Elsie, unsurprisingly, was the first to complain. ‘Cor!’ she said. ‘It doesn’t half smell of mushrooms down here!’

Laughter echoed around the cellar.

Bill must have spotted the racks of bottles and huge oak barrels behind them. He suddenly piped up, ‘Perfect place for a party!’

‘It’s certainly the perfect place for my wine,’ Lord Ashford said. He was sitting on a bench at the front, facing everyone, the sleeping child on his lap. ‘Some of it’s laid up specially for when we win the war. We’ll have the party to end all parties then!’

That was greeted with murmurs of approval.

Ray stood to one side and peered at his list. He’d crossed off most names as people arrived at the cellar door. There were only one or two of the Snowden staff that he didn’t know.

Elsie was still sniffing and complaining about mushrooms. ‘It’s ever so damp in here,’ she said.

‘You’re right, Miss Davenport,’ Lord Ashford said. ‘Originally, I’d planned to put all my artwork down here, for safety. We actually moved some of the paintings but blue mould started to appear on the frames, so I had them all brought up again. And unless anything changes, there they will stay for the duration.’

‘And aren’t we the lucky ones?’ Ray said, looking up and glaring at Elsie. ‘Surrounded by all those pictures while we work.’

Miss Sharp picked up one of the blankets that had been laid out on the benches and wrapped it around herself. ‘Someone’s been very thoughtful,’ she murmured.

‘It’s chilly down here,’ Lord Ashford said. ‘I had them brought down. Here, Gw— Mrs Nicholls, why don’t you take this one?’

Ah, that was the woman’s name. Ray crossed her off his list. ‘Mrs Nicholls’. He recognised her from last week. She was the woman he’d seen arrive at the back door.

He gazed up the stairs, tapping his foot, willing Geoff and Norm to appear.

‘All present and correct, Maguire?’ his Nibs asked.

‘Mr Keeling and Mr Braithwaite aren’t here yet, Sir. I’m, ah … not sure where they could have got to.’

Ray gritted his teeth. He could swing for Geoff and Norm. Clearly, they’d gone further than the terrace for a ciggie. He tried to catch Bill’s eye, to ask if he’d seen them but Bill was too busy entertaining the women. Even Miss Sharp was giggling. That used to be Ray’s job, making the girls laugh. He felt a twist of envy, watching Bill holding court.

‘Have a word, will you, Maguire, when you track them down? It’s rather a poor show,’ Lord Ashford said, and Ray nodded, smarting at the ticking off. With everyone else on his list crossed off now, Ray sat down on the bench next to Maggie.