Annabelle was still floating on air as the carriage delivered them to the Springfield train station. Captain Haig peppered her with questions the entire ride, and she joyously answered them. Gray had retreated back into silence but she wasn’t dismayed, for this afternoon had been a breakthrough. She and Gray had worked and laughed together. She couldn’t expect him to leap back into the whole-hearted relationship they’d had earlier, but they were moving in the right direction.

Ahead of her was another voyage on the Pelican, and they could begin repairing the rift between them. Her hope inched even higher as Gray helped her alight from the carriage, looking so deeply into her eyes that she felt as though he was trying to memorize them. He opened the umbrella over them both as he guided her toward the train station. When the wind picked up, he angled the umbrella to shield her, and she was almost sorry when they arrived at the overhang before the station.

He collapsed the umbrella and held the door for her and Captain Haig. “Wait here,” he said as they stepped into the small lobby of the train station. “I’ll get our tickets.”

The interior of the station was charming, with wooden floors, coffered ceilings, and plenty of seating. The train to Boston didn’t leave for an hour, so she found a table in the station’s café, ordered a pot of tea, then offered Captain Haig some of the delicate watercress sandwiches. He devoured them all before Gray returned.

He handed a ticket to Captain Haig, then turned to her, his face somber. “Annabelle, will you come with me?”

She tried not to worry as she followed him to the opposite side of the station, where potted ferns created an alcove of privacy. Gray’s expression was serious but not angry. Moving forward wasn’t going to be easy, but they were on their way.

He turned toward her as soon as they were both behind the ferns, but didn’t meet her gaze. It looked like he struggled to find words as he clenched the tickets in his hand. She wanted to tell him not to be so nervous, but patience was probably best right now.

“Annabelle, I can’t see you anymore,” he said, still staring at the ground. He opened his wallet and extracted a few bills, holding them out along with a single ticket. “This ticket will take you straight to Washington. I’m afraid it won’t be possible to take you back on the Pelican.”

Her jaw dropped open. “What are you talking about? I’m not going with you?”

He finally met her eyes, and they were full of regret. “This is my fault,” he said. “I don’t . . . I can’t . . .” He tried a few more times but kept struggling to form the words.