Sylvana dropped the stray mistletoe stems in the waste bin she was holding, wandering around and fussing over the staff who were adding the finishing touches to the grand room. Her lounge and day room had been opened up, with the huge folding doors that separated the two; rooms cleared of furniture and opened out onto the marquee on the garden via the wide patio doors.

The place felt huge and the masses of sparkling lights and Christmas décor gathered in every corner and crevice was ...