Billy blurted out, ‘I’m only doing as I’m told, Miss Edgerton. That’s all I’ve ever done. Whether it’s for Mr Charles or Mr Simenon or Mr de Guise, or even for you. I’ve only ever done what’s asked. I didn’t know you was going to get sick. It’s not what I wanted—’

‘Shhh,’ said Vivienne, softly – and dared to touch Billy on the shoulder. ‘You don’t need to fear, Billy. Your procurement secrets are safe with me. I’d just like a little something in return for keeping quiet, that’s all.’ The shaking from Vivienne’s hand must have been contagious, for in that moment Billy started shaking too. ‘Hélène Marchmont. Nathaniel says she’s vanishing for four days over Christmas. She vanishes every so often, leaving the ballroom to Sofía LaPegna and all of the rest. What I want you to find out, Billy, is where does Hélène Marchmont go?’

The tension in the room was thick as treacle.

‘I know you deliver letters for them all, Billy.’

‘Why would you want to know, Miss Edgerton? Why would you care?’

Vivienne smiled. She could see, already, in the way he fidgeted, that she had won. ‘That’s my business, Billy. All you need to know is this: you’re going to promise me you’ll find out the truth – all of it – right here and right now, or I’m going to put in a call to Maynard Charles – and all that money, all those secret payments you take back to that rotten little family of yours, plus any prospects of good future employment is going to come to an end. So,’ she whispered, ‘what’s it going to be?’

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty