‘Yes, he did,’ she cried. There was a long pause before she spoke again. ‘For a while, anyway – then things changed.’

‘He promised to marry you, didn’t he?’ said Peter. ‘It’s the only thing that could have made you leave your husband and face public censure as a result. You were counting on the fact that Sir Roger’s wife would soon die and that – after you’d secured a divorce – you would eventually become the second Lady Mellanby.’ He saw her blanch. ‘I’ve been to the family home in Nottinghamshire. I don’t mean this unkindly, Mrs Denley, but I don’t think that Sir Roger felt for one second that you might belong there. It was a cruel promise. He lied to you.’

‘That’s why he deserved to die,’ she cried, abandoning her vain attempt at innocence. ‘He deceived me and that was not the only example of it. Because I was married, it was not easy to arrange a rendezvous with him. What I didn’t know at the time was that if I was unavailable, he’d find someone else to share his bed. His preference was for actresses, the younger the better. Sir Roger was an ogre.’

‘Is that why you had him killed outside the Covent Garden Theatre?’

‘Yes, it is. He was besotted with someone named Hannah Granville,’ she said with distaste. ‘She was appearing in a play there. When he returned to London, I knew that the first place he’d go to was that theatre. After the performance, he’d rush around to the stage door with her other “admirers” – for want of a better word – and offer her the blandishments he once whispered into my ear.’

‘You must have felt utterly wronged,’ said Peter.

‘I was in pain, Mr Skillen, absolute agony.’

‘Having someone shot dead is not an acceptable way to deal with your suffering.’

She bared her teeth. ‘I got what I wanted.’

‘Then you must now let the law take its course.’

Kitty Denley sagged. When she realised what lay in store for her, she began to tremble. The deep satisfaction she’d felt at the death of her former lover had now been replaced by naked fear. Peter took a firm hold on her arm.

‘You’ll have to come with me,’ he said.

‘Must I?’ she pleaded. ‘Don’t you have any pity for me?’

‘None at all, I fear.’

‘But I was the victim.’

‘That thought should console you as you walk to the gallows.’

Holding her tight, he marched her to the front door.

Paul rode back home to pass on the good news. When he entered the house, he noticed a difference but was unable to decide what it was. He was welcomed by Hannah with a warm embrace.

‘What’s happened?’ he asked.

‘Dorothea has gone. I was glad that we could help her but there is a sense of release now that she’s departed.’