‘Really?’ She didn’t believe him for a minute but his flattery was lovely.

‘Yes, really, and I might break my resolution not to try my hand at getting you into bed again. Now that would be worth staying sober for.’

Thea laughed. ‘You’re a terrible man, Rory Devlin. Let’s go and join the others.’

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Two

Although desperate for a drink to relieve her nerves, Thea had decided not to have anything alcoholic until it was all over. She couldn’t risk even the tiniest lapse of concentration.

Petal, who had a stream of beautiful girlfriends as well as copious male friends, had turned two of each into waiters and waitresses.

Molly had wanted the catering company to provide staff, to reduce the risk of the waiters getting drunk, or getting into artistic arguments with the art critics, but Thea had stood firm. ‘We’re only having champagne and canapés as a special dispensation. I draw the line at paying for waiters.’

‘Oh,’ said Petal, who had been listening keenly. ‘Aren’t they going to get paid, then?’

‘Of course,’ Thea backtracked. ‘But you’re family. I’d rather pay you lot than strangers.’

Molly gave her niece a look which promised eternal hellfire if anyone she had brought along for the work let them down.

Now Rory said, ‘Right, let’s open a bottle and have a stiffener before the hordes arrive.’

‘I’ll have an orange juice,’ Thea said. ‘And I hope they do arrive.’ She opened the gallery door and looked anxiously up and down the street.

‘They’re not due until six thirty,’ said Molly. ‘I’m sure someone will come.’

‘Oh, my God!’ Thea was still doing her ‘Sister Anne, Sister Anne, is there anyone coming’ impression. ‘A massive black car has just drawn up.’ She ducked back into the gallery. ‘I don’t want anyone to come now. I just want it to be us. And the girls.’

‘The girls’, who objected to this name in a casual way, were all still in the hotel opposite getting ready. Once they had dispatched Thea, looking as glamorous as any model and a lot more beautiful, back into the gallery, they had their own ablutions to make.

Rory put a glass of champagne into Thea’s hand. ‘Here, one drink won’t knock you over and it’ll help keep the smile on your face. Ah, here are the lovely ladies.’

Thea’s friends exchanged glances. ‘Do we object to that more than “girls” or less?’ asked Magenta.

Having decided it was a moot point, they helped themselves to champagne. ‘Lovely party, Thea. Here’s to you!’

Thea was still clutching her glass, as yet untouched, when the contents of the huge black car entered. She walked forward to greet them and found herself wrapped in a cloud of Eau Savage. ‘Thea, my dear, this looks fabulous!’