Waite held up his hand to greet a group of officers on the other side of the room. ‘I better get over there,’ he said. ‘Let’s catch up later, I want to talk about your next move.’

‘Drinks first,’ said Mrs Waite, looping her arm through her husband’s and navigating them towards the gin bar.

‘We better see what they have,’ said Waite.

‘Everything from black pepper to raspberries, I believe,’ Harry replied. He was sticking to his one glass of champagne. He liked to stay in control at work events. He walked to the window and his eyes immediately fell on an elegant redhead in a floor-length dark-green gown cinched tightly at the waist with a bronze bow. She was standing in the middle of the lawn. Her hair was tied up so that her face was framed by just a few loose curls. She’d said that there was absolutely no way she’d make it, that work was crazy.

Harry rushed back towards the reception. He loved that she’d decided to surprise him. It’s exactly what he’d have done.

At the door, a grey-haired, muscular officer blocked his way.

‘Sir,’ he said. ‘Sub-Lieutenant Philips from Joint Forces Command. May I have a word in private, please?’

Dinner was announced and the other guests started moving out of the building and towards the marquee in typical military compliance.

‘Now?’ Harry said. He leant to the side, trying to see Karene through the moving crowd. He wanted to find her, to kiss her.

The man stepped a little closer and spoke in a low voice. ‘Yes, Sir,’ he said. ‘I’ve come here especially. I need to brief you in person.’ The man turned and began walking back to the bar.

Harry knew he couldn’t refuse Joint Forces. He was one of them and it would be impolite at best and dangerous at worst. Plus the sub-lieutenant wasn’t in dress uniform – just his white shirt and his cap under one arm – so he’d been sent unexpectedly. The brief was clearly urgent.

Moving against the flow, Harry followed the man through the crowd. Commodore and Mrs Waite were lingering at the door of the bar as the final group of officers made their way outside.

The sub-lieutenant strode towards the window on the other side of the room so that they were out of earshot.

‘What’s so important?’ asked Harry. He checked the man’s rank and frowned. The epaulettes decorating his shoulders were upside down. That was a rookie mistake. Or perhaps he’d dressed in a hurry.

‘This will only take a minute, Sir.’

Harry peered through the window and back out to the lawn. He could see Karene on the concourse looking for him in the crowd. A man on stilts stomped past the window. Karene glanced up and her eyes met Harry’s. He raised his hand to wave and she smiled.

And then the room exploded.