‘Toby, have you met Galina?’ Piper said. ‘Galina, this is one of my stars: Toby Bell. A true English gentleman.’

‘I’ve heard about you,’ Galina said. She reached towards me. I moved forward so we could shake hands without the dress being torn from Piper’s hands.

‘This is an honour,’ I said. ‘I thought your singing was amazing.’

‘Thank you. It’s been a wonderful event. Am I right that you were involved in arranging it?’

‘Hardly. But I’m glad you’re enjoying it. Your father is looking well.’

She smiled, as confident in her father’s immortality as the rest of the nation. ‘He is well. He is well, thank God.’

‘And next year, perhaps, we will have the honour of seeing you on television again.’

‘Maybe.’

‘You must do it. You’re such a natural. It would bring a lot of joy to the people of this country.’

She beamed. Bryant appeared from the main room. Galina sashayed past him. Piper gave a cursory nod at the American and leaned towards me, speaking low.

‘Some of us are going back to the Palace. Moving now. Come with us, she’d like that.’

It was an electrifying invitation. Piper disappeared back towards her entourage and Bryant was left grinning at me.

‘Hear about the jet?’ he said. ‘What are they going to get her for Christmas, for Christ’s sake?’

‘I’m not sure they celebrate Christmas.’ I began moving past Bryant towards the main room, trying to calculate how to get my coat from the cloakroom while avoiding my honeytrap.

‘I’m getting us some shots. You’ll have one. Or are you busy?’

‘I’m busy.’

Bryant kept grinning. On the far side of the main bar I could see Anastasia waiting, toe tapping the air; a woman conscious of sitting alone in a room of drunken men. A woman with a job to do. She exchanged a glance with the gunman, who got to his feet, adjusting his jacket. Bryant headed to the bar. I cut back through the crowd, saw Anastasia moving in my direction.

‘Toby.’

‘Anastasia, I’m so sorry. I’ve got to run.’ I slipped her a business card. ‘Dinner? Can you forgive me? Have you been to La Primavera?’

I could see Galina’s entourage moving. They were going down to the convoy. It looked like the President was already downstairs. Piper came up to me. ‘Ride with us. Galina says it’s all good.’

Anastasia had a hand on my arm. ‘You are going with them?’

‘I’ve made a promise. I really am sorry.’ I kept moving. At some point, presidential security would kick in, I thought. Or she could come to the palace, kill me there. That would be chic. The entourage had gone by the time I made it to the corridor. The lifts were blocked by a crowd of oil execs. I went for the stairs.