Anne's heart ached when Alice pulled her hand out of hers. She wanted to cry, to cling to Alice, to tell her to say no, and together they would find a solution. But Alice looked cold and hard, and Anne knew that she was lost. She got up, but couldn't bear to place herself in the pew with her father and siblings, and instead, she joined Elijah. His mere silent presence felt like a comfort, however small it was.

In silence she watched as vows were given and rings were exchanged. They were like silent witnesses. Her only task now was to be a witness. Of a marriage or of a crime? Anne clenched her fists. All of this was wrong.

A blessing, a song, hardly sung, and then it was all over. Bells were rung overhead, too joyfully. Alice, Tobias, the family all headed out, but Anne stayed standing in her pew, beside the constable. Clenched fists sweaty. As other people moved out of their pews to follow the family, Anne still stood there, blocking Elijah's way, and watching. Tom had drowned. Simon had been driven to a heinous act and had paid the highest price. Maggie had tossed herself at the first man who would marry her to escape - they all knew it. She had been Alice's age. At sixteen, Rose had been sent into domestic service, and Anne knew how miserable she was. Now they had married Alice. And Anne understood that she was next. "I want to go back to school, Elijah."