

'Here's a deal!' I stood up, grabbed my wallet and keys, and put them in my pocket. 'You go and get a suitable suit for the wedding and something like a shirt or a top to wear under it.'

Alice stood, dropped the towel and started to dress in the clothes she'd worn last night. 'And what are you going to do?'

'You can't go to our son's wedding in that awful underwear.' A realisation came across her face, as she knew what I was going to say. 'I'll nip off to Fenwicks and get you something decent to wear underneath. You're still 32C aren't you?' She smiled. 'Or have your standards slipped since you threw me out?'

***