Sleeping on the floor would not have been my first choice, but what other choice did I have? So I curled up against the wall, hoping to gain a little warmth from that, and laid my coat over myself. The Misses Eliott didn't heat the workrooms at night, so it would soon be chilly.

I fell asleep, although it took a while, and awoke to someone nudging me with their toe. "Miss Oliver?" I groaned, opening an eye, then standing up so fast it made me dizzy, clutching my coat to my chest. "Miss Beatrice."

"What are you doing?" It was dark, the moonlight coming through the windows as a backlight, so I couldn't read her expression.

"Sleeping."

She'd turned a bit, and I saw her raise an eyebrow. "I know what you were doing; perhaps I should ask the reason why?"

I teased my lip; I had thought about this happening, and though I'd rehearsed what I'd say when it happened, couldn't remember that now.

Miss Beatrice took my arm, gently, ushering me out of the workroom and into her office, where she flipped on the light. That made me nervous because she called people in there when they were in trouble: when Madge had been hiding clothes for us to do, she was called into the office.

"Please explain what is going on here."

I was nervous: I knew I could be sacked for this. "I—I just didn't have anywhere to spend the night. I wasn't planning to be a bother, I would've been up before everyone came in tomorrow morning, and I'm sorry that I—"

"Why didn't you have anywhere to stay the night?"

I scrunched my toes together; I didn't want everyone to know. "Miss Beatrice…"

"I insist you tell me."

I knew I'd have to if she even wanted to consider letting me stay, but her tone was stern and intimidating, so I was having a hard time expressing myself.

When Miss Beatrice looked at me, her expression softened. "Why don't we go upstairs and have some tea?" Again, she took my arm.

We walked up the two flights of stairs, and when Beatrice opened the door to her sister's flat, I hung back. She opened the door to the living room and motioned me in. "I'll put the kettle on; have a seat."

I sat gingerly on the settee. I'd been fortunate to get this job at the House of Eliott, cleaning up after the seamstresses, and while it paid the same as factory work, I didn't have to spend ten hours a day in a hot stuffy room doing dangerous work. Instead, I ran errands, swept up after the girls, and basted seams. I'd seen little of the Misses Eliott, especially Miss Evangeline, since she was in Paris for the season. Miss Beatrice came into the workroom everyday, sometimes sitting to sew with the girls, but I was a bit afraid of her.

Miss Beatrice came back with a tea tray, poured the tea, and handed me a cup. "Would you like a biscuit?" I did, but I didn't want to take one.

"No, thank you." I waited until she'd poured herself tea to take a sip. I wanted to gulp it because I was chilled, but restrained myself. Miss Beatrice acted like a lady: sitting up straight, crossing her ankles, perched on her seat, and I wanted to as well, although it was clear she was from a higher class than I.

"Now, Miss Oliver, will you please explain?"

I took a deep breath and deliberate sip. "I have to sleep here tonight—just tonight—please, Miss Eliott. By tomorrow, I'll have somewhere else to stay." I hope.

"Why have you nowhere to stay?"

This was the part I didn't want to talk about: one, it was embarrassing, and two, I was afraid I would burst into tears. I said carefully, "my mother hasn't room for me, miss, so I had to leave. But if you let me stay here tonight, I'll find a place for tomorrow."

Miss Beatrice nodded. "All right, you may stay here tonight. But since Evangeline is gone, you may use her room."

Her "may" sounded more like a "shall." "Thank you, Miss Beatrice, but I couldn't." What would people say? A servant staying in one of her employers' rooms?

"I don't see why you couldn't. We have an extra bed—you need somewhere to stay."

I was uncomfortable accepting, but she was insistent. "Thank you, Miss Beatrice."

"I have to get home to Jack, but let's get you settled. Since you were already asleep, I assume you're tired."

I nodded. She didn't know how tired. At home, I'd been taking care of my six younger siblings before and after work.

Others would probably have called the room simple, but I thought it looked nice: a mattress with bed frame, night table, dressing table and chair, large wardrobe, and small dormer window lined with plants. There was a beautiful white bedspread on the bed.

Miss Beatrice looked over me, and I felt as though her glance was belittling. "Do you have anything for sleeping?"

"No, miss—I just have my other dress, and I left that in the workroom."

She opened the wardrobe and took down a folded nightgown. "You can use this."

"Oh, Miss Beatrice, I don't think I'd better."

She put it on the bed. "Please do. I'd feel better if you did. Good night." She smiled as she closed the door, and I was left in the room by myself. I looked at the nightgown, then unfolded it—I should've known that even the Eliott's nightgowns would be different—and then took off my dress and put it on. It felt odd, but I might as well use it—I'd offer to wash it tomorrow.

I must have slept soundly, because I woke the next morning to Miss Beatrice's hand on my shoulder. "Miss Oliver, it's 7:30am. If you'd like to join me for breakfast, I'll be eating it in a few minutes."

I sat up in protest. "I'll just go out and get something."

"I don't mind if you join me—it's just tea and toast. Please?"

I nodded my concurrence and dressed quickly, not wanting to be late, then joined Miss Beatrice in the living room. "I'm sorry I slept so late—that you had to wake me."

She smiled, and I was getting used to it. At least when she smiled, I knew it was genuine. "I used to wake Evangeline every morning, so I don't mind.

I wanted to ask if she missed her sister. I missed mine. Molly, closest in age to me, worked at a country house as a scullery maid, so I only saw her on her day off—now, of course, the only time I'd see my family would be when I stopped by occasionally.

It didn't take long to eat, and we were downstairs by 8:00am, when the girls arrived. I went down as soon as I finished eating, taking care to straighten Miss Evangeline's room, so arrived before Miss Beatrice, and the others never knew.

I hurried to straighten the workroom toward the end of the day, hoping to get out quickly. I still didn't know where I was going, but the quicker I could leave, the quicker I could find somewhere to stay.

"Miss Oliver, may I speak to you?" When Miss Beatrice asked me that, the other girls all looked up. I leaned the broom against the wall quietly, avoiding their looks.

"Yes, miss?" I closed the door behind me.

"Do you have somewhere to stay tonight?"

"No, miss. I haven't had a chance to look yet." I looked down.

"Stay at Evangeline's, then. I was thinking of doing so myself. My husband Jack is gone for a few days, and it would be nice to have someone else around."

She does miss her sister. "Thank you, Miss Beatrice. But after we're done here, I'd like to go into town for a while, please."

"Certainly. Can you join me for supper?"

"Oh, miss, I couldn't."

"If you stay for any length of time, we'll talk about room and board. I usually eat around seven."

"I'll cook, if you want."

"I'm fine tonight. But perhaps tomorrow?" She raised an eyebrow, and I nodded.