“What things?” Aunt Orla asked.
“The locket.”
She lifted an eyebrow, as if unimpressed.
Walking past her, I went into the bedroom, where Patrick was asleep on the pallet, and found the loose board in the floor.
“How do we know you’ll take good care o’ her?” Uncle Charlie said in the next room.
I held my breath and worked faster, embarrassed that Uncle Charlie and Aunt Orla would question Alec.
“Miss O’Day will want for nothing,” Alec said.
“And what happens when you tire of her?” Aunt Orla asked. “She won’t come crying back to us, I can tell you that much.”
“She will never have reason to come back here,” Alec said, his voice filled with conviction, “as long as I have breath in my lungs.”
My heart skipped a beat at his declaration as I reached into the dusty floorboards and pulled out the small box I stored there. I opened it, just to make sure nothing was missing, and found my locket and my money. Just as quickly, I replaced the board and rejoined them.
Alec looked relieved at my arrival.
“I suppose Imogen will have to pick up your slack,” Aunt Orla spat. “I always knew you was good for nothin’.”
Alec stiffened beside me as shame warmed my cheeks. This was the only family I’d ever known. A strange part of me was afraid to leave them—to leave this—because it was all I knew. But the other part never wanted to look back.
“Goodbye,” I said and met Uncle Charlie’s gaze. “And thanks.”
“Get out o’ here,” Aunt Orla said. “You’ve always been an ungrateful child.”
Uncle Charlie’s uncertainty toward Alec turned to sadness as he nodded at me. “Go on with you, Keira. Best that you leave.”
Tears threatened to fall, but I held them in place as I looked from my uncle and aunt to my cousins and then to the piecework on the table.
Alec held the door open for me, but when I saw the tears in Imogen’s eyes, I went to her and gave her a quick kiss, slipping a dollar into her hand. "For something pretty," I whispered, then I turned away from my family and left the apartment.
Neither one of us spoke as we walked down the steps and out to the carriage, guarded by the driver and footmen who looked relieved at our arrival.
Alec helped me inside and climbed in behind me.
We were silent as the carriage pulled away from 36 Mulberry Street.
I couldn’t meet his gaze—afraid of what I might see there.
He was quiet for a long time.
When he finally spoke, his voice was low and gentle. “Did you get what you went for?”
I opened the small box, embarrassed by the paltry amount of money inside, and took out the locket. It was on a delicate gold chain—though I had never tried it on before. I’d only ever held it.
“This belonged to me mam,” I told him.
“May I see it?”
I had never let anyone else hold it—but I found myself handing it over to Alec.
He took it and looked it over with care.
“It’s very beautiful—and looks like solid gold.”
