A joke. A smile. They were good. She relaxed a little, only to freeze up again when he hugged her out of nowhere. She stood motionless in his embrace, her arms by her side. It was all she could do not to shove him away like she wanted to. His odour overpowered the floral fragrance she wore and clung to her even as he let go. He reeked of the squalor she had spent all her short life escaping. Her eyes narrowed on him as he pulled away. Why did she keep undermining herself like this? She should have let the past rest.

She wanted to leave. She’d go straight home and take a very long bath. Perhaps she’d just burn the dress. She couldn’t risk bringing some pest into the cottage. She’d never come back here. What good was he to her, this uncomfortable memory of a life she had resented? Oh yes, Ruth was ready dash for the door. But he sat down and looked ready to cry. His words told her as much. They equally disgusted her and pulled at her heartstrings. Once upon a time, she had cared about him.

She sighed and reluctantly sat down across from him, watching the cuffs on his wrists absent-minded. “What did you expect?” she commented quietly, trying to ignore the filth she could almost feel weighing on her skin. “Northallerton’s hardly around t’ corner, and it’s not like they remembered ye t’ mornin’ after they took ye away. And everyone had their shit to deal with. It wasn’t easier on me either when ye were gone, ye know?”