The sun was still rising several days after our confrontation so I figured it was time I did too. After lounging around the train barely being of use to anyone, I decided to stop being a drama queen and get back to work. We had a precursor item to find and Evie didn't need to be worrying about me when she had a world to protect.

"Hey, bestie," I said when I went into her car. "S'up?"

She smiled brightly at me. "Good morning, Gwen. Sleep well?"

I shrugged. "Yeah. Thanks. Y'all got any work y'all need doing? I'm so tired of just being a burden. Time to earn my keep again."

She laughed. "You've never been a burden."

"You're too amazing, Evie Frye." I hugged her before noticing Henry. "S'up, Henry?"

"S'up?" He said slowly, giving me a bewildered look that made me laugh. "Is that a common greeting in your period?"

"Kind of, but not anymore… Or not now…" I shook my head. "All that time stuff is confusing."

"Very," Evie added. "Henry and I were just heading out. Would you like to join us?"

"Assassin stuff?" When she nodded, I continued. "Sounds fun. Let me get dressed."

"Not so fast, missy," Agnes barked as she waved a piece of paper above her head. "Ye be headin' ta market. Ye lazy lot eatin' us out of home an' hearth."

I turned to Evie, begging for assistance. She smiled and started to leave with Henry, trapping me with Agnes. I turned to the stout Irishwoman and a forced smile. "Yes, ma'am. I'll get right on it."

I was off the train at the next stop with a couple of Rooks in tow headed to one of the many safehouses throughout the city. The dilapidated building was used to house various necessities that couldn't be housed on the train or as a hideout whenever someone needed to lay low. I wandered around the bottom floor reading over Agnes' list when I bumped a foot jutting out from between two crates of ammunition. Seeing Rupert laying there, sound asleep, I smiled.

"Get up, you worthless criminal," I teased as I nudged him with the toe of my boot.

"Go on now, Mum," he grumbled, swatting at my foot. "Let me be."

"I'm not your mom," I squatted down beside him. "But I'll beat you like I am if you don't get up."

He smacked his lips several times before opening his eyes. His sleepy smile lit up his whole face. "Miss Gwen. Ain't you a sight for sore eyes."

"Why, thank you, Rupert dear."

Helping him to his feet, I pulled him into a hug. In response, he blushed and rubbed the back of his neck. "Not that I mind, Miss Gwen, but what was that for?"

I shrugged. "Just glad you're always happy to see me."

His smile widened. "Always a pleasure to see a pretty lady, Miss Gwen."

"You're going to make some woman a very good husband someday." I looped my arm through his. "If you don't have any plans for the day, I'd love it if you joined me for some retail therapy."

"Retail therapy?" He asked as he helped me into the cart.

I laughed. "Get in and take the reins, Rupert. We're going shopping."

We shopped well into the afternoon; Rupert and I hunting and picking the items Agnes put on her list while also browsing the assortment of other items being offered. Between the haggling with vendors (And me wondering why we stopped haggling. It's amazing!) and Rupert's intentional and random shenanigans, I laughed more than I had in weeks. I was so at peace with the world, I even let him convince me to stop in the Thistle for a pint before meeting Bertha.

I should've known it wouldn't last. While we waited for the cargo to be loaded aboard, I notice Lewis standing at a distance. When our eyes met, I knew he'd been waiting for me. Hopping out of the cart, I hurried over to him.

"Lewis! It's good to see you."

He bowed his head. "Gwen. I'm pleased to see you looking well."

The way he said it made me feel like he half expected to see me battered and bloodied. "Why wouldn't I be? What's wrong?"

He lowered his voice. "It seems your threat was taken seriously by Mr. Roth. There's a price on your head."

"Really?" I smirked, impressed Maxwell thought so highly of me he'd offer a bounty. In reality, I was full of shit when I said it. "How much?"

I swear Lewis looked dumbfounded by my response. "Gwen, he's quite serious. He means to see you dead."

"I'm not afraid of him." I stood a little taller. "The fact that he's willing to pay someone else to do it just proves he's more of a coward than I thought."

He gave a slight nod. "Very well. I must go, but do be careful. Mr. Roth will not stop until one of you is dead."

As he turned to leave, I asked, "Did he send you to warm me so I'd stay away from is trophy?"

"You wound me, Gwen." He turned to face me again and I saw that I had.

"Then why take the risk?"

"There are precious few truly good and noble things left in this world." His little smile was tinged with sadness; like he was sharing a bitter truth we all needed to know. "If we allow them all to be lost, there is no purpose to continue. Good evening, Gwen."

I watched him walk away, my heart going out to him. Still, he'd brought me a warning and I intended to remove the danger as soon as possible.

"Let Evie know I'm going out for a bit," I called over to Rupert as he helped unload the cart.

He stared at me, confused. "Miss Gwen?"

"I'm going to the theatre."