Soon after, the men joined us. Siegfried and Nicholas came over to us. Siegfried took my hand and pressed his cold fish-lips against it. Uck. If it was that bad against my hand, I dared not think what it would feel like actually kissing him.

“You are a very wise girl,” he said. “May I congratulate you on your good taste. You will lead a happy life.”

I couldn’t think of a thing to say back. I merely tried to force a smile and wished that the floor would open up and swallow me. Fortunately Matty didn’t suggest dancing again so I wasn’t forced to dance with Siegfried. Instead a roulette wheel was brought out and what seemed to me like large sums of money were soon being wagered.

“How old are you now, Georgiana?” Siegfried asked me.

I told him I was twenty-two. He placed a stack of chips on twenty-two. “In your honor,” he said. “I feel sure you will bring me luck.” And sure enough, the wretched wheel landed on the number the very next spin. Siegfried smiled and pushed a mound of chips over to me. I put random chips on the board, without the slightest idea what I was doing, and it seemed that I couldn’t lose. I noticed that both Patrascue and Dragomir had entered the room and were standing watching in the shadows.

“I think I had better give you back your chips before my luck turns,” I said when I could stand the tension no longer.

“Your luck will not turn while you are with me,” he said, “and of course the winnings are yours to keep. You will need to start preparing your trousseau.”

When I went to cash them in I was amazed and delighted to find that I had apparently won several hundred pounds. On any other occasion this unexpected windfall would have brought relief and jubilation. Tonight it was like a condemned man hearing that his horse came up on the Derby.

As soon as I was able I slipped away, up to my room. Still no sign of Queenie. I felt a growing knot of fear in my stomach. People didn’t just disappear without reason. One person had been murdered already. Had Queenie stumbled upon the killer and been in the wrong place at the wrong time? If it was our light-haired young man, then she had seen him in her room and could identify him. Of course then so could I, which might mean I was also in danger. I went across and peered out into the night. It was snowing gently now and outside was the silence that only comes with snow.

“I wish you were here, Darcy,” I said into the night. “I hope you’re all right.”