Four years. These walls had sheltered me well.

I slipped into the hall and stepped into Lucy’s room. She had fallen asleep with puppy Iseult curled against her. Iseult made tiny whimpering sounds as she chased something in her sleep.

Eyes blurring, I dropped a soft kiss on them both and prayed they’d take care of each other. Then I crept downstairs, through the kitchen, and out to the courtyard.

I took one last look at the cottage. Then at the house that’d been my home.

“Thank you,” I whispered, and drew my hood.

The streets were slick with mud from the earlier rain, but I moved swiftly over them, already feeling the pull of freedom. The clouds were parting, and a huge moon hung in the sky. I breathed in the cool night air. I felt alone and terrified but ready—so ready for whatever came next.

I arrived at the red door of Underhill’s boardinghouse and knocked. I knew Townsend was staying here while he organized a new home and warehouse on the north edge of the city. I knocked again, impatiently.

I had precious little time before I met Sewel, but I had to see Townsend first. The promise of a new beginning tugged me on, but I was no fool. I knew there was a chance I might not live to see the sun. I had to tell Townsend what I knew now.

A few men stopped across the street.

“Lassie,” called one. “You lost?”

I raised my fist to pound on the door again. The lock rattled. Townsend himself pulled the door open. In an instant he went from sleepy confusion to alarm. “What’s happened?” he asked.

“Can you come with me? Please, Robert.”

“Yes—of course.” He disappeared for a few seconds and reappeared with his hat.

As we headed off together, the man across the street called out again.

“What’s wrong with us, trollop? We got the same parts he’s got!”

“I doubt it, you brainless pig!” I called back.

Townsend’s head whipped to me, his eyes huge with shock, but I kept walking. I wasn’t Miss Coates anymore. I didn’t have to leash my vulgar tongue—nor apologize for its bite.

I retraced the path Mrs. Burgin had taken a year ago, Townsend a quiet and familiar presence beside me, my heart aching for Malcolm, who’d been with me the last time I’d made this journey. We passed the field with the shanties and came to the edge of the shipyard. There, with ships’ timbers rising over us like Goliath’s ribs, I told Townsend everything I’d learned from Duncan only hours earlier.

“They’ve found a way to control the North River?” He shook his head in disbelief. “Can it be West Point? If that is what’s at stake, then everything is.”

“Is it enough information?” I asked. “Enough for us to stop it from happening?”

“I do not know. Not knowing who Monk is, I will have to be exceeding careful with how I send the intelligence. If he’s on the inside, then he could be within our circle of trust.”