To the irritation of everyone there, Paul was allowed into the theatre at once and the door was closed after him. Five minutes later, he reappeared with Hannah on his arm and her dresser in tow. There was the usual concerted cry of delight followed by a groan of envy. Admirers pressed forward to get nearer to their idol but Scattergood’s interest was in her companion. He stood directly in front of Paul so that the latter had a good look at his face before brushing him aside and taking Hannah on to the waiting coach. Scattergood was delighted. If one of the Skillen brothers had failed to recognise him, he had no worries. He could put his plan into operation.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Given the limited accommodation at Hooper’s house, Peter was struck by the man’s kindness in inviting him to spend the night there. He noticed the efforts made on his behalf. After changing the sheets, Hooper and his wife moved out of their bedroom and into the other one, even though it was already occupied by Winifred Hooper’s aged mother. While Peter slept in the relative comfort of a bed, his hosts were lying side by side on the floorboards in the adjacent room, listening to the old lady’s continuous wheezing. Winifred was a short, skinny, anxious woman with an exaggerated respect for those of a higher social class. Whenever she spoke to him, Peter could almost hear a curtsey in her voice.

That certainly hadn’t been the case with the men on whom Hooper had earlier called with his visitor from London. Having come together to seek reform, they were people who deferred to nobody, freeborn Englishmen secure in the belief that they had as much right as anyone else to take part in the process of electing the government that had such power over them and their families. Peter admired their gruff honesty, their determination and their courage in pursuing radical political reform. They were stunned by the news of the murder of Sir Roger Mellanby and embraced Peter readily when they learnt why he’d come to Nottingham. Many of them had theories about who had been responsible for the death of their talisman. Peter committed the suggested names to memory. While he was glad of their willingness to confide in him, he could feel the burden of expectation slowly but inexorably building. Welcomed as a saviour, he knew that he now had to justify the immense faith placed in him. It was a forbidding task.

Breakfast the next morning comprised a simple but nourishing meal and a string of apologies from Winifred about the shortcomings of their hospitality.

‘If an apology is due, Mrs Hooper,’ said Peter, ‘it should come from me for imposing upon you without warning. I have no complaints. I slept well, ate well and am indebted to you and your husband.’

‘You’re always welcome here, Mr Skillen,’ said Hooper.

‘Thank you.’