10Lightning flashed again but it was over too quickly for people to get their bearings. Chairs scraped as some guests pushed away from the table and got up. The screaming tailed off and then stopped; all at once, everyone began talking.
“Please, everyone, stay calm. It’s probably just a blown fuse. Electrical system is old,” said Simon, again using the calm voice he had used with his father.
Loud laughter from the Molly and Lawrence end of the table.
“Molly?” said Ben.
“I’m here. I’m just hoping that cake survived, I had a quick glimpse and it looked amazing.”
More laughter, more scraping of chairs. Giggling from under the table followed by “Ssshhhh!”
“I think I’ll go up to the landing on the stairs by the window, chérie. I want to see if any trees are down,” Anne-Marie said. No answ
