"Only a few. I don't have a true family, lass, only a good man who took me in and a few friends from London." He had not shared that with her before, had he? He didn't remember. "Perhaps the few friends I have here." Like Uriel Meijer, who had been glad for him that he was to be married. He counted on his fingers and said, "No more'n eight people, I reckon. Ten at the most." He dug into his food too and was glad for it.

A little frown appeared on her face. Of course, she knew that Andrew was an orphan, but she had not realized how few connections he truly had. Rose would bring ten times as many guests with ease - her family, her extended family from Whitby, her mother's relations from Robin Hoods Bay, the people from her yard, old friends and classmates. And that was just counting the people she had invited, not all the people who would show actually up, which was always a greater number. "Well..." she said somewhat awkwardly. "We'll give them pride of place."

"I am sure of it," he said, nonplussed by her reaction or words. He was as cool as a cucumber. Then Andrew smiled and continued to eat, enjoying the fish and chips immensely. "It will be a lovely day and a lovely wedding no matter what." He firmly believed this, for she seemed like she had everything in control.

She ate happily and when she was finished she beamed at him. "Shall we go?" she said. She was eager to hurry, for she would have to return to Mr. Meijer's house later, and wanted to make the most of the time she had left.

"Aye," he said once they both finished eating. He escorted her to the buggy and then they were off to the cheerful yellow house that was just recently vacated. It wasn't a long drive; he had her in front of the house in little time indeed. He pulled the reins and the horse with no name slowed to a halt, snorting and pawing at the ground. He helped her off the buggy and then looped his arm through hers, gesturing with his other hand at the small, one-story structure.

Rose looked at the house. "This?" she asked, excited. It wasn't big, but she was used to sharing a tiny two room cottage with a large family. This was significantly better.

"Aye. It has three bedrooms, a bathing chamber, a large kitchen... And the tenant that rented from the former owner left without warnin', and the owner didn't want to be bothered anymore because of it. I bought it at a fair price just three days ago." He smiled. He pulled the key out and moved to open the door, gesturing for her to enter if she so wished. While it had been vacated hastily, it was clean from top to bottom and lacked furniture. On the mantle of the parlor's fireplace was a relic that was left behind by Karen, a really lovely hand made clock. He took her through the house room by room, keeping respectful because there were no curtains on the windows and the neighbors could peer in and say what they would. He'd had an earful from the neighbor already talking about the disgrace that one, Missus Calloway had been.

Rose was overwhelmed. "We have a bathi-?" But she was already distracted by the next, even greater surprise. "You bought it?! You own it?!" She laughed and followed him in, too dazed to speak any more. Her family rented the tiny tenement flat that was to pass as cottage. In fact, they only paid a few pound a year for it. The greatest expense her family had ever made was buying a coble. She could hardly comprehend the notion of owning a house. And one with multiple bedrooms, and a separate room for bathing. Did that mean they had indoor plumbing?!

While Andrew was trying to keep an appropriate distance, Rose walked over to hang off his arm. "Oh, Andrew. It it more than I could have dreamed of. I can barely believe it. This is a home indeed."

"Aye. I bought it. I couldn't have us living above the bakery, it's a small place and my apprentice will soon take over and rent it from me. I couldn't imagine raising children in a flat with no bedrooms." He chuckled and kissed her forehead when she clung to his arm. "I saved money for years for this. The baker who took me in saw to it that I was ne'er hungry again, and he taught me how to save a nest egg. As I said, we won't be rich by any means, but we will live comfortably I think."

Rose smiled up at him. "I shall feel quite rich, I think. I've never had a kitchen that didn't also double.. no triple... as a bedroom and living room." Too bad she'd be no use in the kitchen. But perhaps she could learn to be a better cook. She definitely wanted to be the perfect wife for Andrew now. "I think we shall be quite happy."