Sir Henry stepped back. ‘Good heavens, no! It cannot be true. He was such a fine seaman, the best pilot I ever knew. And what on earth is a “ninja”, anyway?’

‘An assassin,’ explained Jack. ‘The worst kind.’

Sir Henry clasped Jack by the shoulders. ‘I’m truly sorry to learn this, dear boy. This is tragic news indeed. If there’s anything I can do for you, anything at all, you have only to let me know.’

‘That’s very kind of you,’ Jack replied.

‘You may not be aware,’ the gentleman went on, ‘but I’m one of the directors of the East India Company. I personally invested in your father’s voyage to the Japans.’ His gleaming gaze now swung towards Akiko and Yori. ‘And, by the looks of it, you’ve brought back some friends with you, as well as a quantity of treasures, I hope!’

Sir Henry kissed Akiko’s hand in greeting and inclined his head to Yori. In return, they bowed to him. Then Sir Henry wheeled back to Jack, his plump face flushed with excitement. ‘I daresay the ship is unloading as we speak!’

Jack went to reply, but Sir Henry cut him off as the sound of applause came from inside the theatre. ‘No, don’t tell me now. The play’s about to start. Come to my house on the Strand tomorrow evening at six. I’m holding a small party. I want to hear all about your adventures and what riches you’ve returned with.’

Jack once more opened his mouth, this time to politely decline. Although he was heartened to meet an old friend of his father’s, the party would only delay their departure for Stratford-upon-Avon.

But Sir Henry was already rushing away. ‘No excuses! You’re all invited.’

16: An Unexpected Guest

‘Remind me again why this is a good idea,’ whispered Jack the following evening, as a well-heeled footman led them from the marble-floored entrance hall of Sir Henry Wilkes’ London residence, along a passageway and towards the banqueting chamber. Besides being anxious to find his sister, Jack was concerned that they might draw unnecessary attention to themselves among high society. Someone could alert the authorities and they’d find themselves back in prison. Moreover, Jack had no great desire to inform Sir Henry of the failure of the trading expedition, especially as the man had invested his own money in the venture.

‘It’s a good idea because a man of Sir Henry’s standing could help us find your sister,’ explained Rose, who’d put on her best and only other dress for the occasion. Jack was in his finery too, as was Akiko, who’d insisted upon wearing a kimono to impress their host. Yori had been content to remain in his monastic robes. And, despite the risk of them being recognized, Jack couldn’t deny that Akiko looked resplendent in her glimmering silk gown of red and gold dragons.