Barky, back from the theatre, had gone into his room to get changed and I’d made him a cup of tea. I’d gone right off the taste of it, but the least I could do was have something ready for him after making his life so much harder. I knew he was concerned for me. Apart from his work at Crillick’s, he hadn’t been going out, saying he was tired, but I guessed that he didn’t want to leave me on my own any more than he had to. I wondered if he was missed at the place he went to late at night. I hoped I hadn’t spoilt things for him there. That was the very last thing I wanted.

‘Was it still bad when you went in today?’ I said as he sat down. Really I knew it must be if he felt he had to go in on a Sunday. He drank the tea in two gulps and I poured him another from the pot.

‘The clean-up’s mostly done now. Crillick’s had the dancers doing most of it.’

I couldn’t feel too sorry for them. They’d treated me pretty badly in the days before I’d left.

‘What about Ellen? Has she been helping?’

‘Can’t say I’ve seen too much of her. She’s a sharp one. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s been touting herself around to the other shows for a job.’

‘She loves Crillick. She wouldn’t leave him in his hour of need,’ I said. But Barky only gave one of his snorts and I changed tack to the thing that had been uppermost in my mind all day.

‘Why won’t he come to me?’

‘Maybe he knows he’s not welcome here,’ Barky said.

Whenever I talked about Lucien, he tried to close it down. I hadn’t forgotten how Barky had threatened him. It was why I hadn’t begged him to go to Charles II Street, even if only to look through the shop window. I couldn’t help but be on edge.

‘We’re supposed to be getting married on Tuesday.’

‘Well, you know what I think of that too. He must be at least fifteen years older than you.’

‘He’s thirty-two. I told you that already.’

‘That’s as may be. But you’d have been better off with His Lordship.’

If I could have mimicked Barky’s snort, I would have done. He always stuck up for Vincent, but the idea was laughable.

‘I can’t see how that would’ve gone down with Crillick,’ I said.

‘Fair enough, but I still don’t think he knew as much as you say.’