“No, it’s just—it’s been a long journey. I thought we might have a rest.”

“Where’ve you come from, then?”

I hated her questions. But our lives, our futures—whatever they were to be—needed this refuge now. I named a place, as far from Bermondsey as I could think of.

“Mmm,” she said, looking Eliza up and down. “Well, your poor sister looks like she could use a bit more than a rest. Is she all right?”

I feigned a relaxed smile. “She’ll be right as a line, you’ll see.”

The woman hesitated. “Well, never mind, then. There’ll be a nice tea waiting for you when you wake up. Just come down to the parlor when you’re ready.”

“Oh, no!” I blurted. “It’s just—my sister, she’s rather shy. I wonder if we might take tea in our room.”

She screwed up her mouth. “Suit yourself,” she said, then turned to go.

“Is there a lock on the door?” I had to know.

She jiggled the old knob, a half-broken latch. “Not sure what it can hold back, but it’s worth a try. Anyway, you’re safe here. Haven’t had any trouble at all for going on twenty years.”

When she’d gone I leaned a chair up against the knob, took off Eliza’s cape, and mine. We fell onto our beds with our clothes on and slept like bears in winter.

Bang, bang, bang on the door. I woke with a start, trying to get my bearings. Where were we? What time was it, what day? We were in Hackney. In the lodgings. But had Bishop found us out? I peeked out the window to see that it was late morning by the looks of it, which meant we’d slept nearly fourteen hours. Another bang on the door. I crept to it in my bare feet, trying not to make noise, and leaned my ear against it.

“Mary, it’s me,” the voice said in a whisper. I opened the latch, the door, and nearly fell into Fanny’s arms.

“Thank God you’ve come,” I said, and swept her into the room. “Have you heard from Bishop?” Eliza was still fast asleep.

“No. But I’ve had a letter from Ned, just this morning. He being Bishop’s willing emissary.”

“Do you think they had you followed?”

“I made sure I was not. But Bishop is serious, Mary. He will find a way to destroy you.”

“Destroy me?”

“He blames you. And Ned says the Wollstonecraft name is forever sullied, says you’ve ruined Everina’s chances of ever finding a suitor.”

I sat on the edge of the bed, sagging. “I suppose I give him that.”

Fanny sat beside me. I felt the warmth of her hip resting against mine.

“What have I done?” I asked her.

“Saved your sister, that’s what you’ve done.”