For the first time in far too long, Marie had decided to socialise. She couldn't remember the last time she'd been out to a party like this, always doing one thing or the other (usually to do with the children), but tonight, she'd felt like having fun, so she'd dressed up all nice and proper, all jewels and fine silks and a new pair of shoes, and out she'd gone.
It wasn't until she reached the party that she realised just how out of the loop she was. She didn't recognise half of these people, and those she did recognise had their own little groups of friends to chat to. She waved to one or two people, but she eventually found herself stood off to one side, still scanning the crowds. Marie was not an anti-social lady, not by any stretch, and she wanted someone to chat so, someone to bring her up to speed on it all, and so she continued to search, trying to avoid stepping on anyone's gowns. At least she'd bothered to ask what the new fashions were; it would've been horrendous if she'd arrived in something horribly out of date.