And she was never coming back.

She swallowed the walnut-sized lump in her throat and gathered all her things—her reticule and bonnet, the tulips, and the journal Sarah had given her. She turned down all the lanterns and was about to blow out the last candle on the counter—then paused.

Next to the candlestick sat the little potted ivy plant that had been brown and sickly on her first visit to the shop. Now boasting four-foot trailing stems and thick green foliage, it made her think of Reese’s transformation. And she wanted it.

Deciding he wouldn’t mind, she grabbed the clay pot, juggling it with the other items in her arms, and blew out the candle. She made her way to the door, locked it behind her, and slipped into the dark alley, walking briskly toward the spot one block over where she normally hailed a hackney to Fiona’s house. Only, tonight, she was going home so that she’d be well rested for her engagement ball tomorrow night.

She was thinking of the ball and all she needed to do the next day as she rounded the corner—and ran directly into a tall man walking in the opposite direction. She slammed into his chest, and the impact momentarily knocked the wind out of her, but she managed to remain upright. She blinked up at the man, irrationally hopeful that she’d see Reese’s chiseled cheekbones and full lips.

But the man was a stranger—an older gentleman with graying hair and distinct scowl lines bracketing his mouth. “Forgive me,” he said with a haughty glare. “Are you all right?”

Not trusting herself to speak, Sophie nodded vigorously and averted her gaze. “Mmm-hmm,” she mumbled, before striding away as fast as her legs would carry her.

“Wait, miss!” the man shouted behind her, but Sophie kept her head down and refused to stop running, even when she heard him call out a second time. She didn’t think that the stranger had gotten a good look at her face, and she certainly didn’t want to provide him with another opportunity to identify her or, worse, inquire as to what she’d been doing. So she sprinted two blocks before hailing a cab. Her chest heaved as she scrambled into the coach and slammed the door. She told herself she was safe, but all the way home, her heart pounded as though Cerberus was chasing her, his huge canines gnashing at her heels.

She didn’t breathe easy again until she’d reached her bedchamber and closed the door behind her. She washed her face, dressed in her nightgown and climbed into her bed, thinking back on the evening. Despite the frightening encounter in the alley, all had gone well.