His companion tutted disapprovingly. ‘You need to keep her on a short rein. At least, that’s how I handle my wife!’ They laughed cruelly at the expense of a timid, mousey-looking woman trailing a few feet behind.

‘You’re right,’ said Sir Toby, a sneer on his lips. ‘She deserves a good whipping!’

Jack watched, silent yet fuming, as the two men walked up to Sir Francis. The more Jack learnt about Sir Toby, the less he liked him. But he knew that now was not the time to settle old scores. Quietly slipping away, he and his friends headed for the rear doors. They had almost made their escape when a portly man clutching three brimming glasses of wine stepped into their path.

‘YOU!’ gasped Sir Edmund, his pudgy eyes widening in disbelief.

Rose, quick off the mark, stepped in front of Sir Edmund, blocking his momentary glimpse of Jack and the others.

‘Is one of those for me?’ she asked, taking a glass, then promptly spilling it over his velvet doublet. ‘Oh dear, I’m so sorry!’

She grabbed a napkin from a table and began mopping him down vigorously. As Sir Edmund flailed and flustered under the onslaught, Jack, Akiko and Yori dashed out of the banqueting hall.

Rose joined them a few seconds later. ‘I couldn’t delay him any longer,’ she explained. ‘He’s getting Sir Toby and Sir Francis!’

As they sprinted down the corridor and round a corner, they heard the doors behind them crash open and heavy footsteps coming after them.

‘In here!’ said Jack, opening a door to their left and diving through. They found themselves in a wood-panelled library room with an upholstered armchair beside a fireplace and two walls lined with books. Akiko closed the door behind them, barely a second before Sir Toby and his two companions rounded the corner.

‘Are you sure you saw them?’ demanded Sir Toby, his gruff voice echoing along the hallway.

‘I’m certain …’ replied Sir Edmund, ‘well, sort of …’

‘But we watched them … drown!’ hiccuped Sir Francis, the drunken slur already apparent in his voice. ‘Methinks, Sir Edmund, you’ve had too much wine this evening!’

‘I’ve not yet had my fifth glass!’ protested Sir Edmund.

As their voices drew closer, Jack looked around desperately for another exit. However, aside from a closed leaded window, the library had no other way out except the doorway they’d come in by. He and his friends could only wait in anxious silence, listening to their enemies’ approach. As the creak of floorboards grew louder and ever nearer, Jack’s eyes were drawn to the book-lined walls. He crept over to the nearest bookcase.

‘What are you doing?’ whispered Akiko.

Quickly and quietly, Jack pulled out the rutter from his shoulder bag. ‘Hiding this!’ he whispered.