Lavinia watched his face.
“You’re different.”
“How?”
“You know I won't hurt you.”
Amos’s fingers stopped.
“I never thought you would.”
“You thought touching me would.”
He looked up.
Her face was close.
“Maybe.”
“Why?”
“Because once you remember warmth, cold becomes harder.”
The room became quiet.
Lavinia lifted her hand.
Slowly.
Giving him time to move.
He did not.
Her fingertips touched his beard.
His eyes closed.
Only for a second.
When they opened, she whispered:
“I am not asking you for twenty-three years.”
“What are you asking?”
“Tonight.”
His breathing deepened.
She continued:
“One honest moment.”
He leaned toward her.
Stopped.
“Lavinia.”
“Yes?”
“If I kiss you, I do not know how to pretend it means nothing.”
Her eyes softened.
“Then don't.”
He kissed her.
Carefully.
Almost painfully slowly.
She touched his jaw.
He pulled away first.
Not rejection.
Restraint.
Lavinia smiled faintly.
“Was that terrible?”
“Yes.”
Her eyebrows rose.
Amos continued:
“Because now I want another.”
She laughed.
He kissed her again.
A knock struck door.
Amos moved instantly.
Rifle in hand.
Lavinia stepped back.
“Who?”
Silence.
Second knock.
A voice:
“Miss Beaumont?”
Male.
Polished.
“My name is Harper Voss.”
Amos’s face became stone.
Lavinia looked toward him.
“Do you want him alive?”
“For now.”
She opened door only as far as chain allowed.
A gray-haired man stood outside.
Expensive coat.
Gloves.
Western Meridian pin.
His eyes moved past Lavinia.
Saw Amos.
Every bit of color left his face.
“Vale.”
Amos said nothing.
Voss whispered:
“You’re dead.”
“Disappointing?”
Voss looked toward corridor.
“Let me in.”
“No.”
“Crane knows she's here.”
Lavinia stiffened.
“Gideon Crane?”
“Yes.”
“He’s coming.”
“Why?”
Voss looked at pendant at her neck.
“Because your father finally told you about Black Hollow.”
“How would Crane know what my father told me?”
Voss laughed bitterly.
“Because Crane spent twenty-three years making sure Charles Beaumont never told anyone enough.”
Amos opened door.
Dragged Voss inside.
“Start talking.”
Voss looked at rifle.
“Still direct.”
Amos stepped closer.
“Very.”
Voss raised hands.
“I helped Crane.”
Lavinia stared.
“With what?”
“Records.”
“When?”
“Black Hollow.”
Amos’s jaw tightened.
Voss continued quickly.
“I was nineteen.”
“A clerk.”
“Crane told me change dates on inspection reports.”
“I did.”
“Then collapse happened.”
“Your father arrived.”
“He found forged continuation order.”