“I was chasing her because she was crying,” said Thomas.
“And she was crying because she stabbed Charles! Did you think she was going to kill herself?”
“Amelia,” said Thomas, his voice quiet and very, very serious. “Leave the matter alone. Now.”
Amelia almost protested but something in Thomas’s expression held her back. They danced in silence, moving through the steps with fair ease. Amelia was a very good dancer, and even managed to stay graceful when Thomas himself missed a step. The music was only halfway though, however, when Amelia broke out of Thomas’s arms, grabbed his hand and pulled him from the dance floor. “Father! Mother!”
The couple were older, distinguished and obviously merchants. At once, Thomas could pick out which of their features had gone into their daughter. Amelia
