‘I’m afraid we’ve a long journey tomorrow,’ Jack explained. ‘Thank you, Sir Henry; it has been a splendid party. Goodbye, Sir Isaac –’ and with that he began ushering Akiko and Yori away. ‘Come on, Rose!’

‘Sorry, it looks like we’re going,’ said Rose to a forlorn-looking Sir Thomas. As she was dragged towards a side door, she hissed at Jack, ‘What’s the hurry? I was just starting to enjoy myself!’

‘See that man over there?’ Jack replied, his eyes directing Rose’s attention to the main entrance. ‘He’s Sir Toby Nashe, the idiot who challenged me to a duel, then had me arrested and sentenced to hang!’

‘Oh dear,’ said Rose, barely suppressing a smirk, ‘you are in a pickle!’

Keeping their heads low and weaving between the other guests, they crossed the room as swiftly as possible. Then Yori stopped short and gasped, ‘Sir Francis is here too!’

The lanky, long-haired fencer was sampling the sweetmeats from a tray offered by a servant. Doubling back, Jack and his friends headed towards the rear set of doors … only to run straight into Sir Toby himself! By a stroke of good fortune, however, their nemesis had his back to them and was exchanging greetings with a grave-faced man in a black fur robe. Before Sir Toby could turn round, Jack and the others darted behind a group of ladies, the wide hooped skirts of their dresses providing partial cover for the four fugitives.

‘Did you hear about the fiasco at the Globe yesterday?’ said one of the ladies, too wrapped up in their conversation to notice anyone hovering in their shadow.

‘Yes …’ said another, ‘I heard it was a rogue theatre company …’

‘I heard someone confessed to a murder …’ chipped in an older lady, ‘and the Justice of the Peace is investigating …’

‘And what about that ghost ship along the Thames … do you believe the tales of killer shadows?’

Jack’s ears pricked up. Killer shadows … that was the second time he’d heard the phrase. The women tittered nervously as they discussed the series of grisly garrottings. To Jack, the manner of death sounded disturbingly like a ninja technique. But such a notion was absurd. He was in England, not Japan. He was simply reading too much into the rumours. Besides, he had more pressing concerns to deal with at that moment.

Sir Toby and his companion were coming their way. Edging round the chattering group of women, Jack and his friends managed to keep out of sight. Still, he overheard the man in the black fur ask Sir Toby, ‘How’s that young filly of yours? Tamed her yet?’

‘No, she’s as disobedient as ever,’ Sir Toby replied, a sour look on his face. ‘She almost escaped the other day!’