There was a moment, however brief, in which he had begun to worry.

Why? He had never particularly worried about such things before. A street was a street, and while he remained ever vigilant to the horrors that could befall a young woman, this? Waiting outside with his lover’s someone else’s sister, admiring flowers?

Malachi was somewhat ashamed to admit that his worry had only spiked when he had connected their disappearances together. The sister – Miss Koch? Nisa – had been nothing but polite, if a little overly attached to that politeness for his liking.

There was no reason to feel on edge when he saw her with his niece, but he did.

Perhaps it was his own discomfort with keeping secrets, with hiding away for a few minutes with her brother, but- that couldn’t be true. There was no guilt in secrecy when honesty meant punishment or death. Perhaps it was because some part of him wanted to steal her brother away, and make sure that he found his escape from what would be the death of him.

…He did feel bad for including her in that.

“It’s alright, dear,” assured Malachi, and he gave his niece a small smile. “My apologies for keeping you waiting too. I had another coughing fit and Mr. Koch was kind enough to stay until I was well.”

Like any respectable stranger with morals would do.

His smile didn’t falter, but Malachi did kick himself internally for giving the detective a reason to step even farther away.

Nothing to be done about it. He couldn’t exactly kiss him farewell in the first place.

Clasping his hands behind his back, he moved closer to Nettie in turn. Remained quiet while the women exchanged their goodbyes, their wishes to visit again. Something told him that the detective wouldn’t be pleased about that, even if his assumptions regarding why weren’t all that accurate.

“Ah- yes, I will,” Malachi dipped his head. “I only need some rest.”

How many times had he told that particular lie?

“Peace be with you,” he offered with a glance over them both, already turning to follow after his niece.

Hands held loosely behind him, Malachi caught up to walk at Nettie’s side, though his head did turn to glance back briefly.

Had he just heard- no, no. He faced forward again, focusing his eyes on the path ahead. He was not about to eavesdrop on whatever conversation that was.

(If he had been alone, though, nothing could have stopped him. Couldn’t they talk a little louder? Yell out their thoughts across the garden?)

“Hm?” Malachi looked to his niece, confused by the question. “Of course.”

No. Everything was decidedly not alright, but he didn’t suppose talking about it would make it any better.

Lowering his voice, he said, “to tell you the truth, I had an… incident, with some of the locals recently. It all ended up alright, but I’ve been a little under the weather since.”