When William took off toward the back of the property, Teddy grabbed Rose's index finger and scampered after his father like he knew exactly where they were headed. Bemused, Rose followed.

After a few minutes' trek, they stood in the midst of a small meadow. In the distance was a line of large old trees, and a gentle stream flowed before them, its muted babble supplying ambient white noise. 

William collapsed on the grass next to the stream, his actions almost childlike. He patted the spot on the ground next to him, indicating that Rose should do the same.

Rose surveyed their surroundings. The meadow surprised her in the most pleasant of ways. Based on her observations of her new employer, she'd expected him to lead her to a distillery, or a shooting range. But the view here was idyllic. The atmosphere peaceful. Like finding the last uninhabited place on Earth.

She carefully lowered herself to the ground beside William and smoothed her skirt beneath her. “This is beautiful,” she murmured.

Teddy looked back and forth between them, his little brow furrowed, as though he couldn't decide which lap to sit upon. After a moment, William gave Teddy a gentle nudge toward Rose.

At his father's prompt, Teddy sank down onto Rose's lap and slung his arm around her neck. Rose was touched by this little show of affection and stroked the boy's wispy hair off his forehead.

“Is this your favorite place, too, Teddy?” she asked.

The boy swiveled his head from side to side. “No,” he answered. “I like the stables. And my bedroom. But this is nice.”

“That's fair,” Rose said. “I admire your honesty.”

The sound of the stream flowing softly before them calmed Rose's nerves. She glanced over at William and saw him lean back until he was propped up on his elbows.

Suddenly, Teddy jumped to his feet and took off at a clumsy trot.

“Teddy!” Rose exclaimed, her cry overlapping with William's. “Not too close to the water!”

The stream was not Teddy's intended destination, however. He ran over to a small thicket of bushes, squealing in glee. “Bunnies!” he cried, pointing.

Rose exhaled in relief. The momentary fright had caused her heart to pound. She looked over at William, and their eyes met. “I had no right to raise my voice to your son,” she said. “Discipline is your job. My apologies.”

William waved his hand in a dismissive manner. “Never apologize for keepin' my son safe,” he said.

“Fair enough,” Rose agreed.

Teddy dashed around the bushes, trying to catch the little brown rabbits. They maneuvered out of his grasp without difficulty — something he seemed to find immensely entertaining.

Rose's features settled into a pensive expression, and her gaze traveled from the little boy to his father. William was watching his son, the look in his eyes uncharacteristically soft.

“There's a great deal more to you than you let on, isn't there?” she asked. She was surprised to find she'd spoken the thought aloud. As it was too late to redact the question, she went on, “There's strength in silence. In appearing ambiguous and unpredictable. Is that the principle behind your success?”

“Perhaps that's some of it, aye,” he replied.

“Some, but not all,” Rose said. She continued to study his face. While he was watching Teddy, he appeared to be an entirely different human being. His love for the little boy was clear, but accompanied by a distinct twinge of sadness, and to bear witness to it made Rose's heart swell in the most foreign of ways.

She shook her head in an effort to clear it. She could not allow herself to become infected with compassion for William Mercer.

As Teddy was far enough away to miss anything spoken at a conversational volume, Rose decided to take advantage of the distance. She leaned in to murmur to William, “I daresay that your life would be so much happier and more fulfilling if you spent more of your time doing this and less of it murdering men in your employ. Or do you disagree?”

At her remark, he turned his head slowly and stared at her through narrowed eyes. “I only kill men who deserve it, Rose,” he said. “Thought I made that clear. I've made a lot o' enemies. Can't afford to take any chances. If something happens to me, Teddy would be an orphan. Ya want that?”

Admittedly, Rose had half expected to receive a slap across the face for her impertinent comment. Nothing of the sort came, yet his cold, hushed words stung. She'd definitely struck a nerve.

Good.

“Of course I wouldn't want any such thing. For you, or for Teddy,” she hissed. “I thought I made that clear.”

He stared at her for what felt like a significant passage of time. Rose looked away and tried not to fidget.

“What?” she demanded at last.

“Just tryin' to decide if I should trust ya with a knife,” he answered. He shifted so that he was sitting up straight and shrugged. “How do I know ya won't slit my throat while I sleep?”

Her head jerked back in his direction. “I suppose you don't,” she retorted. “But as I wouldn't be caught dead going anywhere near you while you slept, you're probably safe. Probably. There's no guarantee. Much like life.”

“Whatever ya say, Rose.”

Rose expelled a little huff and stared out toward the stream. She could hear how petty and childish she sounded, and an agitated scowl formed on her face. Goodness, he was vexing.

William seemed to find her irritation amusing. Wearing a snide smile, he got to his feet and retrieved a small knife with a smooth mother-of-pearl handle from his pocket. With a quick snap of his wrist, the blade emerged.

Rose glared up at him. “What is that appalling thing?”

“A knife,” William stated with a playful shrug. He demonstrated folding the blade down into the handle, then brandishing it again. “A switchblade. Practically essential to life in Manchester. Small, light-weight, easy to conceal,” he said, as though listing attractive features to an interested buyer. “Perfect for a woman. Lemme show ya.”

He reached down, offering Rose his hand. More out of curiosity than anything else, she took it, and he gently pulled her to her feet.

“If by ‘perfect,’ you mean perfectly horrid,” she said, studying the petite bayonet in his hand, “then, yes, I agree.”

He smirked and set the hilt of the knife on her palm, closing her fingers around it.

“Handling it is relatively straightforward,” he told her. “Just hold it tightly by the handle with your dominant hand, and then...jab.”

With his hand encircled around her wrist, he thrust her hand forward in a jabbing motion.

He let go, and Rose attempted the maneuver on her own. “Jab,” she said, advancing the blade in a swift, controlled jolt. “Jab. Like this?”

“Exactly like that,” William said with a nod. “Or you could slash.”

He demonstrated that motion next, his fingers again guiding her wrist.

Rose's gaze flickered to Teddy. He was still chasing the rabbits around the bushes, his shirt and trousers now covered in leaves. In his reverie, he remained blissfully oblivious to the activities of the two adults.

Rose sighed. If she was going to do this, she should give it an honest try.

With William's guidance, she moved the knife in a series of quick jabs and slashes, and although the whole exercise felt bizarre and more than a little morose, it was actually quite simple.

“So, I take it, the sharp end goes in my adversary?” Rose asked. She said this lightly enough, but she knew it would be a situation altogether else if another human being stood before her.

“That's where it goes,” William affirmed, his voice solemn. “Now, you're small. Petite. Upper body strength ain't gonna be your bread and butter, ya understand? To strike, and have it count, ya wanna be close.”

“Close?”

“Aye.” He stepped in front of her, his chest almost touching hers. “Close. Like this, eh? Keep the knife concealed in your palm as best ya can.” With a firm grasp, his hand encircled her upper arm, and he yanked her closer still. “Now, I think I got ya, don't I? So, what d'ya do?”

Without breaking eye contact, she pressed the tip of the blade against the buttons of his waistcoat. “I jab.”

“That's right,” he said, his eyes on hers. “Hard and fast. Wherever it'll hurt 'em most. Stomach is a good choice. So is the throat. And the ribs. Don't hesitate. And don't make any wild swinging motions. D'ya know why?”

Rose thought about it, picturing her arm swinging the blade. “They'll see it coming,” she murmured.

“They'll see it comin',” William repeated. “Yes. They'll parry. Then you're fucked, and not the good kind. Ya follow me?”

“I follow,” she said. Her voice came out breathy rather than assertive, and her cheeks warmed at the intensity of his gaze. They stood so close that Rose could feel his breath on her face. His eyes were so very, very blue. They put the sky to shame.

“Good.” William released her and took a step back, motioning to the knife. “Keep that.”

With a sigh, Rose lowered her gaze and folded the blade into the handle. Apparently, to bond with William, weapons were a necessity on the itinerary.

What a curious development. Never in her life had she used a knife or a gun, and on this day she'd learned the basics of both before the clock struck noon.

“Will a knife be required during my first assignment for you?” Rose asked, her tone cheeky.

William sniffed in amusement. “A knife, no. Just a nice dress.”

“A...dress?” Rose repeated, befuddled. Her chin dropped as her eyebrows rose. Was this a trick?

“A nice one, aye,” he confirmed. “Ya got one o' those? Somethin' fancy?”

“I do, yes,” she answered slowly. She'd only brought two gowns with her to Manchester, but both were quite lovely. “Why?”

William reached into his pocket and plucked a cigarette from its case, then grabbed for his lighter and lit the end of the fag. He took a long inhale, then released the smoke into the breeze.

“For your first assignment, you'll be helpin' me host a party,” he said, motioning toward her with the hand that held the cigarette.

Rose caught a whiff of smoke and inhaled deeply. “A party? What sort?”

“High society type,” William told her. “Upper echelon. Black-tie. Dancin', champagne, all that posh showmanship. I imagine you've been to a few of those in your life.”

“I have,” Rose confirmed, her tone cautious. “What's the occasion?”

“Fundraising benefit for the Clementine Mercer Institute,” William replied. He paused to take a drag off the cigarette. “You're gonna help me schmooze the rich attendees for donations.”

“What?” Rose exclaimed in alarm. “But I—! I don't even know what the ‘Clementine Mercer Institute’ is! How can I badger people to donate money to a cause I know nothing about?”

William offered the lit cigarette to her like it was a universal cure-all. “Smoke?” he asked, his eyebrows elevated in amusement.

Rose scoffed and snatched the cigarette from his fingers, causing him to sniff in surprise. Little did he know she used to smoke on occasion. The habit had been almost exclusively a means to calm herself after a confrontational interlude with her mother, but she'd given it up entirely for August. However, if her late beloved could see her current situation, he would pardon her. Of that she was certain.

She brought the fag to her lips and took a long, slow drag. The tension in her belly dissipated a bit and she let out a sigh of relief.

“Better?” William asked.

She nodded and passed the cig back without a word.

“So, the Clementine Mercer Institute,” he said, pointing toward his son. “Look at Teddy there.”

Rose complied. Teddy had found a stick in the bushes and was at present marching back and forth parallel to the stream, like a soldier guarding his post. The sight was both precious and comical, and Rose smiled wistfully.

“Imagine Teddy lost both his parents, not just his mother,” William said.

“An orphan,” Rose surmised, a frown on her face.

“Aye. Now imagine he's a she. A little girl. No family, no home, likely to be sold off to a kitchen or a brothel.”

Rose winced and swallowed. “Good lord.”

William nodded, his face somber. “Now imagine there are three dozen more girls just like her. That's what the Clementine Mercer Institute is, Rose. A safe home for orphan girls.”

“I see,” Rose said, her heart heavy. No matter the problems she had with her mother, her childhood had been very sheltered and pampered. Thinking of the hardships of these poor little girls was heartbreaking. “You started the charity in honor of your wife.”

“Aye. And we want to open identical facilities in Sheffield and Birmingham. Someday in London. A separate set of facilities for orphan boys, too. But we need funds from prestigious donors to make that happen.”

With his cigarette now down to the butt, he took one last inhale before he dropped it in the grass and crushed it with his heel.

“And you think I can help to get the necessary donations for your expansion,” Rose summarized.

William nodded. “You're charming when need be, assertive when need be, and you clearly care for children,” he said, motioning again to Teddy. “I think ya could sell a bucket of water to a drownin' man, Rose.”

The words of confidence touched Rose in a way she hadn't expected. She watched Teddy as he continued in his march, his stick rising and falling in his outstretched hand. “It sounds like a worthy, philanthropic cause,” she stated. “Alright. Yes. I'll host the benefit with you. When is it?”

“Saturday evening,” William replied.

“This upcoming Saturday?” Rose clarified. “That's only two days from now.”

“You won't hafta fuss with preparations,” William told her. “Everythin' is already arranged and ready. Just wear a pretty dress and smile at everyone who looks like they've got deep pockets.”

“Fine,” Rose agreed. “I shall. What of your family? Will they be in attendance?”

“Most of 'em, aye,” he replied. “Both me brothers, Ransom and Jackson. Their wives, too. My elder sister Audrey, and her son Elijah. You'll meet 'em.”

“Color me intrigued,” Rose said. She pondered over the personalities and interests of William's brothers and sister. What sort of people were they? And would she find them to be as callous and unreadable as she found William? “What's your sister like? I hope we can become friends.”

William chuckled at this. “Lookin' to tame a dragon, are ya?”

Rose shook her head in amused confusion. “What do you mean? In what respect is befriending Audrey Mercer comparable to taming a dragon?”

“Audrey McQueeney,” William corrected her. “Widow, since the war. And in every respect. She's ten years my senior and the most formidable of us all. Technically, she's my half-sister, but after our mum died givin' birth to Jackson, she became more like a surrogate mother. Woulda grown up weak and aimless if not for her.”

“Is that right?” Rose asked, her eyebrows up near her hairline. “My, my, now I feel even more inclined to meet her. Albeit, properly terrified.”

“Smart lass,” William approved. He quirked his lips and glanced down at the face of his pocket watch. “Teddy,” he called out. “C'mon now. We're headin' back to the house.”

“Late for something?” Rose asked.

“Aye. Work.”

Stick still in hand, Teddy approached them at a choppy jog and made a tortured sound of protest. “Do we hafta?” he whined. “Can I bring my stick?”

“O'course ya can,” William said. “But be careful, eh? No pokin' anyone's eye out.”

“Yes, da'.”

Teddy made to grab for his father's hand, but William gave Teddy's chin a swift squeeze and began the trek back to the house, leaving the small boy to follow.

Rose fell in step with Teddy and took his hand in his father's stead. “That's a very impressive stick,” she said, smiling down at the boy. “What will you do with it?”

“Protect you and da',” he answered automatically. “So, don't be scared. Alright?”

“Well,” Rose said, “I'm far less scared with you around.”

Once inside the entrance foyer, Rose helped Teddy remove his shoes and brushed the leaves from his trousers. Children seemed to be magnets for mud and grass stains, but she found this to be more endearing than irksome. She'd always wanted a child. Perhaps two. August had expressed the same sentiment.

Rose stood and dusted off her hands. She turned to William, an odd realization on the tip of her tongue. This was where they'd first met. Had that really only been a few days ago?

She gently cleared her throat to gain his attention. “I'd like to take a couple hours and serve lunch to the refugees. Will that be alright? Or do you need me to mind Teddy?”

William shook his head. “His nanny, Miss Pimms, is here. Feel free to go into town. My driver can take ya 'round in the car, if ya like.”

“You're leaving, Miss Rose?” Teddy asked, blinking up at her.

“Just for a few hours, sweet boy,” she told him. “As long as that's alright with you?”

Teddy stared up at her for several seconds without responding. At last he said, “Please come back.”

【♜】【♞】【♟】

ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ꜰᴏʀ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ!

ᴘʟᴇᴀꜱᴇ VOTE! ☆