Sir Henry raised an eyebrow at Jack, then laughed. ‘You really are a jack of all trades! Well, come in – let me offer you some refreshment. This is fortunate timing indeed! I’m holding a masque tonight – you know, a masked ball – and you’ll be among some most distinguished company.’

‘Will Sir Toby Nashe be here?’ asked Jack.

‘Why, yes, of course. He’s a good acquaintance of mine,’ replied Sir Henry. ‘Do you know him?’

‘We’ve met …’ Jack admitted. ‘I believe he might know where my sister Jess is.’

Sir Henry frowned. ‘Your sister? You haven’t found her yet?’

‘I spotted her a few days ago with Sir Toby in Stratford,’ Jack replied. ‘And a brewer’s boy swears he saw her here at Lupus Hall when he was delivering beer the other day … and I believe I just saw her in that window.’ He pointed to the upper floor.

Sir Henry’s face went pale. ‘Oh … then you’ve seen it too!’ he said, peering up anxiously at the blank window.

‘It?’ questioned Jack, suddenly confused.

‘The ghost girl,’ Sir Henry replied gravely. ‘To be honest, no one goes up there. The attic is empty. The servants say this manor house is haunted – and I’m inclined to believe it too. But I suppose that’s what comes from acquiring a house on the cheap from a fleeing Catholic.’ Sir Henry forced a laugh, then stifled his amusement when he saw the indignant look on Signor Horatio’s face. ‘I’m sorry. I forget that you’re of that religion. But, well, we are in England, don’t you know.’

‘Certo, signor,’ said Signor Horatio with a tight smile.

‘Are you telling me it was a ghost I saw?’ said Jack.

Sir Henry nodded. ‘Come inside and I’ll explain,’ he said, ushering Jack and the others through to a vaulted entrance hall. ‘This manor house was originally designed and built by Humphrey Pakington, but Nicholas Owen had a hand in its construction too. That devious Jesuit had a knack for concealing priest holes within the design.’

‘What’s a priest hole?’ asked Yori.