‘Have you seen the two officers guarding this house?’

‘Yes, ma’am.’

‘Do you know why they’re watching the house?’ She did not wait for Cook’s answer. ‘I’ll tell you why…! They’re waiting for your master… the Justice.’

‘I’ll fetch the powder, ma’am.’ It was all too much for Cook. She felt totally out of place, and convinced that, on the morrow, when the mistress realized the extent of what she had confided to a servant, no less, Cook would be sent packing forthwith.

‘No…! I want you to stay. You’ve seen it all, I know. You’ve seen everything over the years. You’re no fool, I’m well aware of that. What do you really know, I wonder…? Do you know that your master is accused of attacking a woman? Do you know that they say he is wanted in connection with abducting children?’ She swayed on her feet.

‘What do you know? All these years… what do you really know?’

At this point Cook remembered the letter in her pocket. She remembered also the awful possibility that Justice Crowther might yet outsmart Emma in this forthcoming court case. That must not happen! Without a word, she took the letter from her pinnie pocket and held it out to Agnes Crowther, who, being cautioned by the serious look in the other woman’s eyes, took it hesitantly and went across to the lamp where she might read it more easily. Cook chose that moment to leave quietly, hoping that her departure would not be a permanent one, once the contents of that terrible letter were made known to Agnes Crowther.

Cook had waited in the kitchen for over an hour, bone-tired and preparing herself for the moment when Agnes Crowther would come bursting through the door. But it never happened. Eventually, unable to stay awake any longer, she laid her head back into the curve of the easy chair by the empty fire-grate, and dozed off into a troubled sleep.

She was not aware that, incensed and deeply shocked by what she had read, Agnes Crowther took it upon herself to rouse the groom and instruct him to quickly make the carriage ready. From the gate – where they were briefly questioned by the two men on duty – the flustered driver was told by Agnes Crowther to ‘make haste to Park Street. To the Tanner residence.’

It was some two hours after Agnes Crowther’s speedy departure that all hell was let loose. ‘WAKE UP…! For Gawd’s sake, Cook, wake up!’ Amy’s cry was desperate as she shook the older woman back and forth in the chair, the tears running down her face, the look of a wild thing about her.

‘Lord love and save us!’ shouted Cook on being so rudely awakened, convinced that Agnes Crowther had ordered her execution. ‘Whatever’s the matter…? Are we all to be murdered in our beds or what?’ She scrambled frantically to get from the chair.

‘Happen we will… if we don’t get to a safe place smartish!’ Amy told her. ‘’Cause there’s a madman loose upstairs. A bloody madman!’ Her two eyes stuck out like hat pins as she clutched the long shawl over her nightshift and made ready to escape.