‘JACK!’ called Captain Spilbergen from the quarterdeck of the Hosiander. ‘We’re casting off.’

Lord Percival shook Jack’s hand, then bid farewell to the others. ‘Forgive me, I too must attend to the King’s business. I bid you safe passage.’

As they watched him and Lady Catherine depart, Jess turned to Rose and Signor Horatio. ‘So, dear friends … this is goodbye, then?’

Rose nodded and pulled Jess into her arms. Jess began to cry and tears welled up in Rose’s eyes too. Jack also shed a tear at the thought of leaving Rose, the girl who’d given him his first kiss, who’d guided them through the perils of London and all the way to Stratford … and who had ultimately saved his sister’s life.

‘The witch was right,’ sniffed Rose, drying her eyes.

‘About what?’ asked Jack.

‘Her prophecy,’ Rose explained. ‘One will live, Two will love, Three will cry, and Four will die.’

First she nodded at Akiko. ‘You lived after being drowned on the ducking stool.’

Then she turned her gaze affectionately upon Signor Horatio. ‘We two fell in love.’ As Signor Horatio kissed Rose on the cheek, Jack’s eyes met Akiko’s. Rose and Horatio weren’t the only two to find love.

Wiping away Jess’s tears for her, Rose went on: ‘And at least three of us are crying.’

‘And four died,’ said Yori ominously, giving them all a grave look.

‘I’m just glad that that part of the prophecy turned out to be the ninja plague doctors rather than us!’ said Jack with a morbid laugh.

After Jess had finished hugging Rose goodbye, Akiko stepped forward. ‘I know we haven’t always seen eye-to-eye, Rose, but I was wrong to judge you too hastily. In our time together you’ve demonstrated loyalty, honour and courage – the virtues of a true samurai. As a token of my respect for you, please accept this small gift.’ And, bowing, Akiko humbly offered Rose her golden kanzashi.

‘Why … thank you,’ said Rose, for once seemingly lost for words. Admiring the sakura flower engraved at the end, she added, ‘It’s beautiful.’

Akiko shared a conspiratorial smile with her. ‘It’s also deadly … just like you!’

‘Signor Horatio had best keep on my good side, then!’ Rose laughed and slid the sharpened hairpin into her mane of flame-red hair. ‘I’ve only this pomander for you,’ she said, and she presented Akiko with a strongly scented carved wooden ball on a red ribbon. ‘The perfume will keep away the bad smell of the sailors!’

‘It’s not stolen, is it?’ asked Akiko, sniffing the spiced rose aroma appreciatively.

Rose laughed, a mischievous twinkle in her eye. ‘Of course not! I made it myself. On your example, I’ve finally seen the error of my ways.’

‘Then it’s all the more valuable,’ said Akiko, hanging the pomander round her neck.