Hang on, he was rebuking me when he was the one that was late? He’d not explained where he was or even said sorry. I glared at him, feeling angry and also embarrassed to have him speak to me like this with Vincent and Barky watching on.

‘Zillah! Quickly, he’s here.’

Sure enough, there was Crillick, and behind him not the Peelers, but just one woman. Ellen. What was she doing here?

‘Go, Zillah.’ Vincent pushed me towards the boat where the man with the roll of paper was calling for me.

It was little more than a rowing boat. All the other passengers in my group had now boarded. There were just two spaces left: one for me and one for Lucien. Eight Black faces looked up at me, worried by the raised voices and clinging on to their luggage.

‘It is not for you to command her,’ Lucien said.

‘I am trying to save her.’

‘That is not your role either.’

‘There’s no time for this,’ Barky interrupted, but it was too late.

‘There you are, you little whore,’ Crillick bellowed. ‘Tried to run out on me, didn’t you. But I’ve got you now.’ He turned to Barky. ‘Don’t think I don’t know your part in this. You won’t get away with helping her. I’ll make sure of it.’

From squaring up to one another, Lucien and Vincent stepped closer together, shielding me from Crillick. He was angry, there was no doubt about it. His face was almost purple and his eyes were piggy with spite.

‘Hand her over.’

My two protectors made no movement so he shouted over them.

‘You owe me, Jezebel. You thought to ruin me, didn’t you, with your little stunt at the theatre. But the Peelers have been paid off.’

He still didn’t know for sure that I’d freed Nosizwe. In the midst of the chaos the thought warmed me.

‘Hand her over now or you’ll be the one to pay,’ Crillick said.

‘I will do no such thing,’ Lucien said. ‘We are leaving now. There is nothing you can do.’

Crillick looked scornful but the mockery on his face died when he saw Lucien’s clenched fists. There was no way he’d risk a fair fight with him.

‘Is that what you think? That I can’t call that dinghy back.’

‘You wouldn’t dare,’ Vincent said.

‘Pipe down, Woodward. How can you defend her when she left you for this monkey?’

Vincent blanched with fury. Crillick had got to him and Lucien saw our chance to slip away.

‘Come, Zillah,’ Lucien said and I took his hand. Together we hurried over to the boat. A sailor now sat by the tiller and urged Lucien to climb in. The boat swayed in the water and Lucien took a moment to get his balance before reaching out both arms to me.