Leah looked up from her needlepoint and watched her mother. She watched the way her fingers shook as she thread the needle through the fabric, the way the stitches were uneven despite her incessant need for everything to be perfect. Her mother looked older than her years. Lines marked her face and nothing could hide the dark circles that hung under her eyes.

The headaches had taken her youth from her.

They worked with nothing but the ticking clock for company. Leah turned back to the needlepoint, threading the needle through to create the flower pattern of the vase in front of her. She focused on each stitch, but once in a while, she would look up to watch her mother work on the project she had been so determined to finish.

Leah thought back to all the times in her youth before the headaches became overwhelming, when they would sit side-by-side and work on one piece of needlepoint together. Mrs Manston would help her thread the needle, point out the slight mistakes and offer her ways to fix them. She missed spending time with her mother the way they used to. Silence could never fill the void.

"Father should be back by now," Leah said. She glanced at the slightly open window and the fading sunlight outside. "They warned people from walking anywhere in the dark."

"I am sure he will be home soon."

"He is usually home at four. It's ten past."

"Leah, he shall be home when he is home."

"But—"

"Silence, girl. I thought I taught you to hold your tongue?" Mrs Manston raised her hand to her head and lightly traced the lines with her fingers. Her eyes flicked to the open window. "Close that window. The fumes from the chimneys are bringing on a headache."

"Yes, Mother. Would you like me to get one of the servants?"

"You may fetch Anna. I think I shall retire for the day."

Leah nodded and placed her needlework on the small table in front of her. She crossed the room and closed the window, blocking out the sounds of the city and the haze of smoke from the fading chimneys. Her mother remained seated as Leah stepped out of the living room and towards the back of the house, where the servants were enjoying their evening meal in the kitchen.

Upon seeing her, Anna, Mrs Manston's servant, rose without Leah having to say a word as to why she had entered the kitchen. Her mother's headaches came on so suddenly that Anna had become accustomed to being summoned at a moment's notice. The entire house had to revolve around Mrs Manston and her headaches.

Not wanting to return to the living room until her mother had retired for the evening, Leah stayed in the kitchen with Emma, Mr Manston's servant Eric, and the cook. She lingered by the door, looking at them all in turn and listening for the sound of the front door and the imminent arrival of her father from his office in the city.

She wondered what might be keeping him.

"Would you like some tea, Miss Manston?" the cook asked.

"Yes, please. Could you bring two cups? I expect Father will be returning shortly."

"Yes, Miss."

"Thank you." Leah glanced at the front door, but there was still no sign of her delayed father.

"I am sure he will be along presently, Miss Manston. He most likely got caught up with his paperwork."

"Yes, I expect so." She smiled. "You can bring the tea into the living room."

The cook nodded her head and Leah listened to the sound of echoing footsteps on the stairs as her mother and Anna climbed the stairs. Leah returned to the living room, perching on the settee and looking out the window. She watched people pass by, waiting for the familiar shape of her father to emerge, but he was nowhere to be seen.

Leah knew he could watch out for himself, but he was never usually late and if he was, he sent word beforehand. She knotted her hands together in her lap. Emma entered the living room a little while later, but Leah paid her no mind and kept her attention solely focused on the window in front of her.

Since the sixth murder, the police had issued a caution to men walking the streets at night to be on the lookout. Whoever had been committing the murders had been able to appear and disappear without another soul having seen them, hiding in the shadows of the night. Leah watched the sun dip behind the nearby houses as the darkness descended on the city.

A shadowy figure emerged from the darkness, and Leah heard the sound of the front door opening. She straightened herself up on the settee and poured the tea into the two cups, making sure to add one teaspoon of sugar for her father.

"Good evening, my sweet," Mr Manston said. He swept into the room and removed his jacket, draping it over the settee. "Ah, tea. Excellent. It is getting colder out there now, Leah." He glanced around the room. "Where is your mother?"

"She retired early. Headache."

"Right, well, you shall have to amuse yourself this evening. I have some paperwork I need to complete."

"Is that why you were late?"

He took a sip of his tea and nodded. "Yes, we've fallen a little behind. No matter, we'll soon put everything back in order."

"You shouldn't be walking home in the dark. The officers have warned against it."

"They have also increased their presence across the city. People are being more watchful of their surroundings now." Mr Manston looked at his daughter, noting the concern on her face. "I shall try to keep to time in the future, and if I am to be out after dark, I shall hail a carriage. How does that sound?"

"Fine."

Mr Manston looked at his daughter and smiled, but Leah turned back to the window and the people that were still daring to move around in the semi-darkness. They were brave people to ignore the warnings written in the newspapers and spoken of by officers on the street. Leah knew that the fear would catch up to the brazen eventually. It always did.

~~~

First Published - February 3rd, 2023