Edmund had left his wife and daughter sleeping the following morning. He had not heard Emily sneak in in the middle of the night. He had fallen asleep after his daughter had gone to bed, telling her father that she was tired. He had gone upstairs once the clock had struck two in the morning and he had found his wife in his daughter's room, the door slightly open. His eyes had widened as he noted her with her arms around Elizabeth. The two of them were sleeping soundly and Edmund had nothing in his heart to wake them.

…

The trial of the young Thomas Gower was due to begin and Edmund had intended to go to court and listen to the case for the few weeks it was to go on for. Edmund was certain that the boy did not know what he was getting himself involved in, but he had his sneaking suspicions. His daughter, however, shocked him when she appeared in the police station. She had her hands held in front of her and had clearly snuck in. He was sat in his office, prepared to go and walk with Bennet to the trial in another few minutes.

"Elizabeth," Edmund spoke upon seeing her in the doorway.

"I hope I am not interrupting," she said and Edmund shook his head at her. She stepped into his office and closed the door.

"Is everything well? Is it your mother?" he asked from her.

"Everything is well," Elizabeth promised him and went to sit down in the chair across from him. She folded one leg over the other and raked a hand through her hair. "I just wanted to talk to you about…well…I think everything is well, but it is mother, father."

Edmund's brows knitted together. "What is it about your mother?" he enquired.

"She has been different recently," Elizabeth said, but she was uncertain of where she was going with her point. She knew what she had witnessed. Her mother's behaviour had been particularly odd in recent days, but she could not explain it. "She has been spending more and more time out of the house. I keep finding her muttering to herself too and…she whispers her name, father. It is like she is talking to Mathilda."

Edmund sighed at hearing her. She folded her hands into her lap and shrugged her shoulders. She looked down to the ground and Edmund knew that his daughter had a point. He had heard his wife muttering to herself quite often and she looked vacant. She constantly looked vacant.

"Your mother is…" Edmund trailed off. He did not know how to say it to his daughter. He did not know how to tell his daughter of his fears. He felt that his wife was not well. She was not herself. "I will speak with her. This should not be of concern of yours."

"But it is," Elizabeth responded, "because she is my mother."

"I know, darling," Edmund said and he moved to stand then, hands going into the pockets of his waistcoat. "But she is my wife and I am your father. It is my duty to take of both of you. Listen to me, Elizabeth," he said and went to crouch in front of her, picking up her hand. "I will speak with your mother. I know she is suffering and I understand that."

"Are we not all suffering?" she wondered from him.

He sighed. "Indeed we are," he responded in a husky voice.

"Mr Reid, sir, we need to take the boy to court," Bennet's voice entered the office and he instantly stood back as soon as he noted Elizabeth there. "Apologies, sir, I did not realise Miss Reid was here."

"Her visit was unannounced," Edmund said and Elizabeth frowned, "but not unwelcome," he added on and he saw her soften. He gave her hand one final squeeze and stood up tall. Offering her his hand, she took hold of it and allowed him to help her stand up.

"How are you, Sergeant?" Elizabeth enquired from Bennet.

He gave her a sad smile. "Used to be a time when I was Uncle Ben," he recalled and Elizabeth nodded, remembering those days quite well. Ever since Mathilda had disappeared, everything had changed. "You know I don't mind you calling me that still."

"I never know if it is proper."

"Propriety isn't for us, is it, eh?" he said and gave her a sly smirk. Edmund watched the exchange and nodded his head. Bennet had always cared for his daughters, oftentimes when Edmund was working too long. He would take them for ice creams on the weekend, spending time with them and enjoying it. He adored them.

"Perhaps not."

"Do not encourage her, Bennet," Edmund encouraged from him. "She does not need any, believe me."

"Why thank you, father," Elizabeth said. "I should get out of your way."

"Of course," Edmund said. "I will walk you out. Bennet, fetch the boy. We will travel to court momentarily."

"Very good, sir," Bennet said, tipping his head. "Miss Elizabeth."

"Goodbye, Bennet."

Edmund walked his daughter to the door as she informed him that Edward would be attending court that afternoon. He was still helping Mr Eagles with his paperwork and to advance his studies. Edmund said that he would look out for the boy and he kissed his daughter on the cheek, watching her walk away down the streets and he sighed, nodding his head and realising that he had to deal with the boy.

…

Elizabeth knew all about the case that her father was working on courtesy of Edward informing her. He had told her about the young Thomas Gower and how he was not saying anything about the murder he had been accused of. There had been a commotion in court and a woman had yelled at her father, telling him that he had brought shame onto him.

"Father thinks that the boy works for a gang," Elizabeth said to Edward as they strolled together along the river. "He said that gang cuts out tongues. He thinks it is symbolic for them. You know, cut a tongue out and silence is guaranteed. Someone most certainly paid for him to kill Manby."

"I think that is certain," Edward said, hand holding tightly onto hers as he watched the ships pass by on the water for a brief moment before looking back to Elizabeth, noting how she had tucked her hair over one shoulder. "I assume your father is looking into the case."

"You assume correctly," Elizabeth retorted. "He has two days before the boy is due to hang."

"Mr Eagles has said that he would stay with the boy until he either speaks or meets the rope," Edward said and Elizabeth gulped, shaking her head back and forth at that. Edward squeezed her hand, giving her a reassuring smile. "I am certain that your father will work this out. He is used to solving the impossible."

"Most of the time," Elizabeth agreed with him. "But Ms Goren is most aghast. Mother went to the shelter yesterday and apparently she knew the boy. He spent time with her."

"I do not doubt that she was the woman who yelled in court yesterday?"

"I would imagine so from my father's description," Elizabeth nodded in agreement. "Anyway, I said that I would go and help her at the shelter tomorrow. I have quite the experience in cooking pies, do you not know?"

"Oh, do you now?" Edward asked, his arm bumping against hers. "Well, that sounds as though it is perfect wife material."

Elizabeth moved and hit at his shoulder and he laughed at hearing her. "Do you think that I would be the perfect dutiful wife? Sitting in the parlour room and waiting for you to return home and save me from my lonely days? The dinner cooking in the oven for you to be served by your dutiful wife?"

Edward chuckled and shook his head at that. "I have no expectation of that whatsoever," he said to her. "I know that you are much too independent for such a life. I just want you to be happy in whatever you do."

"Very romantic," Elizabeth said and kissed him on the cheek. "Now come on, you promised you would have me back before dinner. I doubt you want to get on the wrong side of my father."

"Now that thought terrifies me terribly."

….

"How is your mother, Miss Reid?"

Elizabeth was helping Deborah Goren at her shelter. Her mother was a normal visitor there, helping to bring in lost children whenever she found them roaming the streets. Elizabeth had gone to help her and enjoyed her time with the children. She had always been good with children. A part of her ached, however, whenever she saw the little girls, her mind going instantly back to Mathilda.

"Busy," Elizabeth decided to say. She did not wish to air her family's troubles. She knew that would be frowned upon by her father particularly. "She is visiting some women at the hospital."

"She is a very kind woman."

"That she is," Elizabeth said, finishing off the pies that she had made and placing them into the oven. She wiped her hands and removed the apron she had been wearing. Hands going to her hips, she looked to Deborah. "I heard about what happened in court. I imagine it was you who tried to defend Thomas?"

"Indeed it was," Deborah said. "Your father came to the orphanage earlier. The boy has escaped…his lawyer was found dead."

"What?" Elizabeth snapped loudly, thinking about Edward and whether or not he knew. She looked to Deborah and the woman nodded her head sadly. "My…Edward…who I court…he was shadowing him. He was working with him."

"I am sorry," Deborah said to her.

"I should go and see him," Elizabeth said. "It is almost dark and no doubt he will be home."

"Of course," Deborah said. "Are you going to be fine getting home?"

"Perfectly," Elizabeth nodded her head. "I am sorry, Ms Goren. I will come and help you tomorrow evening."

"Of course. Take care of yourself, Miss Reid."

Elizabeth began to rush off, but she only made it to the front door before she saw her father suddenly appear. She almost jumped out of her skin when she bumped into him. Edmund took hold of her shoulders, steadying her and stopping her from going any further. He frowned, brows knitted together on his forehead.

"Where do you think you are going?" he enquired from her. "Actually, why are you here?"

"I was helping Ms Goren. She is hiding the boy. Just wait here and I will be back in a moment.."

"But I was going to see Edward."

"And I will walk you there in a moment, but the darkness has come and you are not walking alone, no matter how many people are out there. Now wait here."

Elizabeth frowned and stood in the doorway, the sun now well and truly setting and the darkness taking over. She noted Bennet sneaking in through the back entrance and she wondered what was going on. She sighed and leant against the doorway, waiting patiently for her father to come to her. She frowned as she heard noises in the distance. It sounded like chanting. She narrowed her eyes and looked into the distance, seeing small figures getting bigger as they approached the orphanage. The chanting was disconcerting. Elizabeth felt her blood chill as the figures continued to grow and she walked backwards.

But her father was already there. "Elizabeth, come here," he demanded from his daughter.

He took hold of her by the arm and steered her back into the hallway.

"Who are they?"

"The boys who have come for Thomas Gower," he said. "Now stay here and wait for me."

Elizabeth nodded and Edmund went outside to deal with the braying mob. Elizabeth listened at the door, wondering where Bennet had gone. No doubt he was looking after the boy. Elizabeth tried to calm her breathing as her father warned the men that no harm would come to Thomas Gower that evening. But another man, who Elizabeth suspected was the leader, warned him that he would destroy the entire building and anyone inside of it if he was not given Thomas Gower. Her father said nothing and returned to the building, closing the door and locking it as Elizabeth began to tremble.

"What do you think he is going to do?" Elizabeth demanded from her father.

"I do not know," Edmund whispered honestly to her. "But we cannot panic the children. The doors are locked. The windows shuttered. I will protect them…I will protect you…"

Edmund looked down and shook his head, a hiss escaping his lips before looking to his daughter once more. "Why did you have to be here at this time?" he asked from her. "Why?"

"That is not fair. You know that I come and help Ms Goren," she retorted and Edmund nodded, knowing that this was not his daughter's fault. He was thinking irrationally.

He took hold of her hand and led her back into the main room. He spoke clearly, informing everyone there that everything would be fine and well. Of course, he could not guarantee that, but he had nothing else to say. Instead Ms Goren told the children that it was their bed times and Edmund watched as his daughter took hold of a little girl's hand and walked her to a bed, tucking her in and making her giggle as she flicked at her nose. She stood up and smiled down to her before doing the same to a boy.

"She is a natural with them," Ms Goren whispered to Edmund, moving to stand beside him by the door and away from the beds of the children. "She has always been a natural."

"She used to be…well…"

"I know," Deborah said. She knew about Mathilda. She knew all about her from what Elizabeth had said. She had not said much. All that she knew was that the little girl had been lost in a shipping accident. "She has her mother's good heart. I think that she has potential…the brains…to go far…but I would miss her if she left here. She has been a help around this place."

"I do not know what she wishes to do," he responded earnestly. "She has been lost for a while now."

"She will find herself. She simply needs time."

"I know," Edmund said and coughed into his fist. "I should go and check on Bennet and the boy. Keep everyone in here…especially Elizabeth. I know how she wanders."

Deborah slyly smirked and nodded. "Of course."

Elizabeth finished putting the candles out and went to stand by Deborah's side once more, folding her arms over her chest and crumpling the white shirt she wore. She sighed and ran a hand down her face. "I know why you took the boy in," Elizabeth said to Deborah. "I would have done the same if he came to me and feared for his life. I just worry about the mob that waits outside."

"Did you see them?"

"Yes," Elizabeth nodded.

"And?"

"They were children, but they scared me." Elizabeth admitted.

It was then when she heard a smashing noise. Frowning, she opened the door and stepped into the hallway at the same time her father appeared. There was a boy there. He had unlocked the main door and Edmund began to fear. He turned around and began running back to the room.

"Out of bed!" Elizabeth roared loudly, wondering if they had time to escape.

Her father and Bennet quickly barricaded the door as Ms Goren began to get the children up. Their screams echoed through the room as Edmund and Bennet tried to barricade the door, holding a sideboard against it. But they were overwhelmed. The children continued screaming as they huddled into one corner and away from the chaos that had begun to ensue. Elizabeth crouched beside Deborah, her breathing hard and heavy as the hatch from the room next door opened and children entered. They instantly launched themselves at her father and Bennet and Elizabeth saw the boy they were after. Their leader, a tall and slender man followed them in.

"Get him!" he roared.

Elizabeth saw her father deal with a boy who had gotten onto his back and she felt fear rise up inside of her as the man leading them spoke loudly.

"Inspector! How about it? Me and you?" he demanded from him.

"No," Elizabeth whispered as he launched himself at his father.

"Elizabeth, no," Deborah demanded as she saw the girl begin to twitch and Bennet tried to wrestle one of the kids off of him. It was then when she saw her father being strangled by something, forced back onto the table and gasping for breath. The man punched him in the face and Elizabeth moved quickly.

She grabbed hold of the rolling pin that had been tossed to the floor from the bench and she whacked the man over the head, giving her father time to catch his breath. She kept hold of it as the man grabbed hold of his head, clearly in pain. She stepped back and Elizabeth watched him approach as Deborah shook her head and instantly went to the girl. But she was smacked out of the way, falling to the floor.

"Your mine, girl," the man hissed and Elizabeth tried to hit at him with the rolling pin, but he ducked it. He grabbed the end of it from her hand and threw it down onto the floor where she could not grab hold of it. She tried to run but he was quick, grabbing her by the arm and slapping her across the face. She fell to the floor and grunted loudly as he kicked her side and she curled into a ball. She grunted in pain once more and her father finally gathered himself as she was grabbed by her hair and hauled to kneel before he backhanded her once more.

Edmund launched himself at the man, knocking him from his feet as his daughter landed against the floor and banged her head. Edmund grunted loudly in pain as he was also kicked in the side by a child.

"Make way for the Vigilance Men!"

Elizabeth almost felt relief at the vigilantes and she watched them stop everything that was going on. The children instantly began scurrying away, the leader of the gang grabbed by Bennet. Before Elizabeth could ask what was happening, she saw Captain Jackson in the distance. He had a gun in his hand and he was aiming it straight at the man. He shot. The noise echoed through the room and Elizabeth wheezed for breath, struggling to sit up as her side ached.

The man tumbled to the floor and the children ran as Edmund demanded for the vigilantes to leave, warning them that they had no business there. He made it over to his daughter as the room emptied, holding onto her cheek and looking her in the eye. "Elizabeth, are you hurt?"

"No," she lied and Edmund struggled to help her sit up. She was wheezing loudly and he looked to Jackson.

"Jackson, I need your help," Edmund demanded, still kneeling by his daughter's side.

Jackson nodded and he knelt down by her side. Edmund glanced over to Bennet. "You need to get the boy out of here. You need to take him somewhere safe. We say that he was not of his own mind…that he was Carmichael's minion."

Bennet nodded and Deborah pecked the boy on the cheek before Bennet could leave with him.

"Now, listen here, darling," Jacksons said to Elizabeth. "I need you to tell me if you feel pain."

He moved his fingers down her side, pressing firmly into her flesh.

"Ow!" she suddenly complained.

"I think that is an affirmative response," he muttered and continued pressing. "I'm not certain, but I think you might have broken some ribs. Either that or they are cracked or badly bruised. I need to examine you more thoroughly."

Elizabeth grunted in response, nodding her head as Edmund nodded. "We will go back to Leman Street and you can check on her there. It is but a ten minute walk. I can carry her back."

"Alright," Jackson said and stood up.

Edmund managed to kneel down and pick Elizabeth up. He felt her wince and curse under her breath, but he didn't tell her off for that. Instead he cradled her against his side as Deborah wished her the best. She gasped for breath and tried to breath steadily so that the pain did not last. Her father continued to move delicately but quickly, hair falling into his face.

"I'm sorry," he whispered to her and she kept an arm around his shoulders.

"Why are you sorry?" she asked from him.

"Because I should have stopped him from hurting you. I should have been quicker."

"He had almost strangled you," Elizabeth said. "You were in no position to act quickly. I am fine…it just aches slightly."

Edmund sighed and nodded, knowing that Emily would kill him for Elizabeth being involved in this.

…

A/N: Do let me know what you think!