‘I thought I spotted you at the harvest festival,’ she explained, ‘but Sir Toby said it was my fevered imagination. Then I saw you in the courtyard and knew you’d returned. I tried to get out to find you, but my room was locked, as always.’

‘Sir Toby told me you had died!’ said Jack bitterly.

‘He’s a devil of a liar … and cruel,’ Jess muttered. ‘But now you’re back I have nothing to fear.’ Daring to loosen her embrace, she looked up at her brother. ‘Where’s Father?’

In that instant the elated smile on Jack’s face turned to ashes. ‘He didn’t –’ his voice caught in his throat – ‘he didn’t survive the voyage, Jess … We were attacked … he died protecting me …’

Jess buried her head in her brother’s chest, tears of woe now mixing with her former tears of joy. Their reunion was bittersweet indeed! Having lived with the tragedy for the past five years, Jack now felt a fresh wave of grief overwhelm him and he cried with her. How he wished his father could have been there for this moment. He would have wrapped his great arms round them, pulling not only him and his sister in, but their dear departed mother too, the whole family together … But it was not to be – nor would it ever be. Still, he had to be thankful for small miracles: Jess was alive and safe in his arms.

Their sobs gradually subsided and the joy of their reunion returned. Smiling, Jess glanced over at the two other people in the room, who were respectfully and quietly keeping their distance.

‘Aren’t you going to introduce us?’ she asked her brother.

‘Of course!’ replied Jack, opening his arms wide and beckoning his friends closer. ‘This is Akiko, and this is Yori. Without their help, love and loyalty, I’d never have survived Japan … let alone found you. They are my strength, my wisdom and my best friends.’

Akiko and Yori bowed to Jess. ‘We’re deeply honoured to meet you at last,’ said Yori.

Jess returned the bow. ‘I cannot thank you enough for bringing my brother home safe. I am forever in your debt.’

Akiko smiled kindly. ‘Be assured it is a debt that never needs to be repaid.’

‘But there are other debts that do need to be repaid!’ said a cruel voice from the fireplace.

Jack and his friends spun round to see Sir Toby enter through the priest hole, brandishing a pair of flintlock pistols. He wore the satisfied grin of a cat that had just cornered its prey. A moment later, the grim-faced servant they’d met on the stairs emerged into the room too, followed by … Sir Henry.

Jess retreated into Jack’s arms, her body trembling like a little bird’s.

‘Ah! A family reunion – how touching,’ said Sir Henry with a hollow smile.