Lottie heard the knock at the door and sighed deeply. It was probably that old witch up the street coming to complain about the noise at this hour. Holding her hand up to pause her children, the Blacke matricarch shuffled to the front door and opened it.

"Oh Look, it's Whitby's father of ta year. What do ye want?" It was Ben Bloody Ward, with his unruly beard, sallow skin, and harsher hand. Just the person she wanted to see at that moment.