"The things you own end up owning you. It's only after you lose everything that you're free to do anything." Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club

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Chapter Four

Faith furrowed her eyebrows. "I beg your pardon?"

Cassian chuckled softly. "Don't you know me, Faith?"

Faith shook her head slowly. Cassian noticed her grip tightening on Lucy's hand. She was nervous. "Should I?" she asked quietly.

Even though his face was not as gaunt as it once was, Cassian still tucked his wayward black curls behind his ears so she could better see his face. "Do you not remember the half-dead boy you once met on the side of the road?"

Faith's shoulders immediately relaxed as her mouth opened in shock. He could see it in her eyes. She remembered. She may not have recognised him but she did remember him. Faith covered her mouth with her hand as she gasped.

Lucy tugged on the skirt of Faith's dress. "Mama?" she questioned.

Faith did not seem to even hear her. Her brown eyes were appraising him, looking over his entire person in utter shock. He had certainly changed. When last they met he had not owned a pair of boots.

"Yes, I remember you, Cassian," she finally said.

Cassian smiled. She remembered his name.

Faith released Lucy's hand and left her holding her doll. She walked slowly towards him, still searching him with her eyes. She stopped not even a foot from him. She looked up into his eyes and cocked her head once more, a smile teasing her lips.

Cassian could not look away. Her stare was captivating.

"I can see you now," she whispered. She was so close that he could feel her breath on his throat. Goose pimples quickly covered his body and he shivered.

Cassian had wanted to reunite with his angel for so long. He had dreamed of her countless nights. He had seen her in crowds dozens of times, only to realise it was another. Her voice had haunted him.

Before Faith had found him, he could count on one hand the number of souls he had spoken to. He had been a poor, street urchin, worthy of nothing and no-one. People avoided him and ignored him. His death would not have affected anyone. One less urchin that polluted the street.

Cassian's existence had been meaningless until he had met Faith.

Faith had stopped. She had given up everything to help a stranger. She had been travelling as a rich woman and was now living in a tiny flat. Perhaps she had given Cassian everything.

"You saved my life, Faith," he said softly, "and I have been waiting three years to thank you."

Faith's eyes became glassy and he watched a tear travel down her cheek. "You cannot know how often I wondered about you. I felt such guilt for not taking you back into the village, or to a doctor. But you must understand, I could not, there was something that I desperately needed to do on that day."

Cassian recalled her driver urging her away from the man with possible "crawlers". They were anxious to be somewhere. He wondered where. But she did not need to feel guilty. "I was dying," he emphasised. "I felt myself dying. Had you not stopped I would have been dead within the hour, I know it. You saved my life. You were an angel," he said sincerely. "Are an angel," he corrected.

"Angel," she repeated. "Angel Faith ... is that supposed to be me?" she asked.

"An offering to the woman responsible for my success," replied Cassian, "and a thank you. Faith, I want you to know that I made something of myself, just as you asked. I am a success because of you."

Faith smiled peacefully and stepped backward. Cassian tried not to frown. He enjoyed their closeness. "I can see that you are a success. Well done."

Much to Cassian's disappointment, Faith's voice was quite flat as she congratulated him. Perhaps she was unaware of just how successful he was. She did not know of the other factories. She had not seen his house, his carriage, or any of his fine things.

"And so you must allow me to repay you," he then insisted.

Faith's eyes widened. "Oh, no!" she exclaimed. "What I gave you ... it was an investment, and the mere fact that you are well is enough of a dividend for me. I ... I want to earn my money. I will not accept money that I have not worked for."

As much as Cassian wanted to put the pile of banknotes that were still in his coat pocket into Faith's hands, he respected her for her determination to earn an honest living. She was providing for a child without a husband.

"If your offer is still valid, I will accept your ten pounds and I will work in your household. I would be glad to." Faith knitted her hands together and exhaled.

Cassian grinned. Firstly, he was immensely happy to have the opportunity to look after Faith and Lucy. It was clear that her husband had been unable to in the event of his death. And secondly, he was excited to show Faith his house. When she saw just what her investment in him had reaped, she would know that he had made something of himself.

"Happy to have you on board, Faith," Cassian said gladly.

"It is I who now needs to thank you, Mr Kensington."

"I think we are acquainted well enough for you to know me as Cassian," Cassian insisted. He liked hearing his name in her angelic voice.

"You are my master now, Mr Kensington. That would not be appropriate," countered Faith. She turned her back on him just as Cassian frowned. Faith took hold of Lucy's hand again and started to look around her flat. "We do not have much, but I do need time to pack my possessions."

"I will send a servant to pack your things for you," Cassian promised. "We really ought to get going."

Faith and Lucy left the flat first. Cassian waited thirty seconds before following them downstairs, so as not to appear like they were travelling together. Not that it mattered now that Faith was no longer living there, maintaining a good name was still important to her.

Mr Green was waiting a little ways down the street for them. He had the door of the carriage open, waiting for them.

"Mrs Rowe and Lucy are coming with me. Mrs Rowe has accepted a position in my household," Cassian informed him.

"Very good, sir. Congratulations, Mrs Rowe."

"Thank you," said Faith sincerely.

Cassian offered his hand to Faith as she climbed into his carriage. The minute she placed her small hand in his, and gripped it for stability, he felt a flutter in his stomach. He was excited about her. As soon as Faith was safely inside, he placed his hands underneath Lucy's arms and lifted her up. He placed her inside and she climbed on the padded seat beside her mother.

Cassian then closed the door behind him and sat down opposite Faith and Lucy. He placed his hands on the luxurious fabric of the seat and smiled proudly. "This carriage was one of the first larger purchases I made after becoming successful," he told her. "I designed it myself. What with all the travelling I do, I thought it prudent to ensure that my carriage was safe as well as comfortable."

"I see," she murmured.

Cassian pursed his lips. "It is velvet, the fabric," he continued impatiently. "Italian. The very best."

Faith ran her index finger over the area next to her, leaving a trail in the fabric. "And we are sitting on it," she replied quietly.

Did she not like velvet? Cassian supposed it could become rather warm in summertime but it was nearing winter.

"What happened to you after I left?" Faith suddenly asked. "What did you do?"

Cassian thought back to the moments after he had watched Faith's carriage drive away. He was still dangerously malnourished, but he had hope inside him. In some respects, it was greater than food. "I found the strength to get to the nearby village," he explained. "I do not know how I got there. I could barely stand, I was so weak. But I did. I found a bed and a meal, and an inn that would serve me despite my appearance." He had not looked like the sort of man to have a purse full of money.

Faith was absently playing with one of Lucy's tight curls as she listened. Faith pulled the curl lightly before allowing it to spring back into place.

"I stayed there for a while. I regained my strength. I bought my first pair of boots and I made my way to London," he recalled, "where I made something of myself," he added.

"I am interested to see," Faith replied.

Cassian would show her everything. She would see. He had made something of himself. Her kindness had been bestowed on the right person.

"I live in Kensington," he told Faith as the carriage travelled further and further away from her flat.

"Near the palace?"

"But a stone's throw away."

Faith did not reply. She simply looked out the window.

Living near the palace should be exciting. She would get a glimpse of one of the royals if she was lucky.

Cassian decided that Faith's quiet demeanour was as a result of nerves. She was travelling to a new job at a strange house. She would be working with people she did not know.

When they finally arrived at his house, Cassian was anxious to see Faith's reaction. He was not disappointed. Her eyes widened as she took in the sheer size of the white townhouse. She craned her neck to see up to the top of the fourth floor. "Is not that a big house, Lucy?" she murmured to Lucy.

Lucy scrambled to look out the window, and mirrored her reaction to that of her mother's.

"Come," Cassian said proudly. "Allow me to give you a tour."

Cassian helped Faith and Lucy down from the carriage. He then told Mr Green that he had earned a day's rest.

They climbed the stairs up to the navy door, which was promptly opened by Wade.

"Sir, are you alright?" his butler asked, whilst subtly spying Faith and Lucy with questioning eyes. "We expected you yesterday evening."

"Yes, thank you, Wade. I was otherwise engaged," he replied, gesturing to his bandage. "My I introduce Mrs Faith Rowe, and her daughter, Miss Lucy?" Cassian gestured to Faith and Lucy. "Ladies, this is Mr Geoffrey Wade, my butler. I have decided to employ Mrs Rowe as a housemaid."

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr Wade," greeted Faith politely.

"Welcome, Mrs Rowe, Miss Rowe," Wade replied stiffly.

Cassian suspected that Wade felt put out not being included in the employment decision. "I have a few things that need organising very quickly, Wade," Cassian changed the subject.

"Yes, sir?"

"I need you to send something, whoever you can spare, to Angel Faith Textiles this morning. I sacked my overseer and I need to advertise for a new one," he instructed.

"Of course, sir."

"I will also need you to send someone to fetch Mrs Rowe's things from her flat. She lives ..." It suddenly occurred to Cassian that he had been unconscious when he was brought to Faith's home. "What was your address, Mrs Rowe?"

Faith gave Wade her address and Wade promised to have her possessions collected by the end of the day.

Lastly, he instructed his butler to alert him immediately if detectives arrived. He was unsure of when the police would want to speak to him, but he imagined it would be soon.

Wade was clearly uneasy at the fact that Faith had a child, but nonetheless he offered to take them both upstairs to show them to a room.

"I will do that, Wade. Not to worry," Cassian selfishly volunteered. He wanted to give them both a tour.