Briony smiled. ‘Listen to me, Mariah, I know one thing, and that is you have to spend money to make money. Men are going to pay a small fortune to use that house, and you get what you pay for. It’s a good excuse for the girls to be undressed as well. I think women walking around half-naked in a house like that doesn’t really give the right impression. We can dress them in wonderful costumes. They can skinny dip, cavort all night in six foot of water, I don’t care. But it adds to the value of the property and it’s something different. Most large estates are having pools put in, along with tennis courts. It’s a sign of wealth and also a sign of the times. It will pay for itself in six months.’

Mariah lit another cigarette and pulled on it hard. ‘You do realise there’s a depression out there?’ She pointed at the window.

‘Depressions only affect the little people, never the big ones. And we are big people, don’t ever forget that.’

Mariah shook her head. ‘What about all this talk of more strikes...’

Briony interrupted her.

‘I ain’t interested in all that. Let them strike’til the cows come home. It don’t affect us, or the people we deal with. I have five cabinet ministers champing at the bloody bit to get into the Manor. I’ve made sure it’s talked about in my houses, as I hope you have and all. The rich are like the poor, they’ll always be with us, and if I can remove a portion of their wealth, and ding it in me own pocket, I will. I don’t know what’s got into you lately, Mariah, you’re like a bear with a sore arse!’

She laughed.

‘I don’t know, Bri. There’s trouble brewing in this country...’

Briony cut her off impatiently.