Ewan lingered on the threshold between their bedchambers watching Henrietta as she let down her hair and began to brush it. She had already dressed for bed, as had he, and now he did not know what to do. Much had passed between them, but he remained uncertain of his own position. She was beautiful, and he was beginning to care deeply for her, but a line remained between them that he would not, and could not, cross.

What do I do, Patricia? How would you have me behave? As always, no voice returned to him. The absence of her continued to leave him bereft. And yet, for the first time in a very long while, he found that his constant thoughts were not fixated on his loss. Instead, they were firmly focused on what he had somehow gained.

“Is something the matter, my Lord Marquess?” Henrietta asked.

“Will you not call me Ewan?”

“I would still prefer to call you Lord Marquess,” she replied, with a nervous smile.

He nodded, feeling the barrier between them still. The kiss had done little to tear it down, though he felt that a few bricks had been chipped away. Perhaps it is for the best.

“The dinner was a success,” he went on, changing the subject.

She nodded. “Rather frightening too, if I am being entirely honest. If Mr. Booth has taken measures to involve my father, then the situation must be more serious than even we have contemplated.”

“Do you think it has something to do with the mother and sister?”

“How do you mean?”

“Well, perhaps he seeks revenge for them, too. It could not have been easy on them, losing their only source of income. They clearly rely upon Mr. Booth, and your father took away that security.”

She frowned. “It seems rather risky though, does it not?”

“Perhaps there is more to this than meets the eye.” Ewan had been pondering the situation for a while, trying to figure out the missing pieces. “Maybe Mr. Booth intends to extort your father in return for your safety. He may simply need to build the level of threat before he makes the request for money, to let your father know that he is serious in his conviction.”

She looked pensive. “It would explain why these two incidents have been near misses, rather than outright attacks.”

“That is what I thought.”

She shuddered, as if a draught had crept in. “Then, I pray that next week comes quickly, for I do not know if that may be too late.”

“I will protect you until then and beyond,” he said, moving towards her.

“It warms me to hear you say that.” She peered up at him. “Did you speak to Gerome about the tickets?”

He nodded. “I caught him on my way up. He will arrange them tomorrow, and he has promised to take money to Fordham’s for your gown. Truly, you will look remarkable in that dress, I am certain of it.” He flashed her an irreverent grin. “Although, I almost prefer you in your nightgown—simple and beautiful.”

She blushed. “Perhaps you ought to take your rest, my Lord Marquess. It is getting rather late and I must take to bed soon, in the hopes of healing these bruises.”

“Are you sending me away?”

She could not look at him. “I think it might be for the best.”

“As you wish, Henrietta.” He turned to leave, feeling crestfallen and somewhat foolish. What else had he expected when they had both made the rule not to touch in any sort of marital way?

“Do I not get a kiss goodnight?” she asked, his heart leaping into his throat. Turning around, he crossed the room towards her and scooped her up in his arms. He held her in a bridal carry, a small squeak of surprise escaping from her lips as he picked her up. A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she looped her arms around his neck.

“You may always have one, if you so desire it,” he said thickly. Leaning his head down, he grazed her lips in a kiss. He did not know what had come over him, but he felt a newfound desperation to hold her close. There was a comfort in it that he had almost forgotten could exist.

“I would be content just to hold you like this,” he said. “But may I kiss you again?”

She nodded.

He dipped his head and planted a kiss just on her forehead. She chuckled, as though it tickled her. He kissed her again, on the apple of her cheek, before turning and placing a third kiss on the smooth skin of her forearm, where it wrapped about his neck. He inhaled the sweet lavender scent of her oil and knew that scent would always remind him of her.

Carefully, he set her down on the edge of the bed and moved a step or two away. She held out her hands to him, but he did not dare to get too close. Instead, he grasped for her outstretched wrist, and planted a delicate kiss on the underside of it, moving all the way up to the crook of her elbow. There, he stopped, a smile on his face.

He closed the gap between them and gathered her to him in a warm embrace, placing a small kiss on the far edge of her shoulder. Her hands toyed with his hair, tousling it, as she giggled against his neck.

“Goodnight, my darling,” he said, his heart thundering wildly as he released her.

“Goodnight,” she whispered breathlessly.

Standing straight, he retreated to his chambers without another word and lay down beneath the coverlet of his bed. There, he stayed awake for an hour, staring at the far wall in confusion. He was not supposed to be feeling this way about Henrietta, and yet, he could not stop the emotions from overtaking his senses.

Finally, realizing that sleep was not going to come, he got out of bed and returned to Henrietta’s chambers. She lay on the bed, curled up in the fetal position, her back to him. Judging by the rise and fall of her shoulders, she was in a delicate slumber. He did not want to disturb her, but he felt he had to be by her side. After all, he had sworn to protect her. What if someone came in the night to hurt her?

Walking gingerly over to the bed, he lay down in the vacant space beside her. She stirred in her half-sleep, pressing closer to the warmth of him. Smiling at the sight, he slowly slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her in, his other arm forming a protective arc above her head as she slept on.

“Goodnight, my love,” he whispered, kissing the small of her neck.

“Goodnight, Ewan,” she murmured, nestling ever closer into the protection of his body.

The following morning, Henrietta awoke in Ewan’s arms. She could vaguely remember him returning to her in the night, so it did not come as a complete surprise. However, she had thought it to be a dream. In waking, she realized it was not.

Slowly, she turned, looking up at his sleeping face. He looked so peaceful and vulnerable, lying there beside her. It made her wonder what their life might be like, once they returned to Nightingale. Would they always sleep side-by-side like this? Would she be able to marvel at his slumbering face each morning? Moreover, did she want to? Yes… yes, I think I do.

He stirred, his eyes blinking slowly awake. “Good morning, wife,” he said sleepily.

“Good morning to you.”

“I hope you do not mind that I came through last night. I worried that someone might try and harm you as you slept, and I did not have the energy to spend another restless night on the chaise.”

She chuckled. “I do not mind, though I confess, I thought you were a dream.”

“Is that why you called me Ewan?” he teased. “Am I Ewan in your dream world?”

“I did not call you that!” she protested.

“Oh, but you did. Nevertheless, if I can hear it but once, whilst you are drifting in and out of sleep, I will be satisfied.”

She flushed with embarrassment. “You ought to return to your room before Gerome finds you abed with me.”

“How scandalous, to discover a husband in bed with his wife. Whatever will the papers say?” He grinned, brushing a strand of her hair behind her ear.

“You know what I mean.”

He flipped back the coverlet and got out of bed, moving back through the adjoining doors to his chambers. Henrietta lay still a while longer, remembering the way he had held her close. She had never slept so well in all her life.

Shaking off the memory, she clambered from the covers and dressed quickly, leaving the corset loose to give her ribs chance to recover. She could hear Ewan getting ready in the opposite rooms. Knowing he would meet her downstairs for breakfast, once he realized she was gone, she took off out of the door.

Her parents had taken rooms in the same inn, though they were nowhere to be seen. Henrietta breathed a sigh of relief and stopped by Mr. Chambers on her way to the dining room.

“Good morning, My Lady. I trust you slept well?”

She dropped her shy gaze. “Yes, thank you. I don’t suppose there is any mail for me this morning?”

“Only the one.”

Her heart leapt with excitement. Perhaps, one of my letters managed to get through.

Mr. Chambers handed her the small letter, which she took gladly. Holding it like a precious jewel, she took it into the dining room and sat down. A bright sun shone across the sea, which had stilled to an even calm, like a millpond. She loved wintry days like this, where the sky was crisp and clear, and the sun glanced down with unexpected warmth.

Turning to the letter, she unfolded it and began to read. Her blood ran cold as she took in the words:

My dear Lady,

I warned you about the applications, did I not? Indeed, I took measures to ensure they were not sent, and yet you went against my wishes. It is a mistake to attempt to defy me. It is even more foolish to attempt to discover my activity. I told you, I am watching you. No matter how safe you may believe yourself to be, rallying these men around you, I will be waiting.

Sincerest regards,

A Friend

She flung the letter away from her as though it were poisoned. A few of the other diners glanced at her in bemusement, but she did not care. Her breath came in short, sharp gasps as she attempted to make sense of the note. Seth must have known that she had visited with his family. He must have found out that they were onto him. But how? Who told him?

Just then, Aaron appeared in the doorway to the dining room, his face ashen. He espied Henrietta at once, making his way towards her. He had not even reached the table when she saw the letter in his hand. Without him saying a word, she knew he must have received a similar note. His scared face said a thousand things.

“You got one too?” she asked, though she already knew the answer.

He nodded. “It arrived in the morning post.”

“What does it say?”

He handed her the letter, before sagging down onto the opposite chair. By the looks of him, even before the letter, he had not slept a wink. She felt a pang of sorrow for him. Despite their misgivings, he was still her father, and that love would never disappear. Her forgiveness would be harder to gain back, however.

She held the letter in trembling hands, reading what their mutual ‘Friend’ had said to Aaron:

General Aaron Oliver,

Did I not tell you that all was not well with your beloved daughter? She has defied direct orders and, I imagine, your fondest wishes for her. She is rather fiercely spirited, is she not? Indeed, I should hate to have to break that spirit. Although, I assure you that I will, if you cannot rein her in. Your arrival does not mean that she is safe, you may assure yourself of that.

These ghosts are getting louder, and they will not be held back for much longer. Do not think to send your daughter away, either. Wherever she goes, I will be watching.

Genuinely,

A Friend

His note was more terrifying than her own. Clearly, Seth had figured out that her father had come to Scarborough. Indeed, his first letter had made it impossible for Aaron Oliver to remain at home. She wondered if that was the point, though she did not say so aloud. Why would Seth want father here, unless he means to punish us all in one fell swoop? The thought gave her an outbreak of goosebumps.

“Seth knows we are here,” Aaron said, stating the obvious. “He must have someone working for him at home—someone he has instructed to pass word to him when we departed.”

“Who?”

“I do not know. I thought my staff to be loyal.”

A thought popped into Henrietta’s head. “Molly…”

“Pardon?”

“Molly—maybe Molly is the one who is working for Seth. After all, she has plenty of reason to wish revenge upon me, just as Seth may wish revenge on you. I dispensed with her, remember?”

He tapped his chin in anxious thought. “But she seems like such a sweet girl. Surely, it cannot be her?”

“Is she still at the house?”

“Yes.”

“And has she been herself since I sent her away?”

He frowned. “I pay little attention, Henrietta. Your mother will know more than I do.”

“Perhaps that is what has brought us to this point in the first place, Papa, your lack of attention, especially where your staff are concerned.” She could not hide the bitterness in her voice, for she blamed him. There was nobody else she could blame, aside from herself. Then again, all she had done to Mr. Booth was speak her truth; he had been the one to speak out of turn.

“I know you are angry and frustrated by the situation, Henrietta, but I will not have you use that tone of voice with me,” he replied coldly. “Even if I am to blame for this, do not think that our roles have somehow altered. I am still your father, and you will show me the correct respect.”

She sat in sullen silence, trying hard not to stare at the letters on the table. Every time she looked at them, they filled her with terror. What was Mr. Booth plotting now? If past experiences were anything to go by, then these were an omen of things to come. It would not be long before something bad happened; she could sense it.

“If this letter is correct, it would appear that you have not ceased in your endeavors to become a physician,” Aaron muttered bitterly. “It is ludicrous, you realize that? You will bring shame upon all of us if you persist. Who knows, maybe Seth is simply trying to spare us all that particular embarrassment.”

Henrietta stared at her father in disbelief. “Are you blaming me?”

“I am saying there may be more than one reason for this.”

“Just when I thought you were showing some progress, you go and say something like that,” she retorted. “Is a father not supposed to love and support his daughter? Is he not supposed to admire her, rather than scorn her every move?”

It was Aaron’s turn to look shocked. “You think I do not care?”

“If you did, you would not seek to lay blame upon me for something that is evidently not my fault.”

“I am tired, Henrietta. I did not mean—”

“No, I think you did. I think you are convinced that my apparent misbehavior has resulted in this threat against me.”

“Henrietta, I—”

“Admit it, Papa!”

He stilled, his eyes turning sad. “I care about you, Henrietta. I have always cared, and I always will.” He heaved out a sigh that seemed to shake his entire body. “And no, I do not believe you are to blame for this. I should not have said so—the letter has thrown me for a loop, somewhat. I think you should cease your foolish endeavors, that much is true, but I do not think you have brought this on yourself. That is entirely my doing. I ought to have given Mr. Booth a recommendation. Had I realized how unhinged he was, I would have done.”

Is that… an apology? She hardly dared believe it. Even if there was no “sorry” within his speech, the subtext was undeniable. It was the closest thing to an apology she would ever receive from him.

Just then, Tabitha and Ewan entered, dissipating the tense atmosphere. Henrietta contemplated hiding the letter from her husband, but he had already seen it.

“Another one?” he asked, worried.

“Yes. It would appear that we have annoyed Mr. Booth.”

“The devil is watching us somehow,” Aaron hissed.

Henrietta nodded. “We believe there may be someone at home who told him of your arrival here,” she said, fixing her gaze on her mother. “And I have an inkling that Seth knows of my visit to his family yesterday. That revelation is easy enough to decipher—his sister did not keep her promise.”

Aaron frowned. “His family?”

“Yes, we happened upon his sister yesterday,” Ewan explained.

“That is not possible.”

“Whatever do you mean, Papa?” Henrietta asked.

“Mr. Booth does not have any family,” he replied firmly.

“He does—we met his sister,” Ewan assured, but Aaron simply shook his head again.

“Then she is not who she said she was. You see, Seth came to me, seeking employment, after the death of his sickly mother. He had used all his worldly means to pay for her funeral and had been left with nothing. As for a sister—he told me that he had had a sibling, once upon a time, but she had died in infancy. This was verified by those who knew him, in the town. Indeed, they remembered the tragedy in which she was killed; a carriage went astray from the road, and she was trampled beneath the hooves of the escaped horses.”

Henrietta turned to Ewan, who had blanched in shock. They had been fooled in the simplest way—they had allowed themselves to believe Mr. Booth, and he had conned them both.