"Something like that," he says, unable to keep himself from rolling his eyes at how distracted Caleb sounds. It's hard to fault him, though; the sordid history of either Black Elm or Darlington's own woebegone childhood made for terrible conversation.

"But to answer your question, I'm pretty sure we'll just keep that room for...entertaining, largely. Holidays, yes, but lower-key dinners with friends as well, things like that. So, like it was before but with slightly less baggage, one can hope."