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Neville softened at the thought of his daughter, then his face hardened once again. ‘She’s turned out to be just as spoiled and demanding as Bill. She could have had such a stellar career if only she was prepared to work at it. In her own way, she’s just as lazy as Bill.’

‘Good job you have one child that’s done well for themselves,’ Elizabeth said archly.

‘Yes, it is, isn’t it? And now it’s time to recognise that. I’ve kept it from her for too long. She deserves to know the truth.’

‘Ah, Katie,’ he said, as he spotted his daughter’s old friend. She had opted for a white tuxedo instead of a ballgown, and looked incredible. ‘You haven’t seen Fliss, have you?’

‘No, now you come to mention it. I don’t know if she’s come down yet. I’m looking for Harry, I haven’t seen him for ages. But I might as well just enjoy myself,’ she laughed, taking a winter-spiced cocktail from a waiter. ‘Is everything all right?’ she asked, noticing Neville’s serious expression.

‘Everything’s fine. Do enjoy yourself,’ he said distractedly.

‘Neville, perhaps you should slow down,’ Elizabeth said, as they moved on. ‘You can speak to Fliss another time, it doesn’t have to be right this second. Greet your guests, enjoy the party. This will wait until tomorrow.’

‘Don’t try to take control of this, Elizabeth,’ Neville shot back. ‘It’s important.’ He saw his wife recoil slightly at his words, before pasting the neutral expression back on her face. She had always been so good at this – covering up her feelings for the sake of the Oliver name.

‘Grandpa!’

Neville looked up to see George, closely followed by Jasper and the girls. They all looked older than their years, the boys mature in tuxedos, straddling the line between adolescence and adulthood, the girls so pretty in their matching prom-style dresses, Bea’s in red, Flo’s in gold. ‘Hello, George! What are you up to? Don’t you look handsome?’ Neville beamed, hoping his grandson hadn’t overheard the cross words between him and Elizabeth. ‘That’ll be the Oliver genes,’ he winked.

‘Awesome party,’ Jasper grinned, his phone in his hand as he spun round in a circle, filming the revelry.

‘How are you feeling?’ Beatrice asked, looking at Neville with concern.

‘Much better now, thank you,’ Neville said, touched by their concern. ‘It cheers my heart to see you all enjoying yourselves.’

‘Are we allowed a glass of champagne?’ Florence piped up. ‘Mummy sometimes lets us on special occasions.’

‘Don’t ask, don’t tell,’ Neville chuckled, his eyes twinkling. ‘And don’t get into trouble!’ he warned, as the teens ran off, giggling mischievously. As Neville looked around, he noticed Bill who was drinking neat brandy and looked as though it wasn’t his first. There was a thin sheen of sweat on his forehead, and his appearance was rather unkempt. Somehow he was managing to make a tuxedo look scruffy, chatting to a group of television executives, guffawing a little too loudly and clearly trying to impress them. He looked up when he saw his father and sidled over to him.

‘Good evening, Father,’ he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Neville ignored his tone. ‘Have you seen Fliss?’

‘Why?’

Neville bristled. ‘None of your business. I want to speak with her, that’s all.’

‘Oh, but I think it is my business,’ Bill slurred. ‘I care about the Oliver reputation, even if you don’t. I know you’ve been in hospital, but you can’t have missed how she’s been in all the papers, scandalous headlines all over the internet. Confessing to taking drugs, photos of her and Kit looking very cosy. Don’t you care about how that’s making Tara feel? If you had any sense you’d throw Fliss out of the house.’

Lord Oliver drew himself up to his full height, looking Bill right in the eye as Elizabeth looked on nervously, conscious of people watching them.

‘I don’t know what your issue is with Fliss, but I certainly won’t be throwing her out. Quite the opposite in fact,’ Neville stated coldly. ‘If there is anybody I should be throwing out, it should be you.’

Bill’s blue eyes were glittering dangerously. ‘Why do you always protect her?’ he asked, putting a slight emphasis on the last word.

‘What are you talking about?’ Lord Oliver growled. ‘You’re drunk – as always.’

Bill rounded on him. ‘I know why you always protect her. I know your secret,’ he hissed.

Neville’s eyes narrowed. Elizabeth, however, had gone pale.

‘What do you mean, you “know”?’ she asked.

‘I know,’ Bill repeated, an impossibly smug expression on his face. ‘And if you try to disinherit me, I’ll go to the press with all your grubby little secrets. Blow the myth of the Oliver family wide open.’

Sally was still keyed up after her argument with Bill. She was trying her best to be off duty but couldn’t help but treat the ball like a work event, hovering in the background with a glass of champagne, trying to anticipate and troubleshoot any problems before they occurred. Now, as Sally looked around the ballroom, she caught her breath, feeling a burst of pride that she had been instrumental in creating this. Seeing the enormous room decorated like a winter wonderland and filled with familiar faces dancing, drinking and enjoying themselves, Sally felt that she had surpassed herself.

‘Katie!’ Sally exclaimed, reaching out as her friend passed by in the crush of people.