Enzo mumbled, “You shouldn’t have done that.”

The crowd surged forward, rushing in upon them. In short order, the guards were tied and sitting in the dark shadows of the alley, bruised and beaten, while Scarlet and the others ran in the opposite direction of her initial walk. Abelino joined her in the midst of the group of people and reached for her hand.

Her heart warmed. What a brave and brilliant child, and yet still so young. “You were amazing, my friend. And I’m looking forward to meeting everyone else. Many thanks are in order. And there is much to be done, tonight, if possible, and into next week if we are to save those who are dear to me.”

His small hand squeezed her own. “We are almost there.”

They turned down a side street and then poured through a door, pushing back into a small apartment until it accommodated them all. A stout, cheery woman greeted the few closest to her and then lifted her head, including them all. “Tea is on, and I have a bit of cake, if you’ll be patient.”

Someone in the back of the crowded space called out, “Should’ve had Lucien drop some by from his bakery.”

Two buxom ladies chuckled to each other, nodding.

“Holding out on us, he is.”

“Did I know we’d be about the task of rescuing tonight?” The man named Lucien held his hands up in a good-natured surrender.

“Quiet down. Let’s hear what the lady has to say.”

All eyes turned to Scarlet.

She cleared her throat. “I am at such a disadvantage. I don’t know who I am to thank for such a brilliant rescue. And yet, I do thank you, with all my heart.” Her voice caught and she brought a hand up to her mouth. “You see, I was about to give up.” She shook her head and her eyes found the floor as she struggled to continue, her throat aching from the lump that had formed. “I have never been so low.” She blinked back tears, and her eyes travelled the room, looking into their faces.

“What could we do but help you, my lady? When we heard that the very person who saved my dear Daniele—” A towering, broad man squeezed his eyes, fists pressing into them.

“And my Juliet.”

“And Henri.”

They each called out a name until everyone had listed a few.

Scarlet searched their faces. “The shop owners? Are you shop owners?”

A woman called out, “Some of us are now. We took over the shops left abandoned when the committee would have sent them all off to prison, except that you saved them.”

They spoke of the shop owners who’d recently travelled to England on her ship. The Seamstress had rescued them all on her last trip to France, just days before.