Tears brimmed in my eyes. I could see her face: the fear, the pain.

‘Beautiful skin she has, you know, but there were patches.’

‘I’ve told you to be careful around Ellen. Crillick will hear of this,’ Barky said.

Part of me wanted Crillick to hear. If I was sacked then I wouldn’t have to be her again. But how will you eat? How will you live? No, Crillick couldn’t find out about this.

‘You’ll have to go now, Zillah. I’d rather not send you off in this state but I don’t want the others to see you like this. I’ll say you were taken ill tonight but you’ll need to be better by Friday.’

Barky’s tone sobered me a little.

‘Yes, Friday,’ I said.

‘Best to make your own way and then, by the time you see His Lordship, the worst of it will have worn off.’

He wet a cloth and gently wiped the half-done make-up off my face. From inside his jacket he produced a bit of string and made me turn around so he could tie my hair back for me. A strand fell across my face and he took a hairgrip from the dressing table and pinned it up out of my eyes.

‘Get changed, then go out the back, walk from there, the fresh air will help. I’d go with you if I could but I’ll have to tidy things up here.’

‘Thank you, Barky,’ I managed.

The joyful feeling had worn off a little. My head had started to ache and my toe felt sore. I had banged it, hadn’t I? I pulled on my skirt and blouse, my fingers fumbling over the buttons. All I wanted was to be between soft cotton sheets. I had sought one type of oblivion but now I was ready for another – sleep would put me right.

Cold, so cold. I huddled into my coat. Maybe the opium hadn’t worn off as much as I thought. At least Northumberland Avenue wasn’t far. Again, I thought of the comfort of Vincent’s bed, but another thought popped up too. The Leopard Lady. Was she in the warehouse tonight? And what about her child – was he with her too, the pair of them huddled together for warmth? Thank God for Lucien. With his support, I could rescue her and Elvira Masterson would help with what came next. She’d need somewhere to stay.

A light rain began to fall and I almost slipped on the steps that led down to the river. I shouldn’t be here. Was supposed to go back to Vincent. But my feet had brought me here. Oops. There was a boat waiting, not too busy.

‘Skipper, over here,’ I called out to the boatman. ‘You going down towards the docks?’