Rose had really done her best today. Her meatpies were only slightly too brown and hard on the top. The vegetables were cooked only slightly too soft. The potatoes were cooked perfect, and the gravy... okay, the gravy was tasteless and too thin, and she had forgotten to add salt to the potatoes, so they would find out about that oversight pretty soon, but for now Rose was very proud of her work and she hoped Andrew would be too.

He had seemed grumpy again this morning. Over the past few days, she had felt the tension grow. Or maybe it had begun to grow before that. Perhaps it was because for the past few nights, she hadn't given him what he wanted, stating that she wasn't feeling so well. And it wasn't the first time. Before he'd start thinking she was neglecting her wifely duties, Rose intended to make amends.

The house was scrubbed. The food was ready on the table. Rose had even found time to redo her hair. She waited at the door.