The watermen’s stairs the girl had mentioned were at the side of the building down a narrow alley that led to the river. Kate glanced up at the pub windows as she made her way carefully down the worn stone steps. The aroma of tea from a nearby warehouse mingled with the various smells of tobacco, roasting coffee beans and the odour from the detritus washed up on the foreshore and sewage that floated downriver. A bitter east wind ruffled the surface of the water and tugged mercilessly at Kate’s cloak as she waited, hoping that the serving maid would have given Harry the message.

She stood there for what seemed like an eternity, and the tide had turned causing the water to rise rapidly. Kate was about to climb the steps to the High Street when she looked up and saw Harry. He was dressed as a seaman in a pea jacket, with a cap pulled down over his brow, but she would have known him anywhere and she started up the slippery, well-worn steps. They met halfway and he enveloped her in a hug and a kiss that took her breath away, making it almost impossible to think. She laid her hands on his chest and pushed him away.

‘Someone might see us, Harry,’ she said, glancing nervously up at the side windows of the pub.

‘What the hell are you doing here, Kate? Why did you leave Warren House?’

‘Can we go somewhere safer?’ Kate said breathlessly. ‘One false step and we’ll end up in the mud and the tide has turned.’

He put his arm around her waist guiding her up the steps in silence. When they reached the street he led her to St John’s church where they found a secluded spot in the churchyard. He leaned against the wall.

‘Now tell me why you came looking for me, Kate. You knew what I was about when we parted on the docks.’

‘That was nearly two months ago, Harry. I didn’t know if you were alive or dead, and Perry wouldn’t tell me anything. What was I supposed to do?’

A wry smile curved his lips. ‘A sensible woman would have remained at Warren House where she was safe, but I should have known you wouldn’t abide by the rules. How did you find me?’

‘I went to my old soup kitchen. Where else would I go? I bribed Spears with a jug of ale and a couple of meat pies. He’s in a bad way, Harry.’

‘Spears is not my problem. He chose to stay on and he knows the score. Don’t waste your pity on him.’

‘But he was starving and filthy, as well as being chilled to the bone. You can’t leave him like that. He used to work for you.’