Lottie smiled weakly. She hadn't failed Kate.

Many hours later, when Kate was already in bed, Bill finally stumbled in, smelling of beer, smoke, and whatever other smells betrayed the pub. He had intended to slip in quietly and sneak into bed beside a sleeping wife without her noticing. Instead, as he tried to close the door, he missed the handle and pushed it shut with a loud bang.

Lottie couldn't sleep soundly, the events of the day repeating in her mind like some awful music hall ditty, so she definitely heard the loud bang from downstairs. Even in the darkness she could tell her husband wasn't home yet, for that side of the bed was flat.

"William?" she called out to the darkness

"Aye... sorry..." Bill called up the stairs. He went into the kitchen hoping to find a pitcher with water ready, for he really should drink some water. There wasn't any. He sank down on the bench in despair.

Lottie lit a small lamp and came downstairs to join her husband in the kitchen. "Bill? Are ye alright?" she could have said a lot worse to him, being the only representative of the male species currently in the house.

"Aye. Aye.... Gow back to bed. 'Ave we any water left?" Bill asked with a deep frown.

"Sorry, no." Lottie replied. "Bill, this have somethin' to do with that letter?"

"What?" he said as he stood up and swayed slightly.

"The one ye got before ye left for the pub.. the first time."

Bill had mercifully forgotten about that for a while. Now it came back to him. He cursed, sank back down and put his drunk head in his hands. "I don't want to...." he muttered.