The inside of the house was suitably dignified, thanks to Sanam Khan. She had spent years collecting artefacts and antiquities, and restoring pieces of furniture to their former glory. She had once belonged to generational wealth and looked down on the gaudiness of new money. This house was a labour of love. The family finances had dwindled when her grandmother was a young woman, but she had tried to keep the legacy alive by training her grandchildren in the art of the gentry – familiarity with the knot counts of Persian rugs, how to tell if a fabric is silk or synthetic, the choosing of chai, discernment in the quality of china, the purchasing of pure spices – all skills that had proved useless until now. According to the genteel ways in which Sanam Khan was raised, weddings were the one time ostentation was allowed, and Benyamin was pleased to see the how well the preparations had gone. It had taken an army of men to drape every tree on the estate in lights but not one of these workmen was visible now.

The wedding guests began to arrive in all their splendour, their black, blue, grey and white cars lining the driveway of the sprawling family house, each one more expensive than the next. Hidden away from prying eyes, they were able to enjoy Akbar Khan’s keen hospitality. The grounds swelled with powerful people, some of whom did not want to be seen, others who had a price on their head: they needed assurances that their safety was guaranteed. Discreetly placed cameras covered every part of Pukhtun House. Connected to a hi-tech security system, they allowed guests to maintain a sense of privacy and safety. The army of loyal men who were known to watch over the Khan and his home continued their surveillance from a distance. All that was needed was one simple signal and the house would be surrounded and in full lockdown. But few people other than Akbar Khan and his family were ever seen in the grounds of Pukhtun House. The Khan’s justice was known to be swift and his men skilled in its delivery. This and their undying loyalty struck fear into the hearts of anyone who would attempt anything. Though no one was visible, everyone was being watched.