As she leaned into his shoulder, he lifted a hand to hold the back of her head. He could still remember it so much smaller, when her body hadn’t spanned even the length of his arm.

“If I stayed here, I’d be out of work and a home,” he reminded. Did she expect him to move into the women’s boarding house with her? Live on the street? All he had was wrapped up in London – he could come back if he wished to, certainly, but not until he sorted that out first.

Malachi took a steadying breath, and closed his eyes as he continued to hold her.

“I haven’t even said that I’m definitely doing it, Nettie.”

He was trying to stay patient. God, he was trying for her sake.

“I shouldn’t have mentioned it,” he muttered, “it isn’t anything more than a thought. A foolish one. You’re right, I was happy here – it’s just a test, isn’t it? If I’m worthy of my position - and I was failing.”

He didn’t believe that. But he sounded like he did, and he looked convinced of it as he looked down and gently raised Nettie’s chin to meet her eyes.

“Please don’t cry,” Malachi said again, softer this time. “I could never leave you.”