Lory called the directions to her dreaded uncle’s Anne’s for the cab. Stepped in with them, figuring she could direct to the Pony afterward.

Regretted stepping into a small space with them immediately, because vomit water.

“… Good race!” she small-talked.

And immediately regretted opening her mouth in the stifling, puke-saturated air.

Rose watched Alice for any indications of her thoughts or feelings or the secrets that she clearly kept. The girl sat by the window, looking out absent-minded. Beside her, Anne was very clearly aware of the discomfort she was causing her fellow travelers. She sat huddled up, as if trying to take up as little space as possible. But she was neither small, nor easy to ignore right now. Her little brother sitting next to her had his nose pinched between his thumb and index finger.

Rose sat opposite of them, next to her cousin. She had thought it better to go to her place, as it would be easier to run a bath for Anne, but she had been too tired to protest when Lory had directed the coach to the Cragg instead.

Her cousin's attempt at small talk annoyed her.

"Ye shouldn't 'ave encouraged Alice to join the race," she replied.

Anne looked up. "Shut up, Rose," she snapped, before turning very red and staring at her sister with open mouth. Rose stared back. Anne had never talked to her like that before.

It was like her entire experience of fishwifing had been crammed into one little awkward compartment, stuffed with her deepest regrets and resentments.

And Rose’s, too, apparently. Her head jerked up when she chastised Lory.

“My friend got you this cab-,” she started in a sanctimonious tone.

She stopped immediately when Anne snapped … then looked at her with more fondness than she’d looked at her entire family in nineteen years.

“Now, now,” she said, suddenly The Adult, “we don’t need to fight.”

The smug smile suggested she already considered this fight won.

Anne was still horrified and embarrassed over what had just come out of her mouth. But some small part of her was satisfied as well. She looked at Lory and that part blossomed. She turned her eyes down.

Then Rose spoke, and she looked back at her sister timidly. Rose had turned as red as she had a few moments ago, but her chin was lifted ever so lightly and her voice was a faux neutral that tried to match Lory's adult tones. "I suppose ye're right. We need to decide what to do with the children if... if me dad doesn't return before tonight."

Anne lifted her upper lip a little in disgust. But she was more concerned about what would happen to Alice than with Rose acting like she was a grown up and Anne a child. She glanced sideways at Alice, but her sister was staring out of the window as if she didn't hear anything that was being discussed inside the carriage. Anne considered taking her hand to show that she was there for her, but she had a feeling Alice would pull away from her and she didn't think she could bear that.

"Bram, you can stay with us. Ye can 'elp Andrew in t' bakery." Rose continued. "Will can stay with Maggie's, as 'e'll need to go fishin' anyway. Anne, we'll ask aunt Mary if ye can stay with 'er."

Anne looked up at Rose as if her sister had just revealed the intention to brutally murder her.

"No." She looked at Lory for support.