They stopped at the usual dark corner from which Vivienne’s window was visible. His heart sank. The dark window remained shut. The oak tree branches swayed slowly as if desolate.
Captain Jackson frowned. “I delivered a message to Dobkins. She knew we were coming.”
Maybe Vivienne didn’t want to see him.
“We can’t wait too long. Only a couple of minutes.” The captain searched the street. “I’m sorry, lad.”
He shifted his weight from one foot to another, pondering if he should climb the tree anyway. Poor health aside, he didn’t want to cause her problems.
“Samuel.” Captain Jackson poked him with an elbow. “We must go.”
He nodded, an ache tightening his chest.
Right then, a woman wrapped in a hooded cloak came from around the corner. She looked right and left and sped up towards them. Samuel drew in a breath but released it when Dobkins’s red hair appeared from under the hood.
“Dobkins,” Captain Jackson said.
“I don’t have much time,” she said. “I have bad news. Lady Vivienne isn’t well. She’s caught pneumonia and is delirious with fever. Her mother has not left her bedside.”
Samuel glanced at the window.
Dobkins’s voice quivered. “A physician comes every day to treat her. Her Ladyship sleeps in Lady Vivienne’s bedroom, so worried she is. Maids and footmen are up and about during the night. That’s why you can’t see her.”
The captain’s frown deepened. “How serious is the case of pneumonia?”
“The physician said permanent impairment of the lungs is probable.”
Samuel swallowed hard. This was his fault. If he hadn’t panicked when he saw Cade, Vivienne would be safe.
“Hell.” The captain lowered his voice and gazed around again.
“I have to go,” Dobkins said. “I’m sorry.”
Samuel wouldn’t have the chance to say goodbye. He leant against the tree and tilted his head up towards the window.
“We can’t stay. Murdock is searching for Samuel,” Captain Jackson said. “We must leave London.”
Dobkins tugged at her shawl. “Where are you going?”
“The Americas.”
Her eyes widened. “So far away.”
“Samuel needs to get away, far away. There he can create a new identity to start over and get rid of Murdock forever.” Captain Jackson handed her a velvet bundle. “This belongs to Lady Vivienne.”
Dobkins shifted her gaze from the bundle to Captain Jackson. “You didn’t sell it. How did you carry on then?”
Captain Jackson smiled sadly. “It’s surprising the amount of pounds one can put aside when not drinking.”
She took the bundle, hands trembling. “You’re a kind man.”
The captain chuckled. “Not really. This isn’t a goodbye. We’ll be back once enough time has passed and Murdock stops searching for Samuel.”
Dobkins hugged Samuel in a tight embrace. “Good luck. You deserve a new beginning. I’ll tell Lady Vivienne you came. Send me your information when you’re settled, and I’ll make sure she knows you are safe.”
Samuel glanced up at the dark window one last time, fearing that this was indeed a goodbye.
