"Could be, but do ye want to go out there an ask?" Lottie said, affecting as posh an accent as she could manage "Excuse me Lord and Lady Carrington, have ye seen our son? We think he's being stupid and courting yer daughter Pearl. Is he in there?"

"I dinna say I was gonna go there," Bill said defensively.

Lottie sampled her food, something missing, oh a pinch of mustard. Lottie sampled again. Better.

"You don't think he's done something daft like run off to Gretna Green or Peak Forest? Surely Not." Lottie asked Bill. She was surprised that that option had only occurred to her now.

"There. We're ready." She busied herself with the plates. "Girls!" She shouted "Come downstairs fer Tea!"

Bill shook his head. "E's only a lad, and 'e's got no job to support 'er. Even Joe wouldn't be that irresponsible." Whatever else he and the Carrington lass were doing. If he got her in trouble, Bill would kill him.

The girls came downstairs.

"It smells delicious, Mrs. Blacke," Anne said.

Lottie nodded in agreement as she ladled out the food.

"Thank you, Anne dear." she answered to the compliment as the girls appeared.

"John might, but Joe's too young." she said

Bill nodded, but said nothing. He did not want to discuss the matter in front of the girls. He looked briefly at Anne, wondering to himself what the lass could have done that had made her father kick her out. She came across as well mannered and obedient. But what did he know. He put the matter out of his mind, and began to eat quietly.

Anne thanked Mrs. Backe and began to eat. Kate had her eyes down on her meal as she ate. She felt a little nervous with the silence, but didn't know what to say and didn't want to be disruptive, and so she ate quietly.

Lottie enjoyed having the family around the table, even with everything going on.

"So, Kate, how was school?"

"Oh, it was good, ma," said Kate with a smile. "I had the little ones today. I like those most." Mostly because they actually listened to her rather than turn the classroom into a human zoo the moment the head mistress left. "I think they're gettin' real good in reading. Only I had to send Sam Johnson to the head mistress for playin' truant all mornin' again. That boy is so stubborn."

"Boys can be so stubborn sometimes." Lottie said without thinking of the wider context.