Startled by the reaction, Gabriel sat back a little. "I'm sorry. I understand it's hard..." Actually he didn't really know what to say to her. What did he really know. That unease started creeping back in again.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to... get so angry... But he shouldn't have left me and then condemned me for being so lonely that I made a fool of myself in front of Whitby!" It was clear that her brother had hurt her deeply, and she was also beating herself up for her weakness.

"That was wrong of him." Gabriel admitted. "Do you have any idea why he would do such a thing?"

"He left me to do his work the first time, he told me... but the second time was because the clockmaker made a clock for me as a gift... And I accepted it, which to Pony meant that I must be in love. He was disgusted with me because he thought I fell in love too soon after my Harold died. He said it with such venom that it felt like me own brother hated me."

Gabriel thought. "Was he close to your husband?"

She couldn't help but scoff at that, "Pishaw! No! He hated Harold because he was a doctor." She gave a humorless laugh, "I don't understand it."

"That is strange," Gabriel admitted with a frown. "Perhaps something happened to him."

Great way to cheer someone up, Gabriel.

"I wouldn't be surprised if he got caught selling his blasted 'medicine' to the wrong person. I told him it would get him into trouble one day." She blurted. "Augh, I wish I knew where he was."

Gabriel looked at him surprised. Some her brother was involved in something semi criminal? He closed his eyes and thought. "Those anxieties can take over our minds and draw our attention away from our tasks at hand. "Pray for your brother, and leave the rest to God. Focus on the things you can change."

"I don't know what I can change that I already haven't," she said honestly. "I am sorry, I... I don't mean ta burden ye with me own mess. I just..." she trailed off, not sure what to say that hadn't already been said.