‘It’s a marvellous idea,’ Josephine said, putting the newspaper down, ‘but isn’t it a bit out of our league? I can’t compete with ten thousand pounds, no matter how good the cause.’

‘You don’t have to. Hilaria’s an old friend of mine. We grew up together, and you’ve met her at a couple of parties in London.’

‘I thought I recognised the name. It’s not one that you forget in a hurry.’ Josephine tried to bring Hilaria St Aubyn to mind, and vaguely recalled a tall, graceful woman in her mid-forties who had talked about travel and music. ‘She’s a brave lady, opening up her home to the highest bidder. You never know who you might find at the other end of a cracker.’

‘Well, that’s rather the point,’ Archie said. ‘She telephoned last night to ask if I’d come for Christmas and bring some of 17what she called my “glamorous friends”. Apparently, it’s all been much more successful than she thought, and there’s one guest in particular whom she doesn’t want to disappoint.’

‘The one paying ten thousand pounds, presumably.’

‘Exactly. She never expected to have a donation from a celebrity, and now she’s worried that all the other guests will be dull by comparison. Rich, but dull. She was very excited when I suggested you and Marta.’

‘I suppose we should be flattered. Who is the celebrity?’

Archie paused, and she found his reticence as annoying as the newspaper’s sly teasing. ‘I don’t want to spoil the surprise, but trust me – you won’t be disappointed. And Hilaria has asked me to stress that you’d be doing her an enormous favour and there’s no obligation to make a pledge – although I’m sure she won’t turn down a modest contribution. God knows this situation is only going to get worse. So how about it? Would you like to go?’

Josephine hesitated. She had been looking forward to seeing the Loe Estate in winter, and the idea of a house full of strangers all striving to impress each other didn’t seem like much of a holiday, but Archie was obviously committed and she knew that Marta would love the prospect of something more adventurous. ‘All right, then,’ she agreed. ‘It sounds lovely. I’ll tell Marta that we’re expected to be at our sparkling best.’

‘Good. Hilaria will be thrilled, and it will be nice to spend some time there again. I haven’t been for years.’

‘Are we still going down on Christmas Eve?’

‘That’s the other thing I wanted to tell you. I’ve got to travel separately now to chaperone the celebrity.’

‘Is she really that famous? I’m assuming it’s a she. You’ve got that tone in your voice.’ 18

‘Nonsense. But yes, Christmas Eve is fine. There’ll be a car to meet you at Marazion – or a boat, depending on when you arrive. The causeway’s only open for a few hours at a time.’

‘Cut off from the world at Christmas. Right now, that might actually be worth ten thousand pounds.’ She recalled the intriguing silhouette of St Michael’s Mount that she had seen from the train, never imagining that she might stay there, and began to share a little of Archie’s excitement.