Annie laughs, but this is ridiculous is it not? A prisoner! And in their basement! Then she thinks of the gate Edward had installed, the dog barking at all hours, his obsession with work. As she goes over memories, scenes in her head all jumbled up together, she has a sudden unsettling feeling and her face turns serious.

‘I think you had better tell me everything, Miss Ward,’ she says.

Edward unwraps the parcel on the dissecting room table carefully. He slices the string open with precision before gently peeling back the brown paper to reveal the white silk gown within.

It is perfect! He holds it up at arm’s length, admiring the sheen of the cloth, the glimmers of light shimmering back at him from the gas lamps. His angel will look most spectacular in this!

He clears the table, moving the discarded wrappings to the sideboard, smiling to himself as he does so.

The gown is perfection itself. Now, he thinks, I must fetch my angel and see if it looks as magnificent on her as it does in my own hands.

It has long gone dark by the time Jos and Charlie arrive at St Mary Axe. They wait for Richard and Mary as instructed, but it is a cold night and Charlie is fidgety.

‘You understand, if we must force our way in, that we will be breaking the law?’ asks Jos and Charlie nods, grinning.

‘Won’t be the first time,’ he replies with a wink.

‘Hmm, well. I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that,’ says Jos.

They are chilled as they wait, so much so that they are forced to circle the street to keep warm, stomping their feet and rubbing their hands as they do so.

‘Feels like winter already,’ says Charlie as they return to their vantage point opposite the Meakes’ house. At the same moment, a cab rattles around the corner, pulling to a halt beside them. Richard jumps down from next to the driver as Mary opens the door and helps another woman out.

‘Mrs Meake, I shouldn’t wonder,’ mutters Jos as they cross the road towards the small party.

Mary has already taken control of the situation.

‘Uncle Jos, this is Mrs Meake. Mrs Meake, this is Jos Ward, my uncle and a fellow journalist, and this is young Charlie Meckin who is helping us out. I am assured that he is most adept at picking locks should we need him to.’

The party nod acknowledgements at each other.

‘Uncle Jos, you wait here,’ Mary says. ‘I will accompany Mrs Meake into the house through the front door and we will let Charlie in through the servants’ entrance once we are inside. Richard will wait in the yard behind to help us out.’

Jos goes to protest but Mary stops him.

‘No, Uncle. We need someone positioned outside the front too in case we need to raise the alarm or call for support,’ she says firmly, and he does not dare argue with her.