Chapter 3

The moment Mrs. Lovett asked Sweeney Todd to stay with her, she regretted it already: no matter how much she longed for him, she was aware of the fact he still cared for Lucy too much to even really notice her, and her request would probably only anger him.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Todd. That was a wrong thing to say."

"It doesn't matter," he replied, to her immense surprise. "If you're feeling so unwell, I can imagine you don't want to be alone. So often I wished that I had been there when Lucy needed me, when she…"

After this sudden moment of spontaneity was his own silent self again, and looked at her in a strange way, almost accusingly.

He sat down in a chair next to her bed. She wasn't sure she was ill or just very tired, but his presence was strangely reassuring.

"Mr. T.?" she asked weakly. "Are you never tired? You never sleep, you're always pacing around, brooding, staring out the window, or whatever you do… do you never just want to sleep?"

"You need to rest. Blood-stained clothes and hungry customers are waiting," was all he said.

Inwardly she sighed deeply. Of course, that's why he was there, to make sure she could work again soon, not for personal reasons. But well, he was here to look after her, that was quite a lot: maybe this was his way to show he appreciated all what she did for him.

"Just try to sleep," he said again, when she didn't close her eyes. "I'm sure you'll feel better in the morning."

"But Mr. T, the morning? And what about the pies and all the blood?"

"It's better you recover before tomorrow, so Toby can keep your shop going while you clean."

She knew he would say something like this. But well, at least she would have some rest; she wasn't sure she would actually sleep when Sweeney was around. She eyed the man, who was sitting so close to her bed. He was staring again, like he did most of the day; he probably had forgotten already where he was and why.

"What are you thinking of?" she asked, hoping she could make him aware of her presence.

"The Judge," he said, tormented. "He has to come. This waiting drives me…"

"You know what I said," she interrupted him. "He will come, you just have to be patient and prepare everything perfectly."

"The chair works and my friends can't be sharper," he grunted bitterly. "All I'm waiting for, is him."

"I know that, but I'm talking about you. You need to rest too, love. You don't want to be sleeping when the Judge finally comes here."

"But…"

"You can be sure of one thing, and that is that he won't come tonight. So just remain sitting in that chair and try not to think of the past and vengeance. You can't relax with those thoughts in your head."

He looked at her grumpily, but didn't leave or make a sarcastic remark.

"If that it takes to shut you up, so you'll sleep, fine."

She didn't know whether she should like this answer or not, so she just turned around and finally closed her eyes, hoping she would sleep soon so she wouldn't have to feel anymore the emotional pain he caused.

But no matter how tired she was, she didn't fall asleep: probably it had something to do with Mr. Todd's presence. He breathed steadily, but so softly; it was hardly audible, and she wondered if he was still there and hadn't sneaked out of her bedroom.

She listened intensely, and after a while she could hear his breath. She tried to match his rhythm, but he breathed so slow that it was almost impossible for her to do so. She didn't inhale enough oxygen, and after a while she had to gasp for air frantically.

Although she breathed too fast now, she couldn't stop it, otherwise she might faint because of the lack of oxygen.

"Are you alright?" he asked worriedly.

"Yes, of course," she managed to say, pretending nothing was wrong with her.

"No, you're not. You can hardly breath, you silly woman."

"I'm alright," she said. "I'm fine."

"Maybe you don't care about your health, but I do."

"Well, that would be the first time."

"What is that supposed to mean?" he asked sharply.

"Oh, nothing," she lied, while she cursed herself for speaking her thoughts aloud.

"Well, I can't think of any other baker who is willing to do all the work you do," he replied.

"That is a thought that makes me feel good," she dared to say, but he didn't notice the sarcasm in her voice, although it was there obviously.

She turned her back to him and tried to sleep again. Her breath was still unsteady, thanks to the anger about Sweeney Todd's behaviour, and the fact he only seemed to care for her because she was his partner in crime – and that the possibility she would once be more than that, was about zero percent.

Despite the irregular breath her body finally surrendered to the tiredness.

However, after half an hour she was suddenly woken again by two hands, who were untying with the laces of her dress.

"Mr. Todd! Are you totally insane?!"

"Hush, stubborn woman. You hardly breath anymore, and it gets only worse because of that corset you are wearing. And what would I do without you?"

"Nothing," she said forcefully, while she turned around and slapped his hands away. "I'm perfectly able of brea…"

Her speech faltered because of a wave of dizziness.

"See? That corset is too tight. Just let me loosen those ties, so you can breathe at last."

"If you really must, it would be a pity if you lost your useful baker, wouldn't it?" she said, almost collapsing on her bed after she had done so.

He only shrugged before he continued untying the laces of her dress and corset. She buried her face in the pillow while he did so, to hide her sadness. All those years, and he had still no idea what she felt for him. She forced herself not to react when his fingers brushed her skin accidentally when he loosened the strings. Even with her face hid in the pillow, she could breath a lot easier now. But she didn't feel any better, thanks to Sweeney's cold behaviour towards her.

He sat down in the chair again, and she could feel he was watching her. But she didn't care. Or at least, she tried.