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"Tellreat loss?" she whispers

"That boy has a natural nobility," says Mr Wunsch fiercely "Young people today could learn a lot from him Tell me, is it the army he’s headed for?"

"He… he hasn’t mentioned it," I say helplessly "Would you excuse e and sumptuous as the rest of the apartment, with racks of luxury soaps and bottles of free perfume, and a comfy chair to sit in I kind of wish I could stay there all day, actually But I don’t dare linger too long in case Elinor co for et up and go back into the throng, where waiters are , "Lunch will be served now"

As everyone rand double doors I look around for Elinor but I can’t see her There’s an old lady in black lace sitting on a chair near tostick

"Let rip falters "Shall I hold your chalass?"

"Thank you, my dear!" The lady sether into the palatial dining roo down at circular tables, and waiters are hurrying round with bread rolls

"Margaret," says Mrs Heywood, co out her hands to the old lady "There you are Now letme," says the old lady as she lowers herself onto a chair, and I smile modestly at Mrs Heywood

"Thank you, dear," she says absently "Now, could you takesome water to our table?"

"Of course!" I say with a friendly sin and tonic," adds an elderly ht up!"

It just shohat Mu hand I feel quite special, helping out the hostess It’s al the party with her!

I’m not sure where the kitchen is, but the waiters are all heading toward one end of the rooh a set of double doors, and find myself in the kind of kitchen Mum would absolutely die for Granite and e which looks like a space rocket, and a pizza oven set into the wall! There are waiters in white shirts hurrying in and out with trays, and two chefs standing at a central island hob, holding sizzling pans, and so, "Where the fuck are the napkins?"

I find a bottle of water and a glass, and put thein ht be As I bend down to open a cupboard door, a man with cropped bleached hair taps ?"

"Oh hi!" I say, standing up "I’in and tonic"

"We haven’t got time for that!" he barks "Do you realize how short-staffed we are? We need food on tables!"

Short-staffed? I stare at him blankly for a moment Then, as my eye falls on ive a shocked laugh

"No! I’m not a… I mean, I’ hi Anyway, he’s probably an actor in his spare ti, he dumps a silver platter full of smoked fish in my arms

"Get! Now!"

"But I’ht I quickly hurry away OK What I’ll do is I’ll just get away from him, and put this platter down somewhere, and findroo for a handy surface to leave the platter But there don’t seem to be any side tables or even spare chairs I can’t really leave it on the floor, and it would be a bit too aard to reach between the guests and du, actually The platter’s quite heavy, andto ache I pass by Mr Wunsch’s chair and give hih I’m suddenly invisible

This is ridiculous There must be somewhere I can put it down

"Will-you-serve-the-food!" hisses a furious voice behind le" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true">