A flash in the candlelight told me that Theo had smuggled in a weapon. It was too dark to see clearly but he was pressing something, probably a small dagger, into the soft place below Overbury’s ribs. Harry moved behind Overbury, making escape impossible. I thought Carr would dither, afraid to offend his new acquaintances, but he stepped forward with no fear of the blade.

“You’re not helping me make friends.”

“If you want to make friends with harlots…” Carr slapped his hand over Overbury’s mouth.

“Teach your tongue manners or someone will cut it out,” he snapped.

“And how then will you lick your friend’s boots?” asked Theo.

At that moment the Queane’s guard arrived.

“He has a blade,” blurted Overbury to Hartmann, the moment Carr removed his hand.

“You have been troubling of them?” the Dutchman inquired of Overbury.

“He is armed!” Overbury repeated.

“You wanted to leave,” said Carr, nodding toward the outer hall.

Hartmann took Overbury’s arm but he whipped it free and walked out before he could be ejected. Carr immediately turned to Frankie and me. With a slight blush, he said, “I’m sorry for his rudeness. My friend’s always offending somebody.”

He bowed and made to follow Overbury. Theo and Harry looked at each other, trying to think of some way of keeping him with them, but it was Frankie who stepped forward.

“Stay, Sir Robert. Your friend can get home on his own two feet.”

I could not tell whether she was growing to like this surprisingly diplomatic eye-catcher, who clearly admired her, or whether she had simply seen a way to show her brothers the power she wielded despite her sex. Theo put his arm around Carr’s shoulders and led him and Harry off to a cupboard for wine, saying over his shoulder to his sister, “You’ve got studying to do.”

Slowly, we turned toward the stage. On it, I saw such things as I never thought to see in my life. Frankie and I stood very still, too astonished to feel shame. We did not speak, nor drink.

When finally it was over Queane Donna, naked, stood at the front of the stage watching the audience intently. Her handmaidens walked the two country girls, who had cowered at the back throughout the performance, to stand either side of her.

“What is she doing?” I whispered.

“Taking bids,” said Frankie. Sure enough, around the room, tiny signs were made. The spell that bound us, broke. I saw Barbara in those two girls and thought I would be sick.