"There's only one option now..." Alice whispered, she opened her hand and stared at the sweets, the index finger of her other hand moving over them.

Benny shook his head, "There's always other options. They just might not be as easy or as pleasant. I mean.. you could run away and rely on the kindness of strangers, never giving them your real name until you can find someone to take your baby and return home or start a new life elsewhere. No one can blame you for a baby if you never actually had one. Or you could go all the way to criminal status. Rob people to make a living, then no one will care if you were married when you had the child or not. But that's a bit harsh and rough isn't it? Maybe you could try to run away to another country where they are kinder about this sort of thing?" He leaned back, "Or you marry the guy and murder him in his sleep so you can be free again but still have the dignity of being married." He smiled, "They are all very dangerous options, but they are options."

Alice looked up and frowned, horrified. "They hanged me brother for murder."

Benny nodded, "I think I remember Rose mentioning something about your older brother being gone. Well, you don't have to murder. But you could run away, or take advantage of others so no one can question the child's father. I've traveled around, some places are much kinder about this sort of thing. You tell them the tragic story of your first love , how he took your heart and made you think you would be married only to run off on you, it could shed a lot of tears in the right place."

Alice's lip quivered. "But then I would still have to leave home." She frowned and closed her eyes. "I suppose you're right. I do have options. But..." She shook her head. "None of them are appealing." And Noah still didn't love her.

Benny shrugged, "Then marry the guy. He can't expect you to perform any wifely duties for now, so put it off. Use him and then leave him with the child and come back home. You'll already be married, so it isn't like he can do much other than demand a divorce if you want to stay with your family and not return to wherever he lives.'

[Content warning: Mention of statutory rape]

Alice blushed when Benny talked about 'wifely duties'. Some part of her had considered dropping the child on Tobias and running for the hills. But she knew she could never return home if she did. Yet she nodded.

"Alice!" Ben stood near the station building, looking at the two. He walked over as quick as he could. "What is this!?" He looked at Benny. "What are you doin' with me daughter!?"

Benny smiled, "You can just put off the wedding, buy yourself some time. Play fainting spells, and act like you're too weak. " He immediately stopped as he saw her father coming up and narrowed his brow. "Lay off, I'm not touching her. We're just talking. " He held up his hands. "See? Not doing anything."

Alice wondered if she could indeed try putting it off. But that thought evaporated as soon as she saw her father. Once again, she had stolen from him. Once again she had tried to run away. She didn't care about his anger. But she feared the loss of his love. She put the sweets in her pocket and wrapped her arms around herself. "Benny was just talkin' to me." She affirmed quietly, not looking up at her father.

But Ben suddenly grabbed her by the arms, pulling her up to her feet, and shook her. "Have ye lost yer mind, lass!? Stealin' an' runnin' away an' talkin' to strange men alone. What d' ye think is gonna happen if ye try that in Tobias' home?"