“Already done, miss. Just waiting to hear back.” He carted the load to the end of the hall where he dumped it through a chute to somewhere outside the asylum. Then he came back, his whistle echoing through the corridors. “It takes a bit for the post to catch up with him, you know.” He squared his narrow shoulders, and my heart sank.

“Lew.” I paused in the corridor, looking at him. “If I haven’t said it already, thank you for helping me.”

He shrugged, pushing his cart again. “There was a woman at the foundling home. Terrible cook, that one, but she was kind, doing for me every time she could. I remember how good it felt, and it’s nice to make someone else feel that way at times. Like they have someone on their side.”

I swallowed. He still needed helping, this man-child. “Just so you know, Lew Wiggins, you have someone now too.” I put a hand on his shoulder and felt it relax. His smile followed.

Restless, unwilling to risk closing my eyes, I paced the corridor on each floor during my next night shift. I closed my eyes and saw Thornhill, that placid face and imposing frame. My heart pounded as I neared each shadow, imagining what surprise it might hold for me. I didn’t know in whom I should confide, in a house of madwomen and unwelcoming, overworked staff, so I forced my tingling body onward, keeping alert, defenses up.

I jumped when a door creaked open a little farther down the acute ward, but soon a familiar face appeared. “You’re here. Where have you been?” Clara’s voice came from the dimness.

“Trying to keep awake.” I hurried to dry my face with a handkerchief where perspiration had collected and smooth my frayed hair back into its knot. “I’ve had a long day.”

She walked over, wrapped in a thin blanket. “An exciting one, I hope.” Her eyes sparkled with interest. “You look as though something’s happened. Did you find your patient?”

“No, I didn’t. But certainly she’ll turn up. Come, let’s get you back to bed.” I guided Clara into the room and helped her into her cot. I took the chair beside her again and gazed into the dark while she settled, pondering all I’d discovered.

She didn’t sleep, though. “Something has happened. I see it on your face. Oh please, tell me what it is. It’s the only bit of excitement I get in this place.”

“Nothing, really. Just a more thorough glimpse of Hurstwell, I suppose.” I left out the part about my breaking in, and about finding Nurse Duffy. “I happened upon some patient files.”

“Oh, the patient files! You saw them! No one ever sees them.”

“Shhh, we mustn’t be overheard.” Our voices were so low I could barely hear them myself, but my nerves were on edge.