‘Except that it’s never as simple as that,’ cut in Al. ‘You can’t just write “we’re all equal” on a bit of paper and expect everything to be okay. People are selfish and short-sighted and don’t know how to change.’ He wiped the last of his pottage with a crust of bread. ‘I think it really went downhill when they chopped the king and queen’s heads off. The Revolutionaries didn’t know what to do with themselves once they’d killed the bogeyman. So they started turning on each other. Then that despot Robespierre got involved and we’ve been heading for disaster ever since.’

Camille reached for her wine glass and cradled it between her hands. ‘He said the executions were to stop civil war. To protect the Revolution.’

Ada laid her hand on Camille’s knee. ‘You don’t have to talk about them…’

Camille shook her head. ‘No, it’s okay. I won’t hide what happened.’

She drained her glass then turned to Olympe, her eyes flashing. ‘I believed in the Revolution. So did my parents. But then the people they called their friends turned on them and they ended up being executed as traitors. I nearly went with them, but I was acquitted at my trial. The judges called me a naive girl being led by her misguided parents.’ Camille leaned in, the flickering candlelight casting shadows across her face. ‘Do you know what Robespierre calls it – this indiscriminate killing of anyone who might be a threat? La Terreur. The Terror. Violence as a virtue, delivering speedy, severe and inflexible justice. To protect us.’

Olympe’s frown grew deeper and deeper as they spoke. When Camille had finished, she stayed silent for a moment, as if turning things over in her mind. The waiter appeared again, setting a fresh pot of coffee and a dish of biscuits on the table and clearing away the empty plates.

‘You said these people who supported the murdered king, these Royalists, they hired you to kidnap me?’

‘Rescue you,’ said Camille. ‘But I suppose kidnap is more accurate.’

‘And … that is your job? Forgive me for finding it hard to trust you. I am very grateful to be out of that awful place, but I would be a fool to trust you so easily.’

‘We’re hired to do risky or difficult work that it would be … tricky to employ someone to do openly,’ explained Ada.

‘I’m not sure I understand.’

‘She’s being far too demure,’ said Al. ‘We’re noble heroes, rescuing poor innocent people like you from the guillotine.’

‘We’re not heroes,’ corrected Ada. ‘We’re trying to do the right thing. The Terror – these executions are unjust. If we can help set the scales in the other direction, we will.’

Olympe tensed. ‘You side with the Royalists?’