‘Is Crillick still at the theatre?’ Elvira said. ‘Either way, you must not take any more chances,’ she continued, when I indicated I didn’t know. ‘You have done what you set out to do. This woman and her son are safe.’

She was right, but still I felt I could not leave.

‘You still intend to take her back to your home tonight?’

‘Yes, Zillah, I will take her there now, but I want to get her out of London tonight if I can, and the others too. I was thinking overnight. Crillick will have contracts saying they are bound to him and the moment he arrives he will have the legal right to take them back. You didn’t rescue the Leopard Lady to have him reclaim her, did you?’

I put my hands on Nosizwe’s shoulders and looked at her closely.

‘This is Elvira,’ I said. ‘Please go with her. She will keep you safe.’

I backed away, wanting so much to talk with her, this woman who I had searched so long and hard for, but knowing that with every minute that passed I was jeopardising her chance of freedom. I turned away from deep brown eyes that pierced me and then she called my name.

‘Zillah,’ she said, ‘indodana yami,’ and she held out the child to me.

My stomach convulsed. In this moment when freedom was so close, why would she give away her child? She was asking me to look after him for her, but how could a mother bear to choose a life apart from her baby? Because she trusts you. She thinks that you will have a better chance of keeping him safe. Of course. Nosizwe didn’t know Elvira, but she did remember me. She knew I had tried to speak her language. I embraced her, and the child too. Squeezing as hard as I dared so she could feel all the love and compassion and solidarity I felt for her.

‘Sisi, you will both be safe now,’ I said, wondering if she could make out the words through my tears.

Elvira hovered at my side, not understanding the exchange but not wanting to interrupt. When at last I let Nosizwe go, she gave me a brief hug.

‘You must leave, Zillah. God be with you. When you have reached safety, you must write to me,’ Elvira said.

She ushered Nosizwe into the carriage and I turned to see Ethel bringing out the first of the men. I set off down the road, but instead of crossing over and heading for Barky’s I turned left towards St James’s. There was one final thing I had to do.

XXXI

An Unexpected Visitor