Kate burst in after an eventful day. The races had been exciting to watch, and after that, she and her friend Ellie had gone to get icecream and listened to the band playing. But then they had heard gossip that Anne's father had been arrested over some brawl by the docks, and the girls had gone to the Ward home to check on their friend and comfort her if necessary. Only nobody had been home.

They had walked around town, looking for Anne or her relatives, while conjuring up possible futures for their friend should Ben Ward go to prison. The workhouse sounded dreadful, as, Kate had stated before thinking, did domestic service. But surely her mother would take Anne in. In fact...

Kate had left Ellie, promising to report back to her as soon as she could if Anne was indeed at her place, and rushed home.

"Anne?" Kate stopped in the doorway to the kitchen, watching the two women on the floor. "Mum? What happened?"