It was bitingly cold the morning Hannah moved her mother to Magda's. Both their cheeks turned red to the air as they clambered into the carriage waiting outside the Williams'.

"Wonder if it'll snow soon," Hannah commented, once she'd gotten in and shut the door. She peered out the gaping window, staring up at the pretty figure of the Williams house. A few servants stood at the door, waving jerkily as they hugged themselves. There was no sign of the Williams themselves, but Hannah wasn't surprised. This would probably be a relief to them - to have her mother gone.

The carriage kicked up, a little bumpily, and Hannah pulled down the scratchy curtains, hoping it would keep out some of the cold. "How are you feeling, Ma?"

"Like death."

"You'll feel better once you're indoors."

"Do you think Rio might be there, waiting for us?"

"I sent him a message." Two actually.

"But you don't think he'll be there?"

"Ma, I told you. He has to work."

"You have to work too."

"It's different." She leaned back in the hard seat, locking her arms together over her chest. She really hated winter, especially ...

The winter thieves. Da.

Would things have been any different had their mother been around? Yes. He never would have fallen sick. He would have fought back, defended them. He would probably still be alive.

Hannah cupped her mouth, willing herself not to become emotional – here, now in this jerky, leathery carriage. She looked over at her mother, reaching over to put an arm around her.

"What's wrong with you?" she immediately asked.

"Nothing," she said quietly.

"Are we still quite far?"

"No, we're reaching the road soon. I must say, this is a lot better than walking."

"I like walking." She paused. "Normally."

"So do I. Normally. When it's not cold enough to freeze your nose off."

Her mother gave her a look, and Hannah reached up, touching the tip of her own nose. "Good. Still there."

She smiled at that, and Hannah did too. They felt the carriage take a turn, and slid along the seat with it, hanging onto the door.

"Does he know what he's doing?" her mother complained.

"Sorry, he was the best I could afford. We'll be there very soon. Why don't you try looking out?"

Warily, her mother peeked outside, looking ahead. "Is that it? That tower by the sea?"

"That's the one."

"Looks very old." She eased back inside. "Like the driver."

"Ma."

They felt the carriage slow along the dirt road, finally coming to a stop. Even from inside, Hannah could hear the murmur of waves. She climbed out, hurrying round to the other side to help her mother down. She was glad that they'd not had much to bring from the Williams' other than a bagful of her mother's clothes. The old driver was, at least, good enough to help bring it in before he left, and Hannah thanked him.

"Seems like the edge of Dalen," her mother commented as they stood in the yard. She gazed back past the grounds, along the shop-street. "We're near the bridge, aren't we?"

"Yes, we are," Hannah answered, tugging on her mother's arm. "Come on." They toed forward, slowly going up the steps, just as someone opened up the front doors.

"Oh." It was Sister Vicki, of all people. She paused, flicking a gaze between them. "I was wondering whose things those were."

"Good morning, Sister," Hannah greeted, though it wasn't her nicest voice. "This is my mother."

"Your mother? But I thought ... "

"What?" Her mother lifted her brows.

"Nothing, nothing. It's good to meet you, Mrs. Iver." She held out a large hand, and her mother gingerly shook it. "You'll be staying with us too?"

"Actually, my mother's just recovering from an illness so ... "

"Oh, I understand." She bent over, picking up her mother's bag. "Well, why don't I walk you to the wards?"

"Thank you," Hannah said, trailing behind with her mother. She could feel her Ma eyeing her, no doubt wondering about what Sister Vicki had been about to say. Luckily, she didn't have a chance to ask, because by the time they had settled down in the wards, she realized she was late. "I'm sorry, I have to go."

"It's alright," her mother said, looking around her. "I'll be fine."

Hannah nodded, glad to hear the words. "It's much better than the Williams'."

"I just have to get used to being around people again," she whispered, studying the nuns rustling around, tending to strangers. "Well. We'll see what happens."

"If you need any help, you can ask for Sister Vicki. She'll know where to find me, or Rio."

Her mother nodded, and Hannah took that as permission to leave. She ran most of the way to the tailor's, and was breathless as she stepped in the door, much to the amusement of the other women.

Judy was there, just coming down the stairs with a set of books. She paused, looking at Hannah over her eye-glasses. "Everything alright with you, Hannah?"

"Fine," she gasped, waving an arm. "I'll be fine."

For once, she was glad it was winter, since she knew the shop would be quiet today, as it was most days. There would not be much to do other than chores and checking stocks again. She pulled off her shawl, but was surprised when Judy came up to her. "Hannah, I need to ask you – do you know where Ginia is?" she murmured.

"What? No."

"This is the second day she hasn't shown up. Christopher and I are a little worried."

Oh no, it's like Jono's all over again.

"I figured, since you're her friend, maybe you should go and see if she's alright?"

"I'm sure she's just late. She's always late. I mean ... "

"Do you know where she lives?"

She swallowed a little guiltily at that. "Yes. I do."

"Then will you do this as a favor to me? Please?" She took down her shawl, handing it back to her. "Just make sure she's alright."

"Alright," she relented, putting the shawl back around her neck. "I'll ... be back soon."

"Thank you, Hannah."

This is ridiculous, she thought to herself, as she stepped back out into the cold. Why was she always being dragged into Ginia's life? It didn't seem fair. Then again ... maybe she was being the selfish one. What if something had happened to Ginia, something terrible?

She shook her head to herself. No, she was more likely to believe her old friend was just lazy, thanks to winter. It was dull and blustery, and there was nothing to do at work. Of course she didn't want to come in.

She started walking, pushing her hands into the pockets of her dress. The last time she'd done anything like this was back when Raul had been alive. She shuddered to think of it. She didn't like remembering those days.

She cut away from the pleasanter estates, going to the side of Dalen where the Corona and Jono's was, cheap lodgings and ugly buildings like the one Ginia stayed in. She asked the landlord about her friend and was directed up to the second floor, first door, no questions asked at all.

"Why am I even here?" she muttered to herself as she knocked on the peeling green door. She waited, not hearing anything. She knocked again, louder, more insistently. She did not come all this way just to turn back with nothing. "Ginia!" she called, and suddenly the door blew open.

A very tall, older man stood there, disheveled and scowling down at her. "Who are you?"

"I'm ... a friend of Ginia's."

He blinked at her, and she cleared her throat.

"I need to see her."

"A friend? You heard the news?"

She blinked, becoming anxious. "What news?"

"What's going on?" a third voice, the one Hannah wanted to hear, interrupted them. Ginia appeared behind the man, carrying an armful of clothes. She stopped when she saw who it was. "I don't believe it."

"Ginia," she said in relief, before she remembered why she was there. "I came because Judy asked me to."

"Of course."

"I think she was afraid something had happened."

The man – presumably Ginia's father despite the height difference – squinted meanly at her.

"I'm sorry," Hannah added, as he slunk away, losing interest. "But why haven't you been coming in? You're not sick, are you?"

"No."

"Then what did your father mean about ... the news? I thought ... "

"That I was dead, yes, I know."

"You had everyone worried."

"Even you?"

"I know how you are," she answered, mumbling it.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"This. Exactly this. Something happens in your life, and you disappear, you make people worry all about you."

"Well, they don't need to worry about me anymore. I'm not coming back."

"Why?"

"Because I'm getting married."

Hannah knew it was rude, but she felt her jaw drop. "What ...? Married? When?"

"As soon as winter's over." She bunched up the clothes in her arms, sighing as she tossed them in a corner. "There's just so much I have to get done."

"So ... who is he?"

"No one. Why do you care?"

"I was just asking."

Ginia shrugged coldly, crossing her arms over her chest.

"You don't seem very happy about it."

"I'm perfectly happy."

Hannah stared at her, not believing a word of it. "Is this really what you want?"

"Of course it is. What else can I expect? I don't want to end up like Jono's daughter one day, cooking meals in some dingy eating house for men who don't even come for the food."

"That's not very nice."

"Soon I'll be out of this house, and everything will change. I can have my own life."

"Why didn't you tell anyone about this?"

"What for?"

Hannah thought for a moment. "You didn't want them getting all excited."

"It's none of their business anyway."

"Well. You can certainly do whatever you want with your life, Ginia. I just hope you know what you're getting into this time." She turned, sighing heavily as she headed for the stairs.

"Hannah!"

She stopped, looking back. Her old friend hesitated, gripping the door frame as they stared at each other. "Don't tell anyone, will you?"

"So I'll just say nothing?"

"If you would. Please."

"Fine. Not a word. I'll just tell them you don't want to work anymore."

She nodded, satisfied. "Thank you." She shut the door, and that was it. Hannah knew she would never see her old friend again.