Molyneux rolled his eyes to the heavens. ‘Oh, do let up, Camille. You really think your father went to the guillotine because his idea of revolution was too pure for our corrupt state? That we executed him because he was in our way? Grow up.’

‘Why, then? Why did you let them kill your best friend?’

‘Because they found out what he did to your mother.’

The world stilled around Camille. Sound was muffled, the screaming below faded into nothing.

‘What did you say?’

‘All this crusading can’t save your parents, Camille. It won’t go back and stop you from being the naive child you were. My god, you don’t even know the truth about your mother.’

‘What are you talking about?’

The tricolore sash spread across Molyneux’s broad torso was riding up under his armpit. She remembered finding him once as a child, falling asleep in the library, his wig tipping off, his waistcoat rolled under his armpits as he slid lower in his chair. Despite everything, he still looked like ridiculous old Uncle Georges.

‘Your mother’s trial was a sham. Your father set her up. She was having an affair, you see, with Will, and he couldn’t stand the humiliation. When Will and I realised what he planned… The right word to the wrong person could land her in front of the Tribunal charged as an enemy of the Revolution. Your father could be a vindictive man. He knew the consequence could be her death. We begged him to take a different course.’ Molyneux took off his pince-nez and cleaned them with the edge of his sash. ‘Sad that he should go the same way. I warned him he was perverting the purpose of the Tribunal. It is for the people’s justice, not persecution and revenge.’

Camille couldn’t speak, couldn’t think, as horror took over. It wasn’t true. It couldn’t be true. Molyneux was trying to hurt her, surely, to distract her.

Why, though? What possible purpose could it have?

All she could think about was her mother standing alone in front of the Tribunal in the night shift she’d been arrested in, defiant and brave until the end.

‘Your friend Ada’s father was the one who broke the news to the Revolutionary Tribunal,’ he continued. ‘He always hated your relationship with his daughter. I wish I had seen it coming before it was too late. I failed both your parents, I will admit that. Once the Tribunal heard what your father had done, he had no chance. Your father had lied to them, given false information about her. Sentenced to death a true, loyal daughter of the Revolution. The Tribunal couldn’t let such an act stand. He was unfit for office, misused his position, betrayed us all. The evidence was unquestionable. He had to go.’