The play ended to wild applause and the music struck up again, heralding the start of the dances. The constant movement of the guests now made it doubly difficult to keep track of everyone. After several turns, a man dressed as Zeus, in a toga with a thunderbolt headdress and porcelain-white mask, approached Akiko.

‘May I have the pleasure of this dance?’ asked the suitor, holding out a hand.

Akiko hesitated and glanced uncertainly in Jack’s direction, knowing they weren’t there to dance.

‘It’s bad manners to refuse an invitation,’ said Rose. ‘Isn’t that right, Signor Horatio?’ she added, offering her own hand to the sword master.

‘Certo, signorina!’ Signor Horatio smiled as he escorted Rose on to the dance floor.

With a polite bow of her head, Akiko accepted Zeus’s invitation and followed him into the centre of the room, where the other guests had begun a processional galliard dance. Jack watched Zeus expertly whirl Akiko round and lead her smoothly through the set moves. Then her partner began to show off with hops, twists, sidesteps and high kicks, prompting a round of applause from the audience as well as Akiko. Jack felt a pang of jealousy at the man’s dazzling display and its evident effect on Akiko. He turned to the banqueting table as a means of distraction, choosing from a plate of exotic foods something he’d never tried before: a slice of potato. As he sampled the strange vegetable, Jack looked from guest to guest, trying to work out which masked person was Sir Toby. Beside him stood a squat Turkish sultan and a tall medieval knight gorging on the sumptuous delights. Neither looked to be Sir Toby.

Jack wandered through the hall, casting his eyes over fairies and sprites, kings and queens, gods and goddesses. Then he spotted the pale ghostly form of Yori by the fireplace. His friend was stood upon a chair and studying Sir Henry’s coat of arms hanging over the mantelpiece. Jack sighed with exasperation. Why weren’t his friends focusing on the task at hand? They’re either dancing or gazing at paintings! he thought. As he headed in Yori’s direction, the music ended and Akiko returned with Zeus.

‘You’re a magnificent dancer,’ complimented Akiko, slightly out of breath.

Zeus inclined his head and replied smoothly, ‘It always helps to have a magnificent partner.’

Jack felt like he might be sick – and it wasn’t because of the potato. Then Yori appeared beside him and whispered, ‘Jack, we need to talk. I’ve –’

‘Ladies and gentlemen!’ Sir Henry proclaimed loudly as he stood upon the stage in his Egyptian costume, swaying slightly. ‘The time has come to reveal who we really are!’