I’d expected to see Elvira’s carriage but it was only Nosizwe waiting when I came out of the house. I looked up the road towards the noise and traffic of Trafalgar Square which was busy with cabs and horses. One of those vehicles must be Elvira’s, but it was too far for me to see. Why was it taking her so long? Nosizwe stood on the pavement holding her son tightly, her eyes blinking rapidly under the glare of the street lamps. She shivered in the cold night air and I shrugged off the cloak that Ethel had given to me and helped her to put it on.

‘It’s safer to stand here,’ I said, pulling her to one side.

Northumberland Avenue was quiet for now, but if someone came past and saw us standing here, they’d think something was up and I had no plan for what to do. Come on, Elvira, I muttered to myself. Please don’t let us down.

I sent up a small prayer of thanks when, three minutes later, Elvira’s carriage arrived. She was leaning out apologising before the horses had come to a complete stop.

‘A cart overturned and we had to change our route,’ she explained. ‘Where’s Ethel?’

‘I’ve not seen her. When we arrived, there was a guard. She said she’d distract him. But that was twenty minutes ago at least.’

‘Everything has gone to plan otherwise?’

So far it had. I didn’t count Vincent. I knew he wouldn’t stop us.

‘How many prisoners are there?’ Elvira asked.

‘Seven more. They have been drugged so I won’t be able to get them out alone.’

I looked back towards the house.

‘You should go, Zillah,’ Elvira said. ‘Gregory my footman is here, also. He will bring out the rest of them and I have a second carriage on the way, but it’ll be another fifteen minutes at least. I had thought to have you with us too, but it’s more important you leave straight away, before Crillick returns. He won’t come after me, but you are vulnerable, if he knows you had anything to do with this.’

‘What about Ethel?’

‘I’m here,’ Ethel called, walking out from the side entrance of Crillick’s house. Her hair had come loose from its bun and she rubbed her knuckles as though they were sore.

‘What happened to the guard?’

‘Dealt with,’ said Ethel. Her eyes were hard, challenging me to ask how, but she’d get no judgement from me. I’d come to the Odditorium prepared to do whatever was needed to free Crillick’s prisoners.

Ethel and the footman headed into the house. They had bolt cutters and a knife. That would make short work of the restraints.