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‘Won’t he notice the smell?’ Ben asked uncomfortably.

‘Not if I wrap it in wax paper,’ she answered. It’ll take a bit o’ time afore the smell seeps through.’

‘But what about you?’ Rob asked her. ‘You’ll be putting yourself at risk.’

Anna gave a shrug, finally leaving her corner. ‘A door shutting will put ‘im off ‘is stride,’ she suggested. ‘If it’s done at the right time.’ She actually gave a small ribald chuckle before adding, ‘Don’t worry none about my virtue. I ain’t a kid. I’ve bin places that’d make yer ‘air curl. That’s why I want to ‘elp. I want me, an’ me sister far away from ‘ere an’ from them who want to use us.’

Rob looked at her wordlessly, struggling to comprehend what she and her sister had been through. In the end he simply nodded, too choked to speak. He hoped to God that Tom was down in the basement. But if he wasn’t, what then? Gritting his teeth, Rob forced down the sudden stab of fear and turned to Ben. ‘It’s your call, I believe, Detective Chief Inspector.’

In the end, despite the collective reluctance to put the scullery maid in such a precarious position, they needed all the guards otherwise occupied while Spry attempted to pick the basement lock. And a good collie shangle was as good a ploy as any.

‘Where does this Mrs Bridger sleep?’ Ben asked.

‘She’s got the ‘ole top floor to ‘erself, ‘Anna answered. ‘You’ll likely not ‘ear a peep out of ‘er since she’s partial to a bit o’ Black Drop to ‘elp ‘er sleep.’

‘I can’t imagine White is aware that the opium it’s costing him so much to procure is being used to help his employees get a good night’s sleep,’ Rhys commented.

‘Well, I don’t reckon any of us are goin’ to enlighten ‘im,’ Gladys retorted.

They waited another twenty minutes before sending Anna out to her assignation. During that time Ben made sure his truncheon was easily to hand, while his two companions each secured themselves a makeshift weapon – Rob decided on a large rolling pin, and Rhys helped himself to a club-shaped wooden masher. No one enquired as to what lethal tools the other two men had secreted about their person.

Finally, the liver was secured in wax paper, temporarily smothering the smell. That said, Jem was ordered in no uncertain terms to let the dogs have his jacket.

Anna had asked that they leave it no longer than ten minutes before slamming the kitchen door, making sure it was loud enough to interrupt John’s activity, but not enough to prompt him to investigate.

Without a word, Gladys took up position at the door, watching for the right moment carefully through the smallest of cracks. Fortunately, a large oil lamp on a sideboard next to the front door gave enough light for her to see what was happening. She gave a thumbs up when she saw the maid slip the piece of liver in her paramour’s pocket. A mere five minutes later, she gave the door a firm slam, immediately putting her ear to the wood.

‘What the bloody hell was that?’ the guard muttered, struggling to readjust his breeches.

‘I don’t think I shut the window properly,’ Anna answered, surreptitiously stepping out of his reach.

‘If it wakes that bitch upstairs,’ John grated, ‘we’re both for the bloody high jump.’

Anna shook her head, her confidence enough to placate her companion, who reached for her again.

‘We ain’t got time now. The others’ll be comin’ to see where you’ve got to,’ Anna whispered coquettishly. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow.’ With a saucy swish of her skirt, she turned away, only to freeze at his next words.

‘What happened to that woman who brought the lad in earlier?’

Watching, Gladys felt her heart practically shoot up into her throat.

‘I reckon she gave that lazy bastard at the gate summat to do.’ Anna chuckled at length, only her clenched fists revealing her tension.

There was a brief silence, then John gave a short laugh. ‘About bloody time,’ was all he said, putting his jacket back on and turning towards the stairs.

They gave it another twenty minutes before cautiously leaving the kitchen and tiptoeing across the eccentric hall. Sure enough, directly behind the stairs was a perfectly plain door, set so low most would miss it. Gladys grabbed the lamp while Spry immediately got out his lock picking tools and set to work.

Meanwhile, raised voices could be heard drifting down the stairs.

‘I think this is our cue to surprise them while they’re otherwise engaged,’ Ben breathed. ‘Gladys, stay here with Spry and Anna. The children will need you. Whatever happens, don’t let them out until one of us gives you the all-clear.’

The barmaid nodded, watching enviously as the four men slipped quietly up the stairs.

Stepping onto the next landing, Ben picked up another lamp sitting on a side table, then padded towards the noise, entering a dark passageway almost identical to the one leading to the kitchen.

The door was slightly open, and peeking through the crack, Ben saw with satisfaction that while the insults were still flying, two of the guards were now pushing each other around. Any noise coming from Spry’s lock picking activities was completely masked.

There were two more oil lamps in the room, and seeing them, Ben placed the one he was holding carefully on the floor, well away from the doorway.