‘Thank you, my dear. I’ll have so much to tell my friends.’ The woman beckoned to a gentleman, who appeared to be her husband. ‘Champagne, Frederick. I need several glasses to get over the shock. Tell those idiotic musicians to play something lively. Where’s Giles? He needs to take charge.’

Kate turned to Harry, shaking her head. ‘I don’t think anyone who attended tonight will forget this party.’

He smiled and brushed her cheek with a swift kiss. ‘I want to make sure that Monks is safely locked up in the Black Maria before I do anything else. But I claim the last waltz with you, my darling.’

Kate took her cue from the woman with the pearl necklace and she signalled to the conductor, who dutifully led the musicians back to their places. Acknowledging him with a nod and a smile, Kate beckoned to a waiter.

‘Please serve the members of the orchestra with drinks. I think they’ve earned them.’ She glanced round the ballroom to see some ladies being led away by their husbands while others had resumed their seats and were sipping champagne as if nothing untoward had occurred. A police constable was trying to convince one of the titled ladies that her jewels were evidence and police property until after the trial, but Kate could see that he was losing the argument. She was hardly surprised when the imposing dowager wrested the diamond tiara from him together with a sapphire and diamond choker, which she clasped to her large bosom.

‘Take them, if you dare, but the Duke will hear of this and you will lose your job, my good man.’

The constable looked to his superior, who shrugged and rolled his eyes. ‘Don’t worry, Perkins. We’ve plenty of evidence to go on. Allow the lady to keep her jewels.’

‘I should think so, too.’ The dowager turned her back on them, addressing herself to a pale young man who had accompanied her to the ball. ‘Eustace, fetch me a brandy and something to eat. I’m not leaving until I’ve had supper, and despite everything, the food looks delicious.’

Kate went in search of her mother, half expecting to find her prostrate with shock, but Arabella and Giles were seated at a table in the supper room, toasting each other in champagne.

‘Are you all right, Mama?’ Kate asked anxiously.

‘Oh, yes, Kate. It was frightening at first, but Giles had warned me what to expect.’

‘You did understand that this was an elaborate trap to catch Monks?’