Growing bolder, Yori entered the gloomy attic room. He gazed nervously around at the dank walls, keeping away from the darkest corners. Jack peered out of the small lattice window into the courtyard below. The guests were starting to arrive for the masked ball, which meant Sir Toby would be arriving too.

A floorboard suddenly creaked, making Yori jump. ‘If Jess isn’t here, then … perhaps that servant girl’s ghost … Can we go, now?’

Jack nodded and they headed for the door.

35: The Masque

Flaming torches illuminated the night, fiery beacons lining the paths and guiding the procession of costumed guests towards the masque. Greek gods, Egyptian pharaohs, Turkish sultans, medieval knights, fairy kings and queens … a fantastical treasury of characters and opulent costumes wended their way over the bridge and into the manor house. On arrival in the Great Hall, they were greeted by servants dressed as mythical creatures and served with goblets of wine and plates of sweetmeats. Above the hubbub of noise and chatter, the musicians played sprightly tunes to which the guests were encouraged to dance and make merry. At the same time, the actors, in biblical dress, played out scenes from the tale of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba for everyone’s amusement.

‘I’ve never seen anything quite like it,’ said Akiko breathlessly, as they entered through an archway of glittering blossoms.

‘Nor have I!’ replied Rose, gazing in awe at the sheer extravagance. ‘This is a world away from the life I’ve known.’

But Jack barely noticed the lavish decorations or gargantuan buffet. His eyes were trained on the multitude of guests, seeking out Sir Toby’s pompous moustachioed face. With everyone wearing masks, however, it was proving an impossible task.

‘Jack? Is that you?’ called a hearty voice. A rotund Egyptian king in a golden face mask came barrelling up to them. Sir Henry lifted the mask and winked. ‘Look, it’s me! I must say, I like your choice of costume – very jolly.’

Not wishing to give Sir Toby Nashe any warning of their presence, Jack and his friends had decided to get into the spirit of the ball and wear the fancy-dress costumes their host had provided. Jack wore the red-and-black chequered suit of Harlequin, its full-face black mask reminding Jack of the hood of a ninja’s shinobi shōzoku.

Akiko was wearing a long, shimmering, red silk kimono, complete with Jack’s katana on her hip, and a fearsome battle mask adapted from a knight’s costume to look more like a traditional Japanese mempō. Sir Henry stepped back to take her in. ‘May I ask who you have come as?’ he enquired.

‘Tomoe Gozen,’ replied Akiko, ‘the greatest female samurai to have ever lived.’