‘I told you before, Hannah. Forget all about the murder that took place outside the theatre. It was nothing to do with you.’

‘I’ve already dismissed it from my mind.’

‘Then what made you so anxious?’

‘I was terrified that the Prince Regent would come again,’ she said. ‘I saw that look in his eyes. It was the glint of a hunter as he corners his prey. He wanted me.’

‘He’d have to get past me first,’ asserted Paul.

‘When I saw there was neither a gift nor a message from him in my dressing room, I was thrilled beyond measure. I was safe. His Royal Highness was not going to be in the audience, gloating over me.’

‘He must have realised that you were beyond reach.’

‘I didn’t feel beyond reach when he was standing only feet away from me. I tell you one thing. If Jenny hadn’t been in the dressing room with me, I’d have been worried for my safety.’

‘Yet you must have known that I was coming for you, Hannah.’

‘You weren’t there, Paul. The Prince Regent was.’

He quickly changed the subject before her memories of a worrying experience cast a shadow over what had been an extraordinary performance. Paul told her about some of the compliments he’d heard about her, stressing how many people had compared her favourably to Sarah Siddons, the erstwhile darling of the theatre. Hannah glowed. Adored on all sides, she was in paradise once more.

‘Miss Glenn described you as the finest actress ever,’ he said.

‘That was very perceptive of her. Working with Dorothea has been a delight and I know that she’s learnt a great deal from my example. I’m an inspiration to everyone.’

‘Does that include me?’

She tittered. ‘Your name is at the top of the list.’

‘I aim to keep it there,’ he said, squeezing her arm.

When they reached the house, Paul got out first so that he could help her down from the cab. After paying the driver, he took a firm grip on Hannah to stop her swaying to and fro. Though it was well past midnight, a maidservant was waiting to open the front door for them. They stepped into the hall. After a night of such delirious excitement, all that Hannah wanted to do was to go up to the bedroom and fall into Paul’s arms. Then the servant pointed to the letter on the table and, at a stroke, everything changed for the worst.

‘It arrived earlier, Miss Granville,’ she said.

‘I can see that, girl. And I can recognise that royal seal.’

‘Read it in the morning,’ advised Paul, dismissing the servant with a gesture. ‘It’s far too late to bother with it now. Besides, I’m not having you upset again.’

‘I can’t just ignore it, Paul.’

‘Let’s go to bed and forget all about it.’