Her heart was beating as fast as a baby bird’s. She felt light-headed and found herself craving something, anything that might take the edge off what she was feeling. She would need confidence tonight. She would need fire. The phials Billy Brogan had procured were still upstairs. A part of her wanted to fly back there, inhale everything she could, and then return to the ballroom with the conviction she felt every time she indulged. But she could see the ballroom filling up. She looked up to find the clock above the check-in desks. It was almost seven o’ clock – the time when the band would strike up, the first clarion call of the trumpets flaring, and the dressing-room doors would open for the dancers to sweep out. She had seen what Nathaniel had planned. She had marvelled at it.

No, she thought, there’s no time to hesitate now. Lives are transformed in moments like this. I’ll do it whether I’m feeling fearless or not. I’ll do it all for myself, without any false courage fizzing in my veins . . .

She turned on the spot, marched around the lifts and down to the back doors of the ballroom. The dressing-room door was ajar so, without breaking her stride, she strode on through.

The atmosphere was electric.

Archie Adams and his orchestra were already crowding the doors to the ballroom itself. Sofía LaPegna and the dancers were scattered around, still tending to each other’s gowns, still painting their faces with white paints and rouge. Just the scent, just the feel of the place, made every nerve in Vivienne’s body tingle. The air was alive with expectation.

Nathaniel White was up by the ballroom doors. As Vivienne approached, she saw the look of agitation on his face. That, she supposed, was only to be expected. Her heart, which until now had been quickening, suddenly slowed. She was going to make this better. It hit her with a clarity she had not expected. For the first time in her life, everything was going according to plan.

She reached out to caress his arm. ‘Nathaniel?’

Nathaniel looked over his shoulder to find Vivienne standing there.

‘Vivienne,’ he said, ‘I can’t talk. Not now. Marchmont’s absconded. She’s done it to spite me – you can be certain of that. She knows what this means to me. If she isn’t here by the time the orchestra plays—’

As if on cue, Archie Adams clapped his hands together to make an announcement. Louis Kildare and the rest of the band followed suit. At Archie’s instruction, they formed a line, ready to march out and begin the celebrations.

‘God damn it,’ Nathaniel uttered. ‘God damn her.’ He craned around. ‘LaPegna!’ he hissed. ‘LaPegna, it’ll have to be you. Follow my lead and don’t—’

Sofía LaPegna was about to reply – ‘Where’s Hélène?’ – when Vivienne interjected, ‘I’m here, Nathaniel.’