‘Yes, you’re right. I’ll have a few words with him when I see him next.’ Kate heaved at one of the overturned tables. ‘This mustn’t happen again. Go and check on Ivy and the children, Jenny. They must be scared out of their wits, poor little mites.’

It took time to get everything straight again, and some of the mugs were damaged beyond repair. Kate sent Ivy home early, and she was thankful for Jenny’s level-headedness and seeming inability to be frightened by anything. When they had finished clearing up Jenny made a pot of tea.

‘Come and sit down, miss. I think we’ve earned a rest and a cup of split pea.’

Kate wiped her hands on a towel. ‘Thanks, Jenny. I’ll join you in a minute or two, but first I want a word with Spears. I’m not going to wait for Harry Trader to grace us with his presence. I’m going to find out where he lives and I’m going to tell him that if he doesn’t give us some protection from other gangs we’ll find somewhere else for our soup kitchen.’

‘Quite right. I don’t see why we have to put up with what just happened.’

‘No, definitely not. I’m just thankful that Annie wasn’t here today. That’s another thing. I want to know where she lives. She might be ill, for all we know.’

‘Do you want me to come with you, miss?’

‘I’ll speak to Spears first and then I’ll let you know.’

Kate made her way up the narrow staircase to the first floor. It was the first time she had ventured this far and she did not know what to expect. She found herself on a narrow landing with doors leading off to the right and left, but she could hear raised voices and moans coming from the room straight ahead and she went in without knocking.

It was large and light, with two tall windows, but the smell of blood and unwashed bodies made her wrinkle her nose. The injured men were sprawled in chairs while Spears dabbed ineffectually at the bleeding wounds on Watkins’s face.

Kate snatched the bowl of water and the cloth from his hands. ‘You’re just making it worse,’ she said impatiently. ‘You’re Watkins, aren’t you?’

He eyed her warily. ‘Yes, miss.’

‘Sit down, please. Then I can see what I’m doing.’

‘This ain’t your problem, miss,’ Spears said awkwardly. ‘Harry wouldn’t like it if he knew you was up here.’

‘Harry Trader has a lot to answer for.’ Kate dealt with the cuts on Watkins’s face, which proved to be superficial. She handed him the cloth. ‘Here, hold that to your nose. It’ll stop bleeding soon.’

She turned to Spears. ‘I want to see Mr Trader urgently. Where will I find him?’