The Angel of Bishopsgate

Chapter 3-2

When Finn pushed open the door, she startled awake, sitting up with her hair in disarray. "There's my shining light of London," he said.

"Leave it out." She managed a weary smile and seeing the fire was barely holding its flame, she rose quickly and added more coal. "Are yer later than usual?" she asked, wrapping her shawl about her and sitting at the table.

"Aye, I stayed back for a few extra."

Tessie placed her day's takings on the table thinking of the rent. "Will we have enough?" Finn spilled out his coins too and counted.

"How much for the grocer?"

"A shilling and six.”

"Two bob short. I'll have to work tomorrow and Saturday to see us over, but they'll not see us in the dosshouse just yet," he assured, stashing the collection in a small space in the wall beside the bed. Tessie returned to the bed, flopping down as the feeling of dread tingled in her belly. Sleep had helped the hours at least, but she stared at Finn and let out a sigh. They could see it hanging in the air between them, the angst neither of them wished to speak out loud. The time was coming fast.

"Did yer eat?" Finn asked. She shook her head and rolled onto her side, twisting her leather band at her wrist, tugging it so it grazed warmly against her skin.

"I'm not sure I can stomach it," she said, though Finn stepped forward and put a bruised apple in her hand. She held it up against the shadowed light and took a listless bite.

"Go on," he coaxed, fussing about the fire and taking off his coat. "You'll be back here tonight and this will be over."

She had no wish to argue with his sentiment though the 'what ifs' swirled incessantly. When she didn't get up from the bed, Finn joined her and wrapped himself around her in a solemn ritual of waiting. What else was there to do, but listen to the night around them and wait for the chime of each hour to stir the butterflies.

Finally, it was time to go. Tessie kissed Finn goodbye and rose from the bed in the quiet, padding across the room.