‘Don’t you dare,’ she said, and produced a half-bottle of champagne she’d been hiding behind her back. ‘There isn’t enough champagne in the world. If I have to dance with him at the New Year Masquerade Ball . . .’

Raymond poured the champagne and clinked his glass with hers. ‘I’ll be ready,’ he said – and Hélène was convinced, because how could she not be? Raymond could convince anyone of anything when he had that devilish twinkle in his eyes. ‘I swear it, Hélène. I’ll be there.’

*

‘Heave!’

The service lift opened, depositing Nancy, Rosa, Ruth and a host of other chambermaids, into the housekeeping hall – and the first thing they heard was the cry of Ralph North, the porter, echoing along the corridor from reception.

I can smell it, thought Nancy with glee. A smell like this, it takes you right back to being a little girl . . .

It was before dawn, and two weeks until Christmas. In an hour, the Buckingham would awake. These were the hours the guests never saw. These were the hours when the magic would be performed.

In the reception hall, a group of porters were ranged around a fir tree taller than the little cottage that Nancy used to call home. Ropes had been tethered to its highest point and, under the direction of Ralph, the porters were hoisting it into place.

The chambermaids now watched, excited enough that not one of them spoke. Three great heaves later, the tree stood proud and tall. As the porters balanced it there, others rushed in to anchor its stump, and yet more emerged with the stepladder that had been used to dangle tinsel from every rafter in the ballroom.

‘Oh, Nancy,’ Rosa thrilled, ‘isn’t it beautiful?’

It’s more than that, thought Nancy, marvelling as the ropes were unbuckled and the tree stood alone for the first time. It looks so real. Like it’s back in the forest.

The lower boughs, which reached almost to the ground, rustled, and from behind the tree stepped Mrs Moffatt. ‘Girls,’ she said, ‘it’s time we had some fun!’ She gestured for the girls to follow her around the tree and, when they did, it was to discover great boxes and crates – and in them, glittering like treasure, baubles of silver and gold, miniature bells, snowflakes carved in ivory and glass, and mountains of tinsel that shimmered in the electric light.

‘When the guests awake this morning, let them discover a Buckingham transformed.’

The girls rushed forward, delved deep into the boxes excitedly, and hurried about their task.