Jack skirted the flames and wrapped his scarf over Sophia’s mouth and nose. Freeing her from the clawing grasp of the maid, he began to lead her to the door. Suddenly a heavy bedpost was blasted ceiling high. On its descent it sheered sideways, striking Jack on the head and cutting him down. Sophia shrieked and knelt beside his unconscious form.

Luke acted quickly, dragging Jack and Sophia out to the corridor. He ran back to fetch the maid.

With her arms up to protect her face she was sidling past the treacherous hole in the floor, but on reaching the doorway and faced with the full violence of the conflagration, which, like some malevolent beast was greedily devouring the floors and walls, she stood petrified with fear and refused to shift.

‘If you don’t come now, I’ll not be able to come back for you!’ Luke bawled at her.

She blubbered hysterically as he tried to force her to move.

Then she lashed out at him in panic and terror, raking her nails down his face, ripping out the bow that tied back his black hair.

It was a losing battle. After a moment’s thought he lunged at Sophia where she crouched over Jack, covering his face with her skirts to fight off the suffocating effect of the smoke. Snatching the diamond necklace off her neck, Luke thrust it down the front of the maid’s bodice and left her to her fate.

The main staircase had completely burned away. Flames were leaping several feet up in the air. Yanking Jack up off the floor, Luke shouted at Sophia to hold on to his coat. Edging along the corridor, he made for the servants’ stairs.

There was a hideous scream; the maid was burning. Sophia shrieked her name.

Bitter smoke blotted out everything. Luke and Sophia stumbled their way down the narrow, twisting stairs as fast as they dared. A female servant lay dead, murdered, at the bottom. A sudden roaring whoosh of red-hot flame cut off the next flight down to the kitchens. They were on a tiny square of landing and Luke knew there was a window at one end which they could smash and climb through to the mews below where the carriage and horses were kept. It was their only hope.

Feeling along the wall until he reached the window he broke the glass, using the curtains to protect his hands. Putting his coat over the sill to lessen the danger from splinters, he pushed Jack over, feet first, then held him out at full length and let him drop the short distance to the cobbled ground. Grabbing Sophia round the waist, he thrust her out after Jack in one swinging movement, shouting, ‘Jump!’ Then he threw himself out after them.

Sophia was on her feet, rubbing a painful arm. Her voice was a rasp, ‘Are you hurt, Luke?’