“That night was more for dreams.”
It had been. A magical, fantastical night. When they’d danced together. When he’d come to her bedchamber.
“I’m actually surprised your brothers didn’t confront me,” she said.
“I forbid it, convinced them I’d see to the matter once I was free.”
“But you didn’t confront me once you were free.”
He shrugged. “After five years, I simply wanted to forget.”
“I can’t blame you.”
Leaning in, he cradled her cheek. “Now I find I wasted three more years. If I’d gone to you and demanded an explanation, we’d have learned the truth so much sooner. You’d have been back in my life. We could have picked up where we’d left off.”
She wasn’t quite as confident of that outcome as he was. She’d gone through a lot during those five years he was in prison, things that had irrevocably changed her. If he learned of them, he might realize he no longer had a care for her at all.
“Miss Kent?”
At the sound of Sister Theresa’s voice, she leaped to her feet, nearly knocking the chair over in the process, vaguely aware of Finn standing, more aware of his gaze boring into her even though she couldn’t see it, but the hairs on the back of her neck prickled. He was no doubt confused by how she’d been addressed, but she’d never admitted to those here that she was of the nobility. “Oh, Sister. You startled me.”
“It’s a bit late for a gentleman caller.”
Her heart still jumping around in her chest, she nodded frantically. “Mr. Trewlove rescued me tonight when I was attacked by some thugs. I was thanking him with some tea.” Which she hoped the sister didn’t notice had not been made. “A paltry offering in exchange for my life, but there you are.”
“I do wish you would cease with these excursions late at night,” Sister Theresa admonished.
“I’ll take better care in the future. I’m going to see Mr. Trewlove out now.” Turning to Finn, she indicated the door.
“Sister,” he said flatly.
“Mr. Trewlove, your family is quite well known in Whitechapel. Which one precisely are you?”
“Finn.”
“Have we met before? Something about you seems familiar.”
“Not that I can recall, Sister.”
“Well, I often mistake people for someone I’ve seen. We appreciate your rescuing of Miss Kent. She is quite beloved by all here. Good night, sir. Go with God.”
Lavinia followed Finn out onto the stoop. “I’m sorry things came to such an abrupt end there, but I don’t think she’d have left the room with you still present.”
“Stop apologizing, Vivi.” He grinned, the familiar grin from his youth. “Besides, I can always sneak back in.”
“I share a room with one of the sisters.”
“Pity.”
She combed her fingers through his hair. “I’m so terribly sorry for what my family did to you. And those words seem so lacking, so inadequate.”
“What do we do now, Vivi?”
“We return to our separate lives.”
“You don’t think we can start where we left off?”
“No. If you felt half as much anger, resentment, and... hatred as I felt toward you these eight years, if it festered within you as it did within me, then I don’t think there’s a path for us. We’ve changed, Finn, you know we have. The circumstances changed us. We’re not the people we were. My parents, damn them both to hell, saw to that.”
