The inside of the building was just as impressive as the outside, although the decor was more modern and sleek than she was expecting. The walls were a dazzling white, the floor of the foyer polished limestone, a reception desk on the left, two lifts at the rear. To the right was a seating area, with three leather sofas surrounding a pool, water flowing out of the wall and splashing down a series of gritstone steps.

They walked over to reception, and while James found out where the event was being held, Sara picked up a glossy brochure and leafed through it. Her hands were clammy, leaving fingerprints on the cover, but she discovered that the hotel offered spa days and weekends as well as having exclusive entertainment suites, as the literature called them. She put the brochure back in its holder and surreptitiously wiped her hands on her dress, ready for the inevitable handshakes. It was that sort of place, that sort of do, and she’d never felt more out of her comfort zone in her life. The idea that she might have to do this more than once, made her feel queasy.

If I do well tonight, maybe we can call the deal off, she thought. Though if she did do well, perhaps James would want her to do it again. It was hard to know. Her heart was pounding, her stomach griping and her legs felt all shaky. She was on the verge of telling him she couldn’t go through with it. You’re here now, she told herself sternly. Only a couple of hours then you can go home. Or would it be longer? She wished she’d asked.

The lies, that was the problem, and the circle of people she was lying to was growing all the time. Now Fiona was involved, and that in itself felt like juggling with fire.

The irony was, she’d always prided herself on her honesty. After her upbringing – seeing how her mother’s lies had backfired so spectacularly – she’d vowed never to tread the same road. But look at me now, Mum. I didn’t bloody learn, did I? Her teeth ground together. One momentary lapse. One desperate lunge to keep her family on the right side of solvency and her marriage intact. She couldn’t believe she’d ever thought that stealing money was the answer, however desperate she’d been. It was a loan, she reminded her inner critic. I was always going to put it back. Always.

James turned to her, his hand on the small of her back as he guided her towards the lifts. ‘Second floor. I’ve been to this suite before.’ There was a note of excitement in his voice. ‘I think you’ll be impressed.’