Gina rushed out to the corridor and was taking the stairs two at a time when she saw Edith, George and Diana were in the hall to greet him already, so she slowed and tiptoed silently to join them at a distance.

‘Happy birthday, Dad,’ James said, and he and George shook hands. Then James turned to kiss his mother and hug Diana.

‘Nice to see you could make it,’ said George drily. He’d said the same thing at Christmas, Gina remembered. ‘Diana came up yesterday.’

‘Not at the office yesterday, Di? Doing important typing?’ teased James.

‘Been working my socks off to get the early train up, actually,’ she said. ‘Not that you’d know about working.’

‘Or trains,’ smirked James. ‘But I do know about socks.’ He raised the turn-ups of his trousers to reveal bright orange socks.

‘Good heavens!’ said Edith, laughing. ‘I’ve never seen anything like them.’

‘I shouldn’t think you have in Clitheroe,’ said James. ‘I’ll get you a pair if you like, Dad; cheer up your meetings at the brewery.’

Everyone was laughing then, and Gina felt a pang of envy at the happiness of this family. She wished she was one of them: a Stellion, in on the jokes, a proper part of their lives at the Hall; wearing nice things that Stellion money could buy. She shot an envious look at Diana’s smart trousers, soft, fine jumper, and her shiny hair tied with a knotted silk scarf – a rich girl’s look, she knew instinctively; a father who didn’t snarl or belt her, a strict but kind man who wasn’t in a lunatic asylum.

‘Gina …?’

‘Oh, sorry, I was …’

‘Would you mind just popping my bags up, please, Gina?’ said James. He grinned and winked discreetly at her as he turned away.

Gina went down to the car and opened the boot. There was his little weekend case and also a zip-up holdall. She lifted them out and shut the boot. The holdall whispered with the sound of crumpled newspaper: treasure.

It wouldn’t surprise me if we took a trip to the seaside.

Gina buried her jealousy and looked forward to the part of James’s life that she was in on, and of which George, Edith and Diana knew nothing.

It was Sunday before Gina and James had a chance to make any plans.

‘I need a breath of air,’ James said languidly at breakfast. ‘Gina, may I join you and Coco for your walk?’

‘You may, James,’ smiled Gina.

‘I might come, too,’ said Diana.

‘What time’s your train, darling?’ asked Edith. ‘You mustn’t risk missing it. Dad will take you to the station, of course, won’t you, George?’

‘Oh, after lunch, Mum.’

‘And what about you, James? How long can you stay, darling?’

‘Thought I might hang around for a few days; drop in at the brewery, show willing. What do you say, Dad?’