When people heard about the Iver brother and sister, everything changed. They changed. Suddenly, villagers they had not spoken to in years were on their step. They gave words, food, even money. The children and younger ones slunk away whenever Hannah or Rio were near – not to be unkind, but because they didn't know what to say.

The Averys were the ones of most comfort. It became common for Hannah to join her brother at their house, normally for meals. It saved her the effort of cooking, and having to eat all by herself at home.

Through her time there, she re-familiarized herself with the family – Tom and his wife, quiet Fadden, and Kurt of course. He was most kind, often coming over to help with the heavy chores or any fixing that needed to be done. Rio was hardly around to do such things, after all. And even if he was, he did not seem to care.

"You know what I wish, Hannah?" Kurt said to her one morning, while they were together in the house. She was sweeping the living room while he stood in the store, helping to arrange the baskets and old furniture.

"What do you wish?"

He glanced out the open door, smiling at her. "That I could see you married this year."

She coughed, focusing on the dusty floor. "I wish you wouldn't."

"Should I not? Is it wrong for me to want to see you happy?"

"No. But I've not … thought about it lately."

He knelt down, piling some old toolboxes together. "I remember once hearing something about you being taken with one of the local boys."

She sighed. That would never go away, not in all her life. "Yes, yes."

"Who was it?"

"Eli. Eli Doone."

"That's right! That tall one. The one who hardly ever says two words together. Every time I see him, it's always: 'hello', 'yes' or 'no'."

"It was a childish liking. Nothing more."

"Well, I think he lost a terrible chance on you."

"Thank you. But I wish him well. I really do." She paused, stopping her work for a minute. She supposed this was a good time as any to ask, to find out a little more about Kurt's own life. "And what about you?"

"Me?"

"You and the Carltons' daughter. Surely that's to happen soon? It's been years."

"Oh," he went, not quite looking at her. "I'm afraid that engagement's been broken."

Hannah blinked. Had he? Had he really said what she thought he had? "What? Broken?"

Her good friend nodded.

"What happened? I mean, not to pry. If it's too private … "

"No, it's alright. It's just – things have changed, is all." He leaned against a shelf, gazing at her. "The match happened such a long time ago. I just thought it was for the best."

"You?" she said, her voice soft. "You were the one who broke it off?"

"Yes."

She was silent for a moment. She wondered if Rio knew about this piece of news? "When did this happen?"

"Not long ago. A few weeks."

"And your parents …"

"... are not happy with me. You know my mother's close to their family. It's a huge disappointment for her."

"I'm sure they'll come to forgive you."

"Perhaps in a few years or so. But I don't think they'll ever understand."

"I understand."

He looked up, peering at her with light eyes. "You do, don't you? But I always knew you were a true friend."

She blushed, warmed by his words.

"Well. I think I'm done here." He stepped out of the store, allowing her to see his work. "What do you think?"

"Good job, Avery. That should be enough for today. You're dismissed."

He laughed. "Such is the life of a servant."

She stiffened at that word, but Kurt didn't seem to notice what he'd just said. He headed for the door, smiling back at her. "Shall I be seeing you tonight then?"

"Sorry?"

"For dinner? I'll need to tell Mother."

"Oh. Yes, I'll be there."

"Good. Until later then."

"Goodbye," she murmured, and he led himself out, the door shutting gently behind him.

Unbelievable, thought Hannah. She didn't want to admit it, but yes, Kurt's news was beginning to excite her. After all, why would he suddenly do something like that? To break off such a long, solid match wasn't easy. So what made him do it? What could have changed his mind?

She thought about the Carlton's poor daughter, feeling a brief pity. She barely knew the girl, but she'd never heard anything bad about her. She probably didn't deserve such heartbreak.

Hannah gripped her broom, resuming her sweeping. In only a few hours, she'd be seeing Kurt again. Of course, it was only another Avery-Iver dinner, but still. After what Kurt had told her, she couldn't help but hope.

That evening, she took pains to make herself look decent for dinner. Quite work for a plain village girl. She brushed her hair a hundred times, and chose her best dress – a fitting, blue one bought by her Da. She loved it so much that she wore it so little. But tonight seemed a good enough excuse. She was just disappointed she didn't have any trinkets or color to go along with it. Looking into the mirror, her face peered back, pale and small-eyed. Was it any wonder she was still unmarried? Or that Eli Doone had chosen another girl? She turned away, tired of listening to her own criticizing. Taking a shawl for the cold, she headed out, slipping through the front door.

The sky overhead was a deep blend of gray and blue, only the luckiest stars out to be seen. She strolled slowly on her walk to the Averys – it wasn't far, and she could see their house from her own. Around her, the village murmured with the settling down of night. Fires were starting to burn as the night cooled, families coming together over homely dinners. Voices mingled, running over and with each other like waves. Did she miss it? She wasn't sure. Things had changed so very much that she couldn't even remember what it felt like to be in a family anymore.

"Hannah," someone suddenly called to her.

She stopped, looking over her shoulder. It was her brother, running up from who knew where. "Rio. I wasn't sure if you were coming."

"What? Of course I would. I always do."

"I don't know. I get so used to you disappearing, I sometimes think one day you won't come back."

He made a face of cold surprise. "That's ridiculous. I never go far. Only around the village."

"Doesn't matter where you are. You could be across the sea for all I know. Either way, you're not around."

He didn't answer, becoming silent as they walked together. Hannah wasn't angry though. She had come to accept the personality of her younger brother. Without her parents, she felt much less urgency over things like rules and chores. The first meant nothing without someone to answer to, and the second was mere habit, a safe way to pass the time.

"So have you heard?" she asked, going for a change in topic.

"Heard what?"

"Kurt's engagement. It's been called off."

Her brother sighed, looking ahead. "Yes. I knew."

"You knew? Why didn't you tell me?"

He gave her a cool green eye. "Why would you want to know?"

"What do you mean? Weren't you shocked? I always thought those two would end up wedded. It's so strange to think otherwise."

"Hannah, who told you about it?"

"Well, Kurt himself."

"Kurt?" He looked surprised. "I suppose he didn't tell you why."

"Why what?"

"Why he was forced to break it off."

"Forced? He told me he changed his mind."

"He did. Because his attentions are for another now."

Hannah's skin started to prickle. Is it possible? Is it possible that I … ?

"You mean he likes someone else?"

"You'd never believe who."

She reached out, stopping her brother with her hand. "Tell me." Though her voice was firm, her fingers shook on his arm.

"It's Melanie."

Melanie. Melanie Culmer. The girl of a dozen sordid stories; who knew how many of them were true? Hannah tried to focus, but the name drained her mind, drained all her emotions until she felt nothing.

Rio was staring at her, no doubt wondering why she'd gone so quiet.

"How do you know?" she asked.

"Fadden, of course."

"Kurt didn't tell me."

"Of course he wouldn't."

"Why? He could have told me. He didn't have to keep it secret."

"That's where you're wrong. It is a secret, so please don't tell anyone."

"That's ridiculous. If he loves her, I see no reason for him to hide it from everyone. What, just because of his parents and the Carltons?"

He gave her a warning look. "Not a word to anybody, Hannah."

She rolled her eyes. "Alright, alright."

"Not even Kaye."

"Fine. Not even Kaye."

They made it to the Averys', and Rio stepped up, pushing the door open without knocking. Kurt himself stood in the hallway, talking to his brother. "Ah, you're here," he said, beaming. "Good to have you both – and together at that."

Rio nodded at the older man, but Hannah didn't so much as look at him. She was a fool. A fool for trying, a fool for expecting. How could she have thought she might win a man like Kurt Avery? Compared to Melanie? Or even the Carlton girl? No.

It embarrassed her to have to even face him now.

"Come, Hannah," Kurt was saying to her. "Have a seat. Should you like to sit next to me?"

"Thank you," she said, sounding wispy. She was starting to feel it, that sharp drop from anticipation to disappointment, and it was starting to affect her attention. Why Melanie? Of all girls. I could've taken it if it had been anyone else. Anyone but her.