‘Let’s not dwell on it in any case, Zillah. There’s no need to cry. I want to take you out today, so hurry and get dressed. I promised to take you to Richmond. Maybe if we’d had our day together, then you wouldn’t have been so exhausted. That was why you collapsed, wasn’t it?’

Better he think that than find out about the opium.

‘I’m so thankful you made it home safely. I dread to think what could have happened to you. Promise me you’ll be more careful. I was worried.’

This was more like him. But it still niggled at me, why he was so keen for me to keep away from there? I could feel the answer just beyond my reach and tried to force myself to concentrate.

‘I’ll send Grace in to help you get dressed. You’ll find a new outfit in the wardrobe.’

My head was still swimming as I got ready. Vincent had arranged for a new dress, an Indian shawl, and even gloves, but as much as I wanted to get excited, I couldn’t. Grace fussed around me.

‘You look like a real lady, miss,’ she said. She meant it kindly, and maybe a couple of weeks ago I would have taken it as a compliment, but today it didn’t feel like it. The smartly dressed woman who stared back at me from the mirror was no more me than Amazonia was. I didn’t want to offend Vincent, not after he’d taken all this trouble, but if I could’ve got away with wearing my usual sprigged muslin dress I would have done.

‘There’s one more thing, miss. A bonnet. One of the trimmings was a little damaged so I was working on it last night. I left it in the kitchen. I’ll run and get it now.’

She was back almost as quick as she left and found me combing almond oil through my curls.

‘You can leave it on the bed for me, Grace,’ I called.

‘Yes, milady, very good,’ came the mocking reply. It wasn’t Grace at all. It was Ellen.

It felt strange to see Ellen here at Crillick’s house. She’d been angling for an invite for so long and now she’d got one. She’d obviously dressed up for the occasion in a yellow shot-silk dress that I hadn’t seen her in before. It looked pretty against her red hair. She must be hoping to see Crillick himself afterwards, maybe. Ellen pulled over the armchair and sat down.

‘Why aren’t you at the theatre?’

‘It’s not only you that can skive,’ Ellen said, but she winked to soften the harshness of her words. ‘You know I’m only joking. Aldous is on tonight.’

I grimaced.

‘I wouldn’t be too quick with that face. You might be the headliner but the show must go on.’