Was he actually laughing at her for being frightened? Anne now felt humiliated on top of being scared and she visible shrunk. She didn't like this man at all. If it weren't for Alice, she would have fled the place already. But she had to be strong and brave. The girl balled her fists. He was willing to give her a chance and that was what counted.

She nodded at the gentleman. "Thank you, ser. I won't disappoint ye."

Then she listened to the butler's instructions and nodded, but she was about to dislike the gentleman - an Earl, oh dear! - even more, when he mentioned drunkenness. Anne knew all too well the harm that drunks could do. Her grandfather had been a drunk. Her father would never let her work here, if he knew, no matter what they paid her.

But father didn't have to know.

Anne had always been an honest girl who didn't keep secrets from her father. But lately she had been lying a lot. Father had caught her on several lies, and had sought to correct her, but here she was about to mislead him again. She had no choice. She didn't like going near a mean drunk either, but they needed the money. She needed the money.

"I shall be careful and do as ye tell me ser. My address is 4c ---yard." She could hardly believe she had been hired.