Harry acknowledged this with a nod. ‘You’re right, of course. I should have done something for Spears, but I’ve put everything into catching Monks. The trap is set now, which is why you must return home immediately.’

‘What do you mean? How are you going to catch him?’

‘You’re shivering.’ Harry slipped his arm around her shoulders. ‘Have you come all the way from Walthamstow today?’

‘No, my mother insisted on opening up the house in Finsbury Square because she wanted to get her outfit for her Easter wedding. Your mother has returned to Finsbury Circus. I tried but I couldn’t dissuade either of them.’

‘It’s still not safe. If my plan fails Monks will be even more dangerous.’

‘But the police should be handling this, Harry. Come home. Come to Warren House and leave all this behind.’

He touched her cheek with the tip of his forefinger. ‘You called Warren House “home”. Is that how you see it?’

‘Yes, I mean, no. Don’t put words in my mouth, Harry. And you’ve changed the subject very cleverly. I asked you what your plans were regarding Monks.’

‘I couldn’t tell you even if I wanted to, my love. I’m working with the Metropolitan Police and they want to bring Monks in with as much evidence as they can gather. They need the case for the prosecution to be watertight.’

‘And Perry knows all about this, I suppose?’

‘He does.’

‘Well, he wouldn’t tell me anything. He’s allowed me to suffer since Christmas. I didn’t know if you were alive or dead.’

He drew her to him and kissed her until her senses were reeling. He released her gently, brushing a stray lock of hair from her forehead with the tip of his finger. ‘I’m sorry, my darling girl. But it wasn’t safe for you to know the details and it still isn’t. I’m begging you to return to Finsbury Square, and if you can’t persuade your mother to return to Warren House, at least you must be aware of the danger you’re in.’

The touch of his lips on hers had left her dizzy with desire for more, but his words sent cold shivers down her spine. ‘Why is that man so important to the police? He can’t be an ordinary gangster. There must be more to it than that.’

‘Monks is the head of an international gang who have stolen works of art and jewels worth thousands of pounds. His London thuggery was simply a cover to divert the police in this country into thinking just what you’ve called him: a local villain who might get away with a short prison sentence. Monks’ gang are ruthless killers and they’ll stop at nothing to keep themselves free from arrest.’