‘Thank you, Francis,’ Curtis said. ‘It’s good of you to arrange this, and good of you all to come. I don’t want to spoil your evening with speeches. Tonight is just a small acknowledgement of a significant milestone. As you know, now that I’m of pensionable age, I’m winding down my involvement in the MyHealth group. I’ll be leaving the company in good, strong hands and in rude health.’ Applause from the crowd. ‘While we never forget all the sacrifices that have brought us to this position, I pride myself that I have helped build a company based on care. From just a few hundred employees when I came on board, to a public-traded corporation of over a hundred and twenty thousand dedicated employees – all with the nation’s health in our hearts.’ He paused to tap his palm against the left portion of his chest, to another round of applause and some hearty whoops. ‘Now it’s time to reap the rewards of that rather single-minded period of my life.’ Here he raised his glass towards James at the back wall, who responded with a gracious nod. ‘It’s time to spend this next season of my life on some things that really matter to me. I plan to travel the world and see beyond boardrooms, and at the same time I’m coming home, and this beautiful house will be a part of my home base. Thank you for helping me celebrate it in such a fitting way.’ He raised his glass. ‘Now, for the love of God, Francis, please get that music back on.’

As the applause rose, Petra made her way to the stage with a brightly wrapped object in her hand. Vincent had trailed her to the rehearsal room and was watching from the doorway. Petra found Suki’s eyes in the crowd and offered her a nod and a small smile. Francis Picton swerved in front of Petra with a sour glare, but after Petra said something close to Picton’s ear, he took the package – it was the gold gift she’d been carrying – and stepped up to the microphone next to Worthing.

‘One more thing. Hang on, one more thing, everybody. As you know, this is not just a birthday party and a housewarming party and a homecoming party. It’s also the official reopening of the Brook Street Studios, which were quite famous in their day. Soul music and so on. I know one of your retirement projects is to make it a going concern again. This, apparently, is a gift to help Curtis inaugurate the studio. State-of-the-art audio equipment from a fellow music-lover.’

At this, loudly enough to be heard through the whole room, with a striking, calm certitude, Petra said, ‘Happy birthday, Mr Worthing, from all our families.’ She turned and found Vincent’s eyes, making sure to hold his gaze for one last time.