Hetty Pov

I was beginning to hate it at the Foundling Hospital. As each monotonous day rolled on, I still had no idea what my future held. My heart ached for Ida, and though I knew I should be grateful that I had even got the chance to meet my mother, I couldn't help but feel defeated as I mourned with the knowledge of who my mother was.

It was alright for some. Harriet could see her future in America and Elizabeth was going to be a nanny. Even Sheila had her prospects set on being a kitchen maid. My future resolved around my mother and my mother alone and with Matron around, that small glimmer of hope vanished like a candle being blown out.

As I sat in bed, I recalled the events of that day. Events that had left me feeling confused, hurt and bittersweet all at once. I held my hand to my heart. It was beating, fast. I wasn't going to get to sleep anytime soon.

I tried to ease myself, and think happy thoughts. Soon enough a memory flooded back to me. I was still living with Pat, and we were sat on the floor, laying out dominoes. I could hear Jem's voice guiding me.

"Yes Hetty that's it!"

I smiled shyly, feeling proud that I had made him happy. I looked up slowly, my smile being met with a smirk, brown eyes and slicked back blonde hair.

"That's it Hetty," he teased, his smug grin growing wider and wider. That wasn't Jem. That was Vince.

I sat up suddenly. Had I actually been dreaming about Vince? I tried to slow down my breathing, and glanced quickly around the pitch black room. No one had seemed to notice me; they were all fast asleep. I relaxed and gently placed my head back on the pillow, willing myself back to sleep.

Somewhere, deep down I knew why I was dreaming about Vince. It was earlier that day. Harriet hated me for not listening to her about America and she'd even sided with Sheila. I knew it was my fault for being such a bad friend, but I didn't expect her to ignore me for three whole days! I really thought I'd completely blown it with Harriet, and the stupid leaks in the roof didn't exactly help.

I was miserable. Miserable that I had no one. Miserable with the realisation that I was doomed for eternity in the foundling hospital and nothing would change. I had to go and help Cook in the kitchen that day by myself so any chance of trying to make up with Harriet seemed pointless. I didn't see how Cook had trusted me with cooking over Sheila, but I soon found out that she expected me to shift some sacks of flour for the whole day. It seemed as though the whole world was trying to punish me.

Yet, Cook seemed to be on my side and after she gave me a glass of lemonade my mood began to lift.

"Ida let me and Sheila try lemonade once. She even let me use a glass" I reminisced to Cook, "Do you miss her?"

"Ida? Aye, she were a good egg," Cook stated nodding slowly. I could tell she missed having an adult companion and friend.

"I miss her so much" I stated quietly, "I've fallen out with my friends and I don't think I've ever felt so lonely"

"Aw, all alone with no friends"

I looked up from my cup, to see Vince leaning against the doorframe, his lips twitching into a smirk. Great. I didn't need him on my case either.

"Can this day get any worse?" I muttered aloud, getting back to work, feeling deflated.

I lugged another sack of flour but it fell onto the floor, and some flour tipped out. I gazed at it, exhausted and annoyed, restraining my desire to kick the whole thing. After all, Cook did say I would be rewarded and I knew that I really could do with some good news.

As I bent down to sweep the flour back into the bag with my hands, Vince entered holding a sack and a smug look.

"Better get every last bit.." he trailed.

"Out of all the boys they had to send you!" I groaned in frustration. Why couldn't he just keep his mouth shut!

"Oh, be quiet will you!" he sighed bending down to help me, "Why do girls sulk?"

"It's called being unhappy. You wouldn't understand because you don't have any feelings" I bit out avoiding his gaze. Last thing, I needed was for him to start laughing at me.

"But sulking won't solve anything. It won't get your friends back" he stated quietly but with conviction. I continued sweeping up the flour, wistful. That almost sounded... nice.

"Try not being miserable for five minutes" he stated as I sighed again unhappily. Nope, he was just being annoying as usual. I picked up the sack of flour and placed it on a crate, turning as I saw Vince draw something lines in the remaining bits of flour.

"Ever heard of tic tac toe?" he asked, craning his neck up towards me. I shrugged nodding. I suppose one game couldn't hurt! I didn't want to keep being miserable for the whole day.

We played a few games, with Vince always managing to beat me. My competitive nature came out but he was too good for me.

"A draw. That's the closest you're going to get" he shrugged. I nodded in agreement, surprised that he hadn't bragged about winning and had actually tried to teach me how to play well.

"We should probably get back to work" I suggested, "Thanks, I actually feel better"

I wasn't lying. I let myself smile at him and realised that maybe he wasn't so bad after all.

"I thought you might" he said, "You know anything about bargaining tiles with spots on? I think it's some sort of game.."

"You mean dominoes...?" I asked as he raised an eyebrow in curiosity, not knowing what the game was.

I was surprised he didn't know a game that I did.

"Jem had a box when we were younger. We used to play for days on end" I stated nostalgically, "Maybe I could teach you how to play when we get out of here"

The words escaped my lips before I could stop them. What was wrong with me? I'd never liked Vince before, so why was I already making future plans with him. We heard Cook's angry mutterings and instinctively started to clear up the flour. My heart was pounding; if she found out we were playing, she'd never let me back into the kitchen again.

No, that was a lie. I didn't want anyone to know that Vince and I were playing. It felt guilty. Guilty that I had actually liked him enough to waver from my duties to play with him.

As we hurriedly swept away the flour his hand landed on top of mine, and I felt my breath catch as I slowly looked up to find him already staring at me. When he saw me staring his eyes darted away, the hint of a smile still visible on his lips and I felt myself smile coyly too, as we leapt off the floor to greet Cook.

Cook stopped abruptly as she saw Vince and I stand together, lips pressed to hide a grin. We must've been standing a bit too close together as she instantly said to Vince, "You, ten minute rec. Away." she stressed as Vince awkwardly scurried away, risking a glance back to smile at me as I grinned back.

Cook's stern gaze met mine.

"You. More work to be done"

"Fine. I'm done sulking" I replied before I dared to ask, "Do you believe in giving people second chances?"

I was talking about Vince, of course. I'd thought that I might be able to make friends with him, since he'd been able to cheer me up.

Cook seemed to think different, "You'd keep out of his way today if you knew what was good for you. Trust me, Hetty"

My spirits crashed down, the same way they had lifted whilst playing that game. I understood what she meant. Vince was trouble and the last thing I needed was to get into more trouble.

I'd finally finished my delivery and Cook seemed happier than she was earlier.

"A very special delivery is on its way. Go to yard and wait for it. Have a rest until it arrives," she said pushing me out the door eagerly. Something wasn't quite right. Cook had been cryptic all day.

"What kind of special delivery?" I asked her curiously. I didn't know of any guests.

"Eggs" she stated after some hesitation.

"Eggs?" I asked bewildered, before turning wandering towards the yard, still thoughtful.

Vince caught me before I could continue, "Follow me"

"I can't! I've got to..." I whispered.

"We won't be long!" he whispered urgently glancing around, "Come on, I've got a surprise for you"

I decided to follow him, my heart taking over my brain. Why was everyone full of surprises today?

He led me outside.

"Why are we here?" I asked annoyed that I had to speed walk to follow him. He grinned, placing a finger to his lips, before gently nudging me in front of him and placing his hands over my eyes. He was clearly very happy about something and it was contagious. I found myself smiling widely as he led me gently into an old shed, feeling at ease in his presence. It almost felt as though I was back home with Jem, surrounded by the people I love.

He took his hands off my eyes, and I gazed down to find some dominoes on one of the crates. I looked back at him, my heart swelling with gratitude and he returned the smile coyly.

We started playing dominoes and I set out the pieces, explaining to him how to play. He watched me with intent, held onto my every word, until he finally spoke.

"I think I get it now. Thanks, Hetty" he stated honestly. We held onto each other's gazes perhaps for a bit too long, but it wasn't long before we were playing, silently but satisfied. It really was sweet of him to set up the surprise but I still didn't know how he got away with it.

"How did you manage..?"

"I have my ways.." he interrupted quickly before changing the subject, "So I line up the pieces like this yeah?"

Just then, the door was thrown open and Mathias stormed in angrily.

"Hand it over, you snake!" he shouted grabbing Vince violently. I stood up in exasperation, "Mathias, what are you doing?!"

"He's threatening to tell on Nurse Winterson and the constable!" he hissed while Vince resisted him. I got between the two of them taking Vince's side, pushing Mathias away.

"He's blackmailing her with the silver pin!" he glared at Vince disgustfully. I whipped around to face Vince, completely confused, before turning back around.

"Mathias? Nurse Winterson and the constable?"

"I'll tell you later" he promised, "He could lose her job because of him!"

"He's lying, he's always had it in for me!" Vince replied annoyed, not meeting my gaze.

"Prove it. Empty your pockets!"

"I'm not doing what that idiot says!" he exclaimed.

"Mathias, just leave him alone!" I persuaded, feeling for Vince. He had helped me so much today, nothing was going to ruin that.

"He's got it, you have to trust me" Mathias gripped my arm in conviction before heading out. Mathias wouldn't usually lie to me. He was my friend after all.

I turned to face Vince, but he smiled awkwardly and sat down quickly, running a hand through his hair, all the while not meeting my gaze. I knew then he was lying, and everything seemed to add up. How he'd managed to get the domino pieces, how he got off on lessons whilst helping me.

It all led back to me. I wasn't angry with him, I just wanted the truth.

We continued the game in silence, but it was tense. I could see he was guilty but I wanted him to admit it.

I sighed, "You know, if Mathias was telling the truth, I would give you a chance"

He closed his eyes, "I told you he was lying"

"I'll help you put it right and we don't have to speak of it again. But you have to do the right thing" I pestered, hoping he would just open up to me. I could feel his mask slip back on, him tense up.

I held my hand out. He stood up slowly, debating what to do. He turned his pockets inside out, but there was nothing there. He had hidden it. Just like he had hidden his humility and his feelings. Cook had warned me, and I hadn't listened.

I looked at him hurt and betrayed before standing up and leaving, "We could have been friends"

"Oh come on, Hetty!" he exclaimed, his voice breaking. I heard something else break, and gasped. Lifting my foot away, I saw that I had stood on an egg. Curious.

I lifted away the cover of one of the crates to see a whole batch.

"Eggs?"

"Yeah, I took the delivery this morning" Vince explained.

"But.. I was supposed to take that delivery..." I stated uneasily. What was Cook up to?

"Why is Cook making me wait for a delivery that's already here? What's so special about..." I paused the cogs clicking into place, "The good egg. Ida!"

I fled from the shed in despair. Cook had sent me Ida! How could I be so stupid! I ran and ran, not caring if I bumped into someone. The carriage was leaving as I entered the yard. I sprinted to catch up.

"Stop! Please stop!" I cried, trying not to choke up.

"Please stop the carriage!" cried another voice. Ida was in tears and she grabbed my hand desperately.

I went round to sit inside with her.

"My girl! I didn't think you'd make it!" she sobbed clutching me tight. I felt numb with emotion. That had been too close. My mother had come back for me.

"We can't be long. It's not safe!" Ida cupped my face dearly.

"I've missed you so much!" I cried smiling in relief at seeing her.

"Miss Smith found me. She told me you gave up a good job to help some other girls. She wanted to pay back your kindness"

At that moment I felt elated with the knowledge that there were still people who wanted to help me.

"Take me with you, I can leave now" I begged freely.

"You can't. But I'll be waiting for you. And look at me, Hetty. This is important" Ida brushed the tears off my face, "I heard you've been getting in trouble with matron"

I looked at Ida determined, "So what? She sent you away"

Ida shook her head, "You must behave. Matron could punish you by giving you a bad placement or sending you miles away where I won't be able to find you. You promise me?"

I nodded quickly, sobbing at my misfortune.

"I promise. I've messed up, I've made a stupid mistake and lost my friends" I cried.

Ida looked at me intently, "Hetty, you need your friends. You can't do this on your own"

We fell into each other's arms sobbing, Ida comforted me before pulling away.

"It's time" she stated, "I'll find you when you're out. Now, remember your promise"

Miss Smith popped her head in looking stressed.

"Back to the kitchen now. Please Hetty!" she begged.

I nodded before leaving Ida, my throat sore from crying. I watched the carriage depart, in tears. I allowed myself a sad smile. Ida had come to see me. All was not lost.

I returned to the kitchen meeting Miss Smith and Cook with a hug, "Thank you both!"

I pulled away stating, "I won't put a foot wrong again!"

Yet they both looked grim.

"If you waited as I said, we wouldn't be in this trouble!" Cook muttered before leaving.

Miss Smith looked guilty of something, "I'm going to take some time away from here"

Then it hit me. "Matron found out?"

"I'll never be too far away, Hetty"

The guilt hit me hard and fast.

"You can't! This is all my fault"

"It was my risk to take" Miss Smith countered sadly as I dropped my head.

She lifted my chin.

"Keep writing. It's your gift. It must be nurtured"

I managed a sad smile as she left, but Cook's disapproval told me that she wouldn't be doing me any favours any time soon.

I turned around to see Vince in the doorway, wringing his hands.

"See what you've done?" I said angrily, "If I'd been at the yard at the right time, instead of wasting time with you..."

"You know, I never would have actually got Winterson in trouble!" he stated honestly handing me the pin. I shook my head sadly.

"You lost today Vince" I stated quietly as I backed out of the room, meeting his eyes with a steely look. I know he was hurt and he really liked me, but he's messed up, bad.

I needed my real friends. Not Vince.

I walked straight up to Harriet in the dormitory and caught her in a hug. I felt her relax.

"I'm sorry for calling you selfish"

"No I'm sorry. You're my best friend and I should've thought about your feelings; I've missed you"

"I'm going to go to America" she told me earnestly.

"What?"

"You have to be brave to be rewarded. Elizabeth showed me that today. Plus, I'm not staying here to be the last member of the She Mob"

I nodded in agreement. Harriet was taking control of her own future. And she had such a great opportunity, she should take it.

"Tell me about it on the way to the tower" I stated as we shared a smile. I needed her, to help me get through this.

I shook my head, feeling foolish. Even if I did have feelings for Vince, I needed to stay on track, and maybe then I would be rewarded, just like Harriet.