Audrey awoke with a start; she knew she’d been dreaming but couldn’t remember what it had been about. The room was pitch black and very cold. Outside, it was clearly blowing a gale. She pulled the sheet and blankets more closely around her shoulders, wishing that she’d bought a duvet. More annoyingly, the half-drunk mug of cocoa was causing unwelcome pressure on her bladder – or, perhaps it was the Prosecco. She did not relish the cold, dark walk to the lavatories and wondered whether she was too young to have a Victorian potty tucked under her bed, as she’d seen her grandparents do when she was a little girl.
She closed her eyes and tried to slip back into sleep but, after a few seconds, she knew she had no choice but to get up. She flung back the covers and felt with her toes for her sl
