Lottie did the first thing that came to her mind and drew Anne into a hug.  

The poor thing was carrying the mental weight of the Ward family, and much of the physical weight too all by herself. Lottie knew all too well of the hardships in the Cragg, this was all uncomfortably familiar to her. Lottie herself didn't know where to start to explain it, Anne wasn't a child, but she was not yet a woman.  It wasn't Anne's fault that she had been born to a fisher family in the Cragg rather than a family of means and title in a house outside of town.  It wasn't Anne's fault her mother had died, it wasn't Anne's fault that men had all the power and the emotional awareness of a mince pie.  Yet that was her apparent cross to bear as the Reverend was fond of preaching.

"It's okay dear, just cry if ye need to.  I'm here, yer safe." she said softly.