Kate had worried at the start that Monks would appear too early and ruin everything, but now when it was getting late, she was beginning to fear that he might not turn up at all. When one of the gentlemen, with whom she had danced twice, asked her to accompany him to the supper room, Kate could hardly refuse without looking petulant, but nerves were causing her stomach to churn uncomfortably. She allowed him to pile delicacies onto her plate, even though she knew she would not be able to eat a morsel, but when he led her to a small table at the side of the room she accepted his offer to fetch her a glass of champagne.

She sat down, gazing despondently at the food, which at one time she would have eaten and thoroughly enjoyed, when suddenly she was aware of someone standing very close to her. She looked up, thinking it was her dance partner, when her heart gave an uncomfortable leap in her chest. The well-dressed gentleman who was looking down at her sported an ugly scar on his right cheek, which even the neat beard, moustache and sideboards could not quite disguise.

‘Don’t make a sound, Miss Martin,’ Monks said with a wolfish grin. ‘You’ll do as I say or it will be the worse for your dearest mama. Look how happy she is.’ He jerked his head in the direction of Arabella, who was chatting to a woman whose diamonds flashed and winked in the candlelight. ‘One wrong word from you and your mama goes to heaven, or the other place.’ He shot a sideways glance at a man standing close to Arabella. ‘He’s one of my men. We’re all here and we are armed in case you’re thinking of summoning help.’

‘What do you want?’ Kate demanded in a low voice.

‘Come with me. Act normally as if you and I were about to join in the country dance.’

‘What if I say no?’

‘Then I signal to my men and they will shoot the first person who challenges them.’

Kate rose to her feet. She could see her dance partner approaching with a glass of champagne in each hand, but she walked straight past him with Monks so close behind her that she could feel his breath hot against her neck.

‘Miss Martin, I …’ The young man took one look at Monks and stepped aside.

Kate stared straight ahead. She could see her mother and Giles on the dance floor and she managed to catch Perry’s eye, but she did not dare to call out. Then suddenly, without warning, Monks drew her into the midst of the dancers and he pulled a pistol from beneath his frock coat, brandishing it in the air and barking an order for everyone to stop where they were.