" she yet heard in her dreams. Though it’d been little over a week, it seemed like forever ago when she’d been trapped inside the hold of that ship, an eternity since Alex’s arms held her protected—and far too long since he’d kissed her. He said he’d come for her. But when? Oh, that it would be today. Staring at the front door, she willed a full-shouldered, tawny-headed man to cross the threshold Tap, tap. Pulling her gaze away, she picked at a thread on the hem of her sleeve, trying to push the thing back into the fabric with her nail. A futile endeavor, "

― Michelle Griep , The Innkeeper's Daughter (The Bow Street Runners #2)