In that moment, Lottie was numb, filled with a disgust that seemed to clog her every pore. Men. Ugh. The dominate species were feckless, utterly incapable. As Bill slicked past them both and away, Lottie pondered how much the world would be a better place if it were burnt down, rebuilt, and run by woman. But the sisters of Eve were not in charge, in fact the system was entirely designed to put them on the back foot. Leadership by the biggest knob. There was precious little Lottie could do about it. So, why fight it?

"Wait there." She was still in charge of this house, though and if he wanted to challenge that, she would slap him into the twentieth-century. And because it was Ben, she would enjoy doing so.

She slowly made her way upstairs to where she knew her daughters to be. When did she start thinking of Anne as her own? Anne wasn't hers damn it but every parting from her felt like a stabbing for Lottie. One day Anne would be in Lottie's family for good and that would be that.

"Anne, I am so sorry dear, but yer father is here to collect ye an' go home. Ye know how I feel about it dear."