‘Who was that Black I saw you talking with the other week?’

‘Nobody,’ I said, widening my eyes to try and look innocent, but he saw right through it.

‘What you playing at, girl? You haven’t seen him again, have you? His Lordship fawning over you and you’re taking stupid chances.’

‘He’s hardly fawning. We were supposed to go out today but he went out on business with Crillick instead. I hardly know Lucien.’

I didn’t dare tell Barky that I’d just come from Charles II Street. Not when he was looking at me so disapprovingly.

‘Lucien, is it now?’ He shook his head. ‘You want to steer clear of him, Zillah. You’re lucky to have Lord Woodward’s attention. I’m surprised you’d risk throwing it away.’

‘He was supposed to take me to Richmond, Barky.’

He raised one eyebrow.

‘I didn’t know it was serious as that. It’s a good sign, even if you didn’t make it this time. A viscount out with the likes of you. It’s not to be sniffed at.’

I summoned something close to a smile and Barky gave me a pat on the shoulder.

‘You’re a treasure, Barky,’ I said. He waved the compliment away but I meant it. He kept it hidden from the other cast members but he did more than a lot to look out for me. He pulled his watch from his pocket. It was a beauty too, another thing of silver. Just the case and the watch alone were worth hundreds. A gift from a friend, he’d said. She must be a very close one to give him something as valuable as that.

‘You need to be getting back?’ I said.

He nodded. ‘Aldous sent off for a new magic contraption. It arrived just before you did. We need to test it before tonight. Where you off to now?’

‘I’ll go back to Westminster and wait for Vincent to come in. He said he wouldn’t be out all day.’

We walked back up the alley, Barky stopping halfway to enter the theatre.

‘Go well, Zillah. If I do hear anything, I’ll pass it on.’