In light of the new truth that the Blacke family was to once again expand, Lottie smiled wryly as Pearl cleaned up. In her own case, she'd eaten a trawler's tonnage in sardines before John had come oozing and shrieking into the world.

"Ooh a cottage'd be nice.. out Saltwick way perhaps?" She offered.

Gratefully accepting the offered tea, and listened with intent to the topic of money. It might be in poor taste, a topic seldom discussed, but taste or no, a wife had to manage the money. Husbands just drank it away otherwise. A strange lady offering money was washtub news for certain.

"How much money, dear. If you don't mind me askin'?"