‘I hope you’re not jealous,’ Vincent said. ‘I see how you and Ellen snipe at one another sometimes, so don’t pretend you’re above it. The Leopard Lady is no rival, though.’

Why not? Because she was a real freak and I was a gaffed one? Because I could change my clothes and scrub off the paint? Besides, did he really think my concern here was only about my own standing in the theatre?

‘Did you not see how scared she was, Vincent?’

‘She will get more comfortable with time.’

You did, he could have added but didn’t.

His ablutions done, he walked over to the bed, pulled back the sheets and blankets and got in, lifting the heavily embroidered eiderdown up to his chin.

‘Come to bed, my love.’

‘I’m not tired,’ I said. It wasn’t true. I was weary to my bones but I felt restless. I rose from the chaise and sat at Vincent’s desk. On a piece of paper I wrote down the words that the Leopard Lady had called out to me. There was no chance I could forget them now, but it didn’t get me any closer to understanding what she’d meant. Maybe if I could see her there’d be some clue. I could take her one of the creams I made up for myself from the ingredients in Crillick’s kitchen, some ointment for the sores on her wrists.

‘Is he keeping her in the house?’ I said.

‘I imagine so. Where else would she go at this hour?’

‘I want to see her.’

Vincent lifted his head so our eyes connected over the bedcovers.

‘Don’t be silly, it is late. The best thing you can do is come to bed.’

‘I want to see her,’ I repeated.

‘You should wait until the morning, Zillah. She’ll be in bed herself, I’m sure.’

I couldn’t deny the sense in this. It must be past midnight now, but I knew that even if the Leopard Lady had been given a bed she would not be sleeping. Who could rest after that? I decided to try another tack. I stood up and crossed the room, sitting down on the bed with my back to Vincent so he could unlace me. His fingers were nimble as any lady’s maid’s and I pushed away the thought it was something he’d done many times for other lovers before me.

‘It upset me to see her tonight, Vincent. Not because I am jealous, but because she is hurting.’

An appeal to his better nature always worked. Now my dress was unlaced he pulled the back sections apart and I wriggled out of it before folding it in half.

His voice softened in agreement. ‘It was distasteful, I grant you. I don’t hold with all that nonsense about science. I would rather they hadn’t talked of examining her like that.’