‘Do as you’re told,’ snapped Hannah. Regretting her tone, she embraced the woman at once. ‘Forgive me, Jenny. I’m so troubled.’

‘I understand.’

‘I shouldn’t ask you to do something I ought to do myself.’

‘I’m glad to help.’

‘I feel guilty. It’s unfair of me.’

Picking up the cards and letters, she glanced through them, recognising the handwriting of many well-wishers. Hannah was tentative to the point of timidity. Jenny looked on hopefully. When she’d been through all of the missives, Hannah was overwhelmed by a sense of relief. She then glanced at the pile of gifts.

‘I did take the liberty of looking at those,’ said Jenny, quickly, ‘and there’s nothing that will upset you.’

‘Are you quite sure?’

‘I studied them very carefully. If he had meant to send a gift, I believe that the Prince Regent would have ordered something suitably lavish. Nothing in the pile fits that description. You are quite safe,’ said Jenny. ‘I guarantee that His Royal Highness will not be in the audience.’

Hannah felt a heavy weight being lifted from her shoulders. She could breathe easily once more. At the same time, however, she was piqued. Having aroused the interest of the Prince Regent, she was annoyed that she’d been dismissed so quickly from his mind. It was an insult. On balance, however, she was glad at the turn of events. Having entered the theatre with foreboding, she now had the most wonderful sense of freedom. It made her resolve to give the performance of a lifetime.

Hannah wanted to get rid of Lady Macbeth for good.

Having spoken to five strangers in his search for the truth, Paul Skillen returned to the shooting gallery so that he could talk to someone he actually knew. His sister-in-law was delighted to see him and anxious to hear what he’d learnt. Close as they were, he could never have had such a conversation with Hannah. She had no interest at all in political affairs. Charlotte, however, was different. She not only kept abreast of the latest developments, she was able to hold her own in any discussion of them. Paul knew that he could rely on her to listen patiently. He told her about the potential suspects to whom he’d spoken.

‘The first,’ he recalled, ‘was a man named Oswald Ferriday, a pompous toad who more or less refused to speak to me. He tried to hide his delight at Sir Roger’s death but the smirk on his face gave him away. Ferriday is a Cabinet minister, so he was party to the discussions about the imposition of the Corn Laws.’

‘They’re still causing untold misery,’ said Charlotte. ‘Mr Hooper told me that Sir Roger fought against them tooth and nail. One of his dearest wishes was to have them repealed.’