The Wards truly were a fallen family. For all Ben's bluster about the evils of drink and the instance his family go to service every Sunday, they seemed bedevilled. A daughter of the family working in a brothel.. another trapped in a brutal marriage with no love for babe or betrothed, a son gone to the gallows who might have loved.. men. Lottie closed her eyes to stop the flow of thoughts about these poor people.

Breathed deeply as Anne poured out her soul, and just focused on hugging her. The girl was like a tiny fishing cockle trapped in a storm, each new drama was like a wave that swamped her little boat. Lottie had to do something. If Ben were held on remand, the girl would need a stable home life. Lottie stopped her hugging and pulled herself away. Grasping the girl's shoulder's firmly Lottie stared into those puffy, tear soaked eyes.

"Anne, 'ow would you like us.. the Blacke family to adopt ye proper like?" Lottie asked firmly. "You'd live with us full time. You can change yer name to Blacke if you want, formal like. Yer'd 'ave yer own job - keep yer own wages, to spend 'ow yer like, but we'd take care of ye. If things get bad."