Sara rolled her shawl into her bag and hung her bag over her bony shoulder. Her stomach gave an involuntary growl. She hadn't even noticed how hungry she was until now. She felt her mouth watering at the thought of some warm broth with a thick hunk of bread. Wishful thinking, Sara thought. But she had twelvepence so with a light heart she walked she walked into a very dirty bakery. Wistfully, she thought of the bakery near Miss Minchins, which Mrs Brown kept sparkling clean and smelling of fresh bread. But she suppressed the thought - she had to forget about the past and think about the future.
She bought two small buns, using a penny of her money, and walked outside with them. As she munched them gratefully she looked into the distance. She tried to remember what it felt like to 'suppose'. She tried to throw her memory back to when she was a princess. It had only been a matter of days, yet she couldn't remember it. The new tough Sara had squeezed the old pleasant Sara out.
She shook her head hard, shaking out the thoughts out. She couldn't linger on those times - she had to move on. She needed work - fast. That was next on her agenda. She finished her buns and licked her fingers. Gathering up her things, she walked straight on resolutely. But she suddenly stopped in her tracks. She found herself staring at a graveyard.
Images of her Papa came pouring back like a flood. Even though she knew no one dead in London she walked down the aisles - almost in desperation. Then suddenly, she spotted an epitaph that made her feel strong. 'The things that matter cannot be taken away by anyone.' It really made her think. To put something like that on the home of the dead was amazing. It was so true. She sat down by the gravestone and closed her eyes. She thought long and hard about her Papa and her Mama - together at last.
"Papa?" Sara whispered. "Mama? Are you there?" and she almost thought they were. She could see their faces in front of her. "Papa...Mama...please. Tell me what to do."
"Move on." She heard her Mama's sweet voice reply. "Live life to it's fullest. Don't miss us; we'll always be there with you. In you." And with that the faces faded and Sara was alone again. But she didn't feel alone. She felt as though the whole world was there to help her. She walked away from the graveyard with a spring in her step. On a whim she plunged into a large bakery.
When she offered her services she was laughed away by the baker and his wife and was about to leave with a heavy heart when a youngish, well-dressed woman with a large smile stopped her.
"I could not help overhearing your conversation with Mr and Mrs Gardiner and you seemed very well educated." The woman said in a aristocratic but kindly voice.
"Um...thank you Ma'am." Sara stammered politely.
"Well, I was wondering if you would like to come and work for me? My children's nurse has just left to marry (and probably divorce the flighty girl). So I'm in need of a governess for my two daughters. What do you say?"
Sara couldn't say yes faster. She and Mrs Whitling strolled off towards a proper bed, real food and a warm fire.