‘I have known him since he was born, miss. I couldn’t want for a better outcome.’ Martha blew her nose loudly on a hanky she took from her pocket. ‘Will you be staying for the night? I’ll have your room made ready if you are.’

‘I think my business here is done. I’ll get Goodfellow to drive me back to London as soon as I’ve had a bowl of the delicious-smelling stew you have bubbling away on the hob. I’ve missed your cooking, Martha.’

‘Of course, miss. I’ll send Tilly to light a fire in the dining room.’

‘Don’t trouble her. I’m quite happy to sit here at the kitchen table. Tilly can take a message to the stables so that Goodfellow is ready when I want to leave.’

Kate was so busy that she did not have time to worry about the success or failure of their plans for the capture of Monks. To her its success was a foregone conclusion and the first thing she did when she returned to Finsbury Square was to order invitations to be printed as a matter of urgency. Giles saw to it that the event was mentioned on the front page of The Times, leaving nothing to chance. It might not be an obvious choice of reading matter for someone like Monks, but as Giles explained, it was where society functions were announced. Monks would follow the money, it was as simple as that.

Ted, Joe and Augustus rode up to London and Perry accompanied them to Moses Moss’s shop in Covent Garden where he purchased suitable outfits for them, at Kate’s expense, although Perry had been instructed not to tell them who was paying. Kate knew it would hurt their male pride to be beholden to a woman, and Perry reported back to her that all three had been quite happy to believe that Giles had footed the bill. Kate herself took Ivy to Peter Robinson’s store in Oxford Street, where she was also fitted for a new gown.

Caterers were booked, and at Arabella’s request a special order was given to Gunter’s for their delicious fancies and ice cream to be served in the supper room. Harry kept away from Finsbury Square and Kate had to be content in knowing that soon all these cat-and-mouse games would be over. Her dearest wish was to lead an ordinary life without fear of being abducted or even murdered by Monks.