“But you don’t understand,” said Miss Fadden. “I am not a lady. I was nothing more than a housemaid who was being turned out into the street because I was too old. I…

I… stole… a little money from my employers and… and… some of my mistress’s clothes.”

“Then you had better stay with us,” said the Duke, rudely interrupting this painful confession. “I am a ghost, Alice is a scullery maid and we will all have to discuss our future.” His voice softened as he saw the companion’s distress. “Do not worry, Miss Fadden, I shall take care of you as well.”

“I have a confession to make as well,” said Alice in a low voice.

“I am sure it is nothing so terrible, my love,” said the Duke, “that it cannot wait until you are rested.”

“I must tell you now,” said Alice wretchedly. “I have spent nearly all the money from the jewels. Mr. Bower advised me long ago to invest the money in stocks and shares but I did not think it mattered until too late. Now there is a certain return, but very little. And… and… there is worse.”

“My sweeting,” said the Duke, “was that why you wanted to marry the terrible Mr. Funk?”

Alice nodded. “And… and… I lent money to Sir Peregrine. Such a lot. And he never paid it back.”

“You were silly,” said the Duke, “but understandably so. My child, I have all my own jewels. I was a great peacock in my day and had so many to leave to my heir that a sentimental aunt insisted that quite a number of them were buried with me. It’s a miracle the resurrectionists did not try to dig me up. I shall deal with Sir Peregrine in my own way. This is all trivia. My worry, is, what is our future? You are young and beautiful, Alice. You do not wish to be tied for life to this old phantom.”

Alice stood up and went over and knelt beside his chair, taking his hands in hers and looking up at him. Miss Fadden scampered from the room with surprising speed.

“I love you,” said Alice simply. “There must be some way we can spend our life together. I cannot live with anyone else but you, my very dear ghost.”

He held her hands tightly and at last the old mocking smile lit up his mouth.

“Then so be it, my Alice,” he said, drawing her up onto his knee. “We shall celebrate the nights together. We will remove ourselves to some place where our strange behavior will not occasion comment. Now get thee to bed, my child. There are things I must do before we leave London…”

Late the following afternoon, just as the light began to fade, Mr. Funk sat in front of the fire at his club in Lombard Street in the City and stared into the flames.