The next day they received a letter from Philip.

'Mrs. Abernathy's trial to go ahead in the next week. I have to stay in London and get some court details sorted, but please send someone to get Mrs. Abernathy and her children out of the house and to London as quickly as possible. Her husband should be receiving word of the divorce proceedings soon. I will arrange for them to stay here in London during the trial, so please let Mrs. Abernathy know and give her this address for when she arrives -"

Marina put the letter down. "One week – it's so soon!"

"Hm?" Harriet looked over from where she was beating the carpets. "What's soon?"

Marina got to her feet. "Mrs. Abernathy is getting a divorce."

"Oh. Well, that's for the good," Harriet said, seemingly unsurprised by the news. "Her husband is one who made me afraid of marriage."

Marina nodded. She considered who she could send to Mrs. Abernathy's, but she felt a horrible rush to do it immediately. She looked over at Harriet, at the strong muscles in her arms as she swung a paddle at the carpets, sending clouds of dust into the air.

"Harriet, will you come with me to fetch her now?"

Harriet lowered the paddle and looked at Marina, her eyes wide. "Now?"

"Yes, Philip wants her out of the house before her husband finds out – we're to send them on to London for the trial."

Harriet nodded and wiped her hands on her apron. "Right. What about Celeste?"

Marina looked at Celeste playing on the ground, bashing a stick against a pile of grass she had collected. "We shouldn't take her with us… We can leave her with Ms. Hurst for a bit. Her house is on the way."

Ms. Hurst was happy to take Celeste for a while, and her mother seemed even more excited. Mrs. Hurst had been widowed many years, and much of that had been spent at home, as she had a bone disease that had robbed her of her ability to walk over time. She was grumpy and demanding more days than not, according to Ms. Hurst, but seemed perfectly delighted to have the company today.

"We'll be back soon – if not, send someone to the Abernathy farm to fetch us."

As they continued on their way, Harriet spied a man working a field by the road. "Ho Edward!" she called, loping across to meet him in the field. Marina stood for a minute, watching them talk, wondering what Harriet was playing at. She had said they were in a rush.

In short order, they were both hurrying across the field back to Marina. Harriet grinned and gestured at the man. "Mrs. Crane, this is my cousin Edward. He'll come with us to the Abernathy farm, to make sure things don't get out of hand."

Edward nodded grimly and bowed to Marina. He had the same heavily freckled skin as Harriet, though his hair was a lighter, reddish shade of brown. More to the point, he had the same strong build and broad shoulders, and looked like he could handle himself if worst came to worst.

"Thank you," Marina said, glad to have him on her side. The closer they got to the Abernathy's, the more nervous she felt.

Mr. Abernathy was home, sitting on that same bench outside the house, when they arrived. He squinted up at them as they walked up. "Here now – wot's this?"

"G'day to ye," Edward greeted him, standing close in front and blocking his movement. "Getting on well with the farm today Bill?"

"Aye, not that its any o' your business," Mr. Abernathy responded.

While Edward took care of Mr. Abernathy Marina went to the house and knocked once before letting herself in. "Mrs. Abernathy?"

Mrs. Abernathy came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron and staring at Marina with wide eyes. "What are you doing here?" she hissed.

"The trial is set for next week," Marina told her in a rush. "Get your children. We'll take you to London for now, where it's safer."

Mrs. Abernathy's mouth dropped open, and she clapped her hands to her mouth in shock. She looked around, suddenly moving frantically. "Does he know?"

"I don't think he knows yet, but he will soon. Do you need me to pack anything for you?"

"I… Mary! Thomas! Oliver!" She yelled for her children suddenly, then pointed at the next room. "There are some clothes for the children in there!"

A young girl, maybe twelve years old, came in from the back door, followed swiftly by the boy Thomas. "Ah there you are!" Where's your brother?" Mrs. Abernathy asked.

Thomas shrugged. "I think he's with the chickens," Mary replied.

"Go fetch him right away Mary," Mrs. Abernathy instructed her. "Thomas, come help me."

Marina grabbed some clothing from the other room – there wasn't much of it. She could hear Mr. Abernathy raising his voice out in the yard, and the low rumble of Edward's voice steady beneath. She went back into the kitchen to find Mrs. Abernathy.

"We should leave now," she said urgently.

Mrs. Abernathy nodded, and took Thomas's hand to lead him outside. As they reached the door Mary and Oliver came running from the chicken coop. Mrs. Abernathy held her hand out to them and took Oliver's hand, the older Mary holding his other hand. She seemed to understand something was happening, and looked serious.

"Come along children – we're going to stay elsewhere for a while."

"Where do you think you're going?" Mr. Abernathy snarled. He lunged towards them, but Edward blocked him, Harriet at his side.

Mrs. Abernathy hurried her step, dragging her kids with her. She didn't look at her husband, didn't say anything to him. She had long ago learned how futile it was to try to reason with him.

Marina moved to Mary's side and took her hand, smiling encouragingly at her. "It's going to be alright," she said, though Mary didn't look convinced.

"I said – where are you going woman?" Mr. Abernathy yelled. He moved for his wife again, but Edward and Harriet each put a hand on his shoulders and pushed him back onto the bench.

"I think you oughta sit here a while Bill," Edward said softly. "Take some time to calm yourself and think."

Marina and Mrs. Abernathy didn't stop, didn't slow. They walked briskly down the lane and onto the road back into Hampstead. Mrs. Abernathy had tears on her cheeks, though she made no sound.

"Ma? Where are we going?" Oliver asked. He was the youngest of the three, and looked to be about seven years old.

"We'll go to my house first, and have something to eat, shall we?" Marina said. She looked at Mrs. Abernathy who returned her look with a nod. "Then we can figure out what our next steps are, once we all have full bellies."

Harriet caught up with them on the road, her face grim. "Edward's staying with Mr. Abernathy for a time, to make sure he doesn't do anything stupid," she said softly to Marina, falling into step beside her.

"Mrs. Abernathy and the children are coming to our house," Marina told her. "We'll have to make up a big meal for our guests."

Harriet smiled widely at the idea, meeting the eye of Oliver and grinning. "That we will! I hope you like ham!"

Oliver brightened at the idea of lunch, and his improved mood helped to lighten the moods of the rest of his family. By the time they reached the main street in town, Mrs. Abernathy looked a little less afraid, and Harriet was chatting cheerfully with Oliver about their favorite farm animals. It wasn't quite clear if their decisions were based on the amiability of the animal, or how much they enjoyed the taste of it's flesh when cooked, but they seemed to get on quite well anyway.

"I'll get Celeste from Ms. Hurst's and meet you back at home," Marina said, turning off to Ms. Hurst's house. Harriet nodded and led the Abernathy family on.

Marina pressed her hand against her chest, feeling her heart beat madly against her ribs. She took several deep breaths to calm herself. She hadn't realized how terrified she would be. Thank goodness Edward had come along with them.

Mrs. Hurst was sad to see Celeste go, and offered to watch her again any time Marina liked. Marina laughed and hefted Celeste onto her hip. "You might change your mind if you had to deal with her when she's hungry!"

They walked home hand in hand, Marina asking Celeste if she enjoyed her time with the Hurst ladies.

"Mmm… no."

"No? You didn't have fun?"

Celeste nodded. "Yes, fun. Missed mama."

"Oh! Honey!" Marina scooped her up and gave her a big hug. "I was never going to leave you for long!" She gave her a big kiss on the cheek, which Celeste sloppily returned. "There are some people visiting at our house now, so you be kind to them alright?"

"Is Papa home?"

"No, not yet…" Marina bit back a laugh at the crestfallen look on Celeste's face at the news, and gave her another kiss.

The kitchen was loud and crowded on their return. Harriet was trying to bake something with Oliver's inexpert help, and Mary and Mrs. Abernathy were putting out dishes and cold cuts and bread. Marina introduced everyone to Celeste and put her down to meet who she liked. Mary went up to her and greeted her immediately, and took her hand.

"A letter came from Mr. Crane," Harriet told Marina, handing her the letter from her apron pocket.

Marina frowned and went into the hall to open it.

'The judge wants to meet with you. He's not asking you to give testimony on the stand, but wants to ascertain your character for the written testimony you've submitted. Please come to London. I'm staying at the same address as sent in the previous letter.'

Marina folded the letter and put it in her pocket, next to the one she had received that morning. She looked out the window at the light fading already and then turned back to the kitchen. For a second she just stood outside the room, listening to the sounds of a family within, missing her own family, wishing her kitchen sounded so lively every day.

Then she went inside to announce, "Looks like we're all going to London together."