Guy raised his lantern, the light catching upon the threads of cobwebs, cracks in the stone, but no timepiece. Catherine took the watch from her pocket, studying the dull silver of the hour and minute hands.

“We can’t stay here much longer,” she said.

Back downstairs, they stood at the foot of the stairs. Guy held his lantern at his side, peering farther into the hollowed-out church. “I wonder,” he said, “if Mr. Smith came back here, whether he might recall something.”

Catherine’s eyebrows pinched together. “How do you mean?”

“What if he was the one to hide the timepiece, Miss Daly?”

It was a possibility she hadn’t considered, one she didn’t much care to dwell on. If Owen had hidden the timepiece, he’d surely known of its magic.

“I don’t know,” she said. “We could… we could ask him to come along, I suppose.”

Outside the church walls, there came the sound of footsteps. Sydney Mallory appeared in the doorway, a tall silhouette, his spade rested against his shoulder. “We’ll be heading off,” he told them. “I suggest you do the same. You don’t want the watchmen finding you here.”

Guy shifted his lantern from one hand to the other. His expression as he regarded Sydney was weary. He said only, “Good night, Sydney.”

Sydney took his leave, and the stillness of the night encircled them once more. Catherine reached for the watch in her pocket. The metal was warm to the touch, the ticking faint but audible. When Guy remained silent, she said, “Should we start back?”

“Yes,” he murmured.

They walked out of the church, through the cemetery, past the front gates. With lamplight to mark the rest of the way, Guy put out his lantern. There were streaks of mud on his coat and over his boots. Catherine remembered his pocket watch and offered it to him. “Here you are, Mr. Nolan.”

He glanced over, his eyes glittering in the dim. It took her a moment to realize he was crying. “Mr. Nolan,” she said, “whatever is the matter?”

Guy took the watch in his hand, letting out a hitched breath. “What I did tonight was neither good nor honorable. I’ve used magic when my father told me I oughtn’t. I’ve lied to him. I thought… I thought I could put things right. I thought this was the way.” He scrubbed at his eyes, his voice wavering as he continued. “Is this what my mother would have me do? My brothers? I think not.”

“Mr. Nolan.” Catherine put a gloved hand over his, the one holding the watch. “You’re doing your best. That’s all we can ever do.”

He pulled away. Closing his eyes, he ducked his head, tears slipping down his face. “I don’t know what to do, Miss Daly.” He sniffed. “I—I don’t—”

They both startled as the city’s stillness shattered around them. It was far from the bustle of midday, but the preceding silence made everything seem louder than it was. The wind gusted, the streetlamp hissed, carriage wheels squeaked and bumped over the cobbles. Time went on, and so did the people, carried by the tide of it.