Cleo continued to drink more and more champagne until she was really quite tipsy.
'Just one more for the road' she mumbled to herself and promptly grabbed another glassful as a wine waiter walked by but , in the process, overbalanced and fell flat on her face into a table of very creamy desserts.
Everyone turned around to see what had caused the crash. Cleo slowly got up and, as she became upright, a large blob of cream dripped off the end of her nose.
'What you all lookin' at ?' she screamed and staggered off into the gardens. She quickly found a spot where she was completely hidden and sat down on the ground leaning against a tree.
Cleo dozed off in no time into a drunken sleep . An hour or so later Cleo woke herself up by means of an almighty snore. She took a few seconds to realise where she was and what had happened but, oh dear, the headache!!. She got to her feet and headed back to the Colonel's house only to find it completely quiet.
Suddenly, Cleo remembered what she had done to the horses pulling Steve and Dora's carriage. No sign of it anywhere and she presumed, quite correctly , that the newly weds had departed in it.
Cleo went ashen at the the thought of what may have happened to Steve and Dora, and their baby, and promptly sett off down the long drive to the main road in a vain hope to find them. Despite her jealousy , in the cold light of day she did not wish them harm. She realised that alcohol had got the better of her at the reception and brought out her nasty side.
Cleo had been walking on the main road for more than two hours when she noticed in the distance that a horse drawn carriage was approaching her. She so hoped it was Steve and Dora and, as it drew nearer, the white horses pulling it became instantly recognisable.
Cleo ran towards the carriage waving her arms frantically trying to get them to stop, and explain what she had done in the hope that she maybe forgiven.
Steve was driving the rig steadily when he noticed Cleo in the distance running towards them waving her arms and screaming like banshee.
' Thats where she's got to , is it. Heck Dora, she was absolutely sozzled at our reception. I, for one, was quite taken aback by what happened. Anyhow, she's been found and all seems ok', said Steve.
'I suppose so' said Dora in a matter of fact manner, 'but I wish she wouldn't wave her arms and scream so much. She'll spook the horses.'
Indeed, Cleo continued her actions until she was virtually stood next to the horses and Dora had to tell her to stop. The horses were disturbed by Cleo and at the moment that she was next to them, one of the sprigs of holly made its presence felt.
One of the horses reared up in shock and its flaying front legs caught Cleo on the side of her head.
She fell to the ground unconcious.
Timb