How had he not known that?

“Oh,” Malachi said with a subtle raise of his brows, but it pulled at the cut on his face. “That’s wonderful, Nettie. That was really kind of you to do.”

Even if he figured she probably hadn’t expected to use those skills on him. It still made him proud to hear it, and a small smile hinted at his bruised lips.

“I… if I let you help me, you have to promise me you won’t freak out, and you will not tell a constable. I don’t want to stress you any more than I have.”