‘How d’you think? It were Monks hisself what set the blaze going. I tried to beat it out but the flames took hold and the whole place went up. I only just got out with me life.’

‘They know I used to work there.’ Ivy clutched Kate’s hand, squeezing it until Kate felt as if her bones would break.

‘They have nothing on you, Ivy,’ Kate said gently. ‘You should be safe here.’

The words had hardly left her lips when a missile hurtled through the already cracked windowpane, sending a shower of glass onto the floor, which narrowly missed Charlie.

Ivy scooped him up in her arms, and tears poured down her cheeks. ‘We ain’t safe anywhere, and all because I worked in a building owned by Trader. You’d better watch out for yourself. Monks is after the lot of us.’

Kate eyed her curiously. ‘Why would he want to harm you or me? We’ve done nothing to him.’

‘I don’t think that matters,’ Ivy said grimly. ‘He hates anyone with a connection to Trader. You need to look out for yourself, miss. Monks is a bad man.’

Kate bent down to pick up the brick that had been hurled through the window. ‘This was obviously sent as a warning. You must pack up your things, Ivy. Get the children together and be ready for a move. I’ll come back later this afternoon with the carriage and I’ll take you somewhere safe.’

‘Where would that be, miss?’

‘I don’t know yet, but I promise you that I’ll find somewhere for you and the children to live where Monks won’t think of looking for you.’

‘What about me?’ Spears muttered. ‘Don’t I count?’

‘I suggest you stay here and protect Ivy and the children until I return. I’ll think of something for you, Spears. Although you must admit you haven’t always been of much help to me.’

‘I didn’t approve of Harry letting you have the ground floor, and I’ve been proved right.’

Kate moved towards the doorway. ‘Just stay here. Keep together and I’ll be back in a couple of hours.’ She left the small house and walked briskly to the end of Nightingale Lane where she managed to hail a cab.

Kate walked into Lady Lyndon’s drawing room to find her ladyship relaxing on the sofa, listening to Annie, who was playing a haunting melody on her concertina.

‘I’m sorry to interrupt,’ Kate said apologetically, ‘but this is urgent.’

Lady Lyndon was suddenly alert. ‘Kate! What are you doing back here? Have you news from Harry?’

‘No, my lady. I’ve just had some bad news and I need your help.’

‘Oh dear! What has happened?’

‘Is it to do with Harry?’ Annie asked tremulously.