“I say, are you all right?”
The voice of the Member of Parliament seems to come from a very long distance.
I suppose it is less than a minute since David came into the room and yet I feel he has been there for ages.
“I think I would like a drink,” I said weakly.
“Of course,” my companion says. “Here, take mine while I try to find a waiter.”
He put a glass into my hand and I drank everything it contained without even tasting it.
I had no idea if it was champagne, a cocktail or sherry, but it made me feel better and now when the Member of Parliament turned to speak to me again I am able to smile at him.
“I expect I’m hungry,” I explain. “We do seem to have been waiting a long time for dinner.”
“I agree with you,” he replied. “I hate people who are late and I like to have my meals on time. Anyway, as I never know when there will be a Division in the House, I eat when I get the chance!”
He laughs and just as if I hear a stranger doing it, I laugh too.
David is shaking hands with one or two people in the room, but he is making no effort to come near me, in fact I am not even certain if he has seen me.
“Dinner is served, my Lady!” the butler’s voice seemed to boom across the room and now, thank goodness, we can go down to dinner.
I wonder if I can slip away when it’s over without anybody noticing.
I can’t meet David – I can’t talk to him – I have nothing, absolutely nothing, to say to him!