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Cri down the walls He fell to his knees

"Leave, Archer"

"Do not return Your presence here puts us all in danger"

He curled in on hi eyes He could not bear it He’d hurt too many He’d only wanted… He could not remember Blood ran down the walls, and pooled beneath his knees, soaking warh his clothes He could not breathe "I cannot…"

"Just look at what happened to Rossberry"

"Rossberry, now Marvel Who next? Who will be destroyed by their association with you?"

London, May 1, 1879

"I have decided that I will not allow young Martin to call anymore"

Miranda’s easy stride stuttered for one pace

"Steady, Daughter You’ll draw notice stu as he gracefully guided her around a newspaper boy shouting the day’s news at the top of his little lungs "Re both the hunter and the prey A change in pace alerts even the ritted her teeth They were not pinching here "Why should Martin not coood friend, and yours as well"

"Be that as it er children at play" A breeze lifted the gray locks of hair hanging down fro ideas Ideas he has no business entertaining"

She stopped short, damn the tide of pedestrians, and her father was compelled to halt as well "Why do we continue to do this?" Her hand curled into the rough wool of his coat sleeve "The stealing and scheed her in between two shop here they ue"

"Who is to hear?" She waved an irritated hand at the throngs patently ignoring the him with her stare "Why, Father? You have this new venture, and I…"

She bit her lip "Haven’t I proven myself loyal?" Her throat constricted, and she hated herself for always feeling the need to gain his forgiveness "Will it ever be enough?"

His eyes cut away fro The illusion ended as he wrenched her close "It has naught to do with e on a dime One day you may be settled Or one day you ht us low, Miranda, you did You took away the one recourse I had as a father to see you safe And so I’ll protect you the only way I can"

"Why do you fear for my safety when it is you who insist that I risk it? Father, if I were to become soave her a light shove, sending her away fro about with Martin Evans Go on with you now Do as I taught you" His face flushed angry and red "Don’t come home empty-handed either"

Miranda blinked at hi over her in hot waves With all that she was, she wanted to defy hi him huddled on the floor in the fa one cold night The last of their valuable possessions had been sold, and the house was an empty shell Miranda had knelt beside hiainst her as if he was the babe and she the parent

"I cannot lose this house, Miranda It was the dreao back there"

Had she the ability to expire on the spot, she would have done so then "It will be all right," she’d said Lies No one would back him now He was done for as a merchant

His frail hand had clutched her sleeve "You have to help hter You are the only one left The loyalty of others has sunk to the level of platitudes on the lips of cowards" He had looked at her then, speared her heart with his red-rimmed eyes "But not you, Miranda Rose You will stay and help me, won’t you?"

Everyone else had left She had stayed because it was her fault Her voice cracked when she spoke "Anything I’ll do anything"

And she still would

Their fight continued to pluck at Miranda’s nerves an hour later as she strolled along at a decorous pace, her skirts swaying ever so slightly, her parasol--nicked fro’s oht

Don’t come home empty-handed Certainly not, Father

Her face burned, and yet she kept her walk steady as she turned onto a busier avenue Here, people walked at a rushed pace: clerks on their way ho torubbish at the boarde of the fact that he couldn’t fight back because of the heavy advertising boards he wore over his shoulders Splatters of so, "Henry Kissuished Gentleuished Gentlemen" Miranda’s lips twitched; the little devils had quite the aim

She took the opportunity to lift a few pockets froht Later, she’d coive the poor board to endure such daily torture

Despite the warmth in the air, she felt cold as she left the scene Prickles of unease danced along her spine Miranda steeled herself not to turn around Instead, she wove deeper into the crowd, her pace increasing past decoru watched, followed

A quick peek confirmed the sudden sidestep of a st many on the crowded sidewalk She turned away

Sweat trickled down her neck to creep under her collar

Who was it? Instinct told her it was a stranger, so this unsavory life long enough to acquire a hearty respect for her instincts

Faces beca when paired with the beating of her heart He was herding her, ht to seek shelter, perhaps in a shop, but that wouldn’t stop him Of that she was sure Hoht A heartbeat thuers clenched tight, Miranda made a sudden turn into a dark alleyway Predictably, her stalker followed, stepping into the space with the authority of one used to inciting fear, not being a victim of it His mistake He took a step closer, and his features came into view