But that would include the five grand, wouldn’t it? Only it was Sunday, and the banks were closed, so it wouldn’t be in a deposit box. He crossed that one out.

If she were going to put it in the bank, then he had a limited window to make a move. She’d be home at some point tonight, he guessed, which meant he’d have to have his boys go in armed and fast, and she wasn’t the kind of girl who’d take kindly to that.

Someone would definitely get hurt in that scenario.

He crossed out item four.

The Bainbridge house.

Kensington. Ritzy part of town. Big place, lots of staff. On the other hand, not the sort of place where they had watchmen. Once everyone went to bed, the place would be ripe for the picking, if it was done silently.

He needed a creeper, he thought. Someone who could—

The telephone rang, jangling him out of his thoughts. He picked it up.

“’Allo?” he said irritably.

“Uncle Archie!” said a man excitedly. “It’s Bernie! Is this a good time?”

“Just putting me thoughts in order,” said Archie. “I always got time for you, lad. What’s up?”

“I wanted to thank you, Uncle,” burbled Bernie. “I never thought it would go like this, but it did! It’s wonderful!”

“Well, good for you,” said Archie. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m in love!” crowed Bernie. “Oh, she’s wonderful! Not at all what I expected, not the type of woman I’ve dreamed about, but that’s what happened! It’s a miracle, Uncle Archie, and I owe it all to you for sending me to The Right Sort. Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

“All this after one date?”

“Two! And the second—well, it took us to—I really can’t say any more, but we’re in love, can you believe it? I wanted you to be the first to know. I’m calling Mum and Dad next to have her over for dinner. You should come, too. I want you to meet Tish. Will you?”

“Of course, lad. I’m delighted it worked out so well for you.”

“Right, going to call them now. Good night, Uncle.”

“Good night, lad.”

He hung up, then looked at his list again.

No woman is worth five thousand pounds.

Except Iris Sparks was worth more.

He crumpled up the list, dropped it on an ashtray, and put a match to it.

“We need to get into that reception,” concluded Iris.

“I wonder…” mused Gwen. “Come with me.”

She had dressed while listening to Iris’s summary of her morning and now led Iris downstairs in search of the butler. She found him polishing a set of candlesticks.

“Ah, Percival, good,” she said. “Do you know if Lady Carolyne received an invitation to the reception at Claridge’s for the Greek king tomorrow evening?”

“She did, Mrs. Bainbridge.”

“Did she accept?”

“She did not, Mrs. Bainbridge.”

“Do we still have that invitation, by any chance?”

“I believe so, ma’am.”

“Could you fetch it for me, please?”