Malachi held an arm loosely around the little boy's shoulders to keep him steady against his shoulder, but Sam was pulled away before he could do anything else. The priest's looked almost wounded for a moment, arms suddenly empty, but he straightened up and kept his mouth shut.

The mother charged on, but at least her pace had slowed enough for Sam to try to keep up. With a reluctant glance back to the constable and the occupied privy, Malachi went back to them. He wasn't sure where Ruth was going, but James was... well, cornered.

"So," he started casually, hands clasped behind his back, dark eyes fixed on the persistent constable.

"How long have you been a constable?"