"Ooh an Earl, how exciting." Lottie replied.

But it was the occupation of Anne's new employer that worried her. I mean you had to be a little odd to try and make a living from selling paintings. Lottie had seen artists painting various things in town. I mean you'd have to be odd if you thought painting was a stable way to feed yerself. Rather it was a memory from long ago, back when young Lottie had worked in the factory up north. A girl Lottie was close to there met an 'artist' and told Lottie that she helped him paint. She left the factory soon after supposedly with child. Lottie shook her head grimly at the mental shadow of the event long passed.

"Anne, promise me yer'll be careful. These 'artist types will try te take advantage. Especially a pretty girl like ye." Lottie suspected Anne wasn't completely naïve, but the older woman still didn't feel comfortable explaining the facts of life to a girl who wasn't her own daughter. Surely the Ward women had done that?

"Now, do we celebrate with tea?"