‘And you must have a new gown, too,’ Arabella said, warming to the theme. ‘You might meet a wealthy gentleman with good connections. I’m afraid your romances have proved quite disastrous in the past, if you count that Indian soldier and then a man who’s been in prison. Much as I like Margaret Lyndon, I don’t think her son is a suitable husband for you.’

Kate exchanged meaningful glances with Giles. ‘I don’t think you need to worry about me, Mama. I know what I’m doing.’

‘I should hope so. You’re twenty-three, Kate. Soon you’ll be on the shelf – just think of the disgrace. Anyway, I suggest that we visit the modiste in Bond Street tomorrow or the day after.’

‘Yes, Mama,’ Kate replied automatically.

After a few moments of quiet reflection Perry agreed that the suggestion had its merits. He wrote a message for his clerk to take to the chief inspector at Scotland Yard. It was then that Kate realised how much importance the police put on rounding up Monks and his gang. They waited an hour for a reply and were about to leave when the chief inspector himself arrived at Perry’s chambers. Kate sat quietly during the discussion, leaving Perry and Giles to do the talking. She had been schooled by her father to speak when spoken to on matters of such importance, although she was ready to step in and say her piece should the conversation not go her way. However, after half an hour it was decided that her plan might work and it would have the full backing of the Metropolitan Police. The date was set in agreement with Giles and it was left to Kate to persuade her mother that there would be time to make the necessary arrangements.

That afternoon Kate had little choice other than to accompany her mother to Madame Jolyot’s salon in Bond Street, where the need for a ball gown designed, fitted and delivered in three weeks was discussed at length. Arabella refused to ask the price of such speedy service, but Kate knew it would not be cheap. However, if it made her mother happy and if the ball attracted the attention of Monks, she considered that whatever it cost was a price worth paying. A more modest gown was ordered for herself, and when they left the salon Kate hailed a cab and they went for a celebratory tea at Gunter’s in Berkeley Square. Arabella could hardly contain herself when they alighted.

‘Look, Kate. Over there – that mansion belongs to Giles. I’ll be able to entertain royally when we’re married. This is just the beginning of the sort of life I could never have imagined when I was married to your dear papa.’

‘Yes, Mama. Shall we go into the tea shop? All the talking today has left my throat dry as dust.’