Nat gave a weak smile meeting the other woman's face.  "I'm Nat.  Well, that's the nickname my folks used when I was small and I used it."  She paused, "my full name is Natalia."  She hadn't said it until she had given her secret up earlier, and it still felt odd saying it.

Alice took the candle from the table. "Thank you. Natalia," she said. Then she turned and made her way upstairs. A door opened and closed, and the house was quiet again.

Nat nodded and watched the light fade up the stairs and out of sight.  She was confused as the words said by the couple had seemed to mean one thing and yet she might have misunderstood it from what Alice had said.  But she would be going to Whitby either way.  She sighed and stretched out on the couch and covered herself up with a blanket and tried to get some sleep.

It was early in the morning, before dawn, when Jenny came down, entered the kitchen and after some minutes of noise, returned to the main room and began to clean the fireplace.

Nat heard the noise at the fireplace and blinked sitting up.  Wiping her eyes to clear the sleep from them, she felt exhausted.  The last evening had been horrible.  She instantly remembered the whole scene and all that was said.  She sighed and got up.

"Good morning, Jenny."  She glanced over and then started folding the blankets that she had used.  She wondered if she would have time to get that letter from Alice before she had to go.  She would have to stall as long as she could to get it.

Jenny looked up. "Ah.. good morning," she said quietly. "Did ye sleep well?" She swept the ashes into a tray and began laying coal for a new fire.

Nat finished folding the blanket and gave a wry expression.  "Not really.  Though the couch and blankets were very nice and soft."  She did not often get actual furniture to sleep on.

Jenny glanced at Nat and bit her lip, but she soon cast her eyes down and finished her work. Just as she rose, a door opened upstairs, and down came Mrs. Appleton in her night gown and woolen shawl.

Jenny frowned and pursed her lips. "Is everythin' alright, ma'm?"

"I'm very thirsty, Jenny. There's no more water in my room. Please, could ye fetch me some?" said the young lady quietly.

"Of course, ma'm." Jenny replied, and she disappeared into the kitchen.

As soon as the door closed behind her, Alice strode over to Nat and pulled her hand from under her shawl, revealing a letter. She handed it to Nat. It was a folded piece of paper with 'Noah Longbottom, Tate Hill, Whitby' as its address. "Please put it away before she comes back," Alice whispered.

Nat nodded taking the letter quickly after looking at the address, so she would know where to take it.  She stuffed the letter quickly into her shirt right up under some of her binding. Then quickly smoothing her clothing again, she glanced around making sure Jenny hadn't come back.  "Should I wait for a reply?"  She asked quietly.

The girl shook her head. "No, just give it to 'im. And thank you. I'm sorry I couldn't 'elp ye."