Barky lived at 23 Lamb’s Conduit Street with a whole floor to himself. It wasn’t that far from St Giles in terms of distance but his rich curtains and the window box he’d filled with daisies made it seem a world away. The residents of the Rookery had merely made themselves a place to stay. Here Barky and his neighbours had true homes, humble as they might be. I’d asked Vincent to drop me at High Holborn, unable to imagine another night under the same roof with Crillick. I’d walked down from there, hoping I was remembering the address right. Barky had only let it slip by accident one night, and I doubted he’d want anyone else to know it. He’d always been one to keep himself to himself.

I knocked on the door and waited. Barky would have been at the theatre this morning, making preparations, supervising props and cleaners, but he always popped home in the afternoon before returning an hour before showtime. It was past five now so I hoped I hadn’t missed him. I put my head down as a couple passed by, not wanting them to see a Black woman in their exclusively-white area. As I’d walked along, I hoped Barky was in. Now I was here, I wondered if he’d welcome me. He’d never invited me but after the silent journey back from Richmond I needed a familiar face so badly. If he took pity on me and agreed to put me up for the night, even better.

The door swung back and there he was, tying his house coat. I saw his eyes flick over me in surprise and remembered that I was wearing the outfit that Vincent had bought for me. I was glad someone appreciated it. After today I wouldn’t be wearing it again. Barky looked over my shoulder, but the street was empty.

‘What are you doing here?’

I knew if I spoke the strains of the day would overwhelm me and Barky must have seen it on my face.

‘You’d better come in, hadn’t you?’ he said.

Before I’d moved in with Vincent, I would’ve thought Barky’s two poky first floor rooms and the smoking fire absolute luxury. I knew better now, but even so I felt more at home than I had done in weeks. He’d led me into the main room. The table in the corner stacked up with pots and pans and cup and bowl showed it served as kitchen and dining room both.

‘You might as well sit down now you’re here,’ Barky said. ‘You going to tell me what’s gone on?’

‘I won’t be staying with Vincent any longer.’

‘The drugs, was it?’

‘No, not that. I found out … some things about him that I didn’t like.’