He shrugged and released her hands. ‘I was arrogant and thoughtless. I suppose I thought my luck would never change, but it has, and now I must pay the price.’

‘You don’t believe you’ll get off lightly, do you?’

A half-smile curve his generous lips. ‘What do you think? You’re a judge’s daughter, you probably know more about the law than I do.’

‘I don’t think my papa would be very lenient if you were brought before him in court.’

‘Then I want you to do something for me, and for yourself as well.’

‘What is it?’

‘I own a property on the other side of the River Lea. It’s been in my family for centuries but I’ve spent very little time there since I was a boy. I employ a caretaker and his wife, and they look after the house and grounds, although I haven’t visited it for quite a while.’

‘Why are you telling me this?’ Kate demanded angrily. ‘I can’t see how it concerns me.’

‘It’s a rural area, but not too far away. I would like you to persuade my mother to go there until I’ve got myself out of this tangle.’

‘I wouldn’t call it a tangle exactly. You could go to prison for years.’

‘Thank you, Kate. I do know that, but there is also Monks’ gang to reckon with. If they discover my true identity, I need my mother to be somewhere safe, and that goes for Annie, too.’

‘What about me, and Jenny and Ivy and her children? We’re all involved because of the soup kitchen.’

‘I know, and I’m sorry. When I agreed to let the ground floor to you I had no idea that everything would come to a head. Someone has informed against me, and when I find out who it was they’ll regret their actions.’

‘Do you always resort to violence to solve a problem?’

‘I didn’t mention physical assault – there are other ways. But I intend to bring the Monks gang to justice. Their actions are despicable and my men are like choirboys in comparison. I want to get Spears out of their clutches. He’s loyal and he doesn’t deserve the treatment they’ll almost certainly hand out.’

‘I don’t think I want to know about that,’ Kate said hastily. ‘Anyway, I can’t go to your house and tell your mother to pack up and move out of town, and the same goes for Annie. They have minds of their own, and Lady Lyndon seems to have no idea of your criminal activities.’

‘It’s true that my mother knows nothing and I want to keep it from her as long as possible. Maybe you’d care to wait until after the court session tomorrow. Who knows? I might be home in time for dinner.’