The crossing to America was quiet compared to my time in London, and I remembered little of it, thanks to Thaddea. She had that effect on me, the ability to make me forget everything going on around me save for her. Only her.

My love grew those four weeks, swelling inside me until I could hardly stand it, adoring everything about my darling Thad. The way she laughed, wrinkled her nose, hummed me to sleep. Her scent I now knew to be the fragrance of the lilac, as sweet as her ...