Thanks to CadyD for reviewing! :) It always makes my day great. Anyway, here is chapter four. Hope you guys like it!
Katie's eyes fluttered open as she woke up in her new room. The sun was just peaking over the rooftops of London, and spilling into the room. She got out of bed and realized that for the first time in years, she got a full nights sleep. It felt great.
Katie quickly changed into her dress and applied her makeup, when she heard a light knock on the door.
"Come in," she called out to the visitor. Mrs. Lovett entered the room with a cup of tea in her hand.
"Good mornin' love," she said, handing her the old chipped teacup. "I brought you a nice, steamin' cup of tea"
"Thanks, Mum," Katie replied taking the cup from her grasp. She quietly sipped the warm liquid.
"So, darlin', I've been thinking."
"Yes, Mum?"
"If you're going to live with us, you should take part in the family business. 'elp out your old mum. Me poor bones aren't what they used to be dear. I could really use a 'and."
A smile began to grow on Katie's face. "I'd love that, Mum. When do I begin?"
"Today if you'd like. We don't get a lot of business nowadays, so you won't 'ave to do much," Nellie replied with a gleam in her eye. She finally had a healthy, young girl to help out. She was really thankful too, she's been doing everything around there for the past years. Albert was no help when he was alive. He'd just sit around all day eating her pies. "Come 'ere love," she told Katie, pulling up a chair in front of her. "Sit, I'll brush your 'air."
Katie sat in front of Mrs. Lovett and handed her her brush. Nellie took a handful of the pitch black hair and gave it a tug with the brush. Multiple jerks and hisses of pain later, there was not one knot left on her head. Katie carefully ran her fingers through her hair gently, afraid that if she handled it too roughly, it would shatter. It felt soft, like silk.
"It's beautiful, thank you." Katie told her Mum in awe.
"Don't mention it, dearie." She replied with a wave of her hand. Nellie set the brush down on the vanity next to the door, and walked out of the room, Katie following close behind. They both walked into the pie shop and found Sweeney sitting in one of the booths. He looked up as the two entered.
"Mornin'," He said softly.
"Good mornin' Dad," Katie replied sititng down in front of him with her cup of tea. Mrs. Lovett walked towards the oven, took out some freshly baked scones, and set them on a plate. She sat next to Katie and set the plate down on the table.
"Now, shop opens in an 'our," she said. Nellie turned to Sweeney. "Katie's going to be 'elpin' me aroun' shop." He nodded in approval and took one of the scones. He cautiously took a bite. They weren't half bad, compared to the meat pies she tried to serve for dinner the other night. Her cooking was actually half decent when she tried. He muttered a thank you and climbed up the stairs to his shop.
Katie also took a scone and finished it in almost nothing at all. At the orphanage they would just feed them mush. Nobody actually knew what the mush was made out of, but at least it was… What was the word she was looking for. Edible? It was stretching the truth a bit, but it was the only word she could find to fit the description. She sipped the rest of the tea to wash it down, got up, and left the dishes in the sink.
"You're going to 'ave to 'elp me wash those later." Nellie called from the booth. "Start it off now, I'll 'elp you in just a minute."
Katie just stared at the sink full of dishes, confused.
"Um, Mum?" she said turning to her. "I don't know how to wash dishes."
Nellie stared at her in disbelief. This 15 year old girl has not ever washed dishes before?
"You 'aven't worked a day in your life, 'ave you?"
Katie slowly looked down at the floor, sorry that she disappointed her Mum.
"I'm sorr-" she began to say.
"Sorry? What are you sorry for?" Nellie asked smiling and getting up from the booth. "'ere, I'll show ya."
She walked over to where Katie stood and took one of the plates.
"Now, ya see. First ya take a plate, and run it under the water, like so." Nellie began, going through the steps of washing the dishes. Katie watched in amazement. She already loved her new life. It seemed more exciting than her old orphan life. No wonder kids were always so excited to get adopted, they wanted to be happy again. "And that's 'ow ya wash the dishes," Nellie finished, setting the plate back in the cupboard. "Now, are ya ready to finish the lot?"
Katie's smile widened as she happily nodded yes.
"Alrigh' then."
They set away, Nellie washing the dishes, and Katie drying them with an old rag and setting them back in their place. She was having a grand old time with her new Mum, even if they were doing a chore.
Are there others? she wondered excitedly. I sure hope so.
When they were done, Nellie heaved a sigh and pushed a strand of hair from her face.
"Well," she said as she turned to Katie. "There's about another thirty minutes until we open shop. You can lie down in the parlor and rest if you want." She knew she was, but Katie didn't feel like resting. She wanted to keep working, who knew it could be fun?
Mrs. Lovett was about to walk into the parlor when someone knocked on the door.
"Oh, now who could that be?" She muttered to herself annoyed. She quickly walked across the room to the door. "Shop's closed! Come back in 'alf an 'our!"
"Please-a" a man with a thick Italian accent replied. "Let me in-a."
Nellie immediately recognized the voice. It was Adolfo Pirelli, selling that awful elixir. What could he possibly want? She opened the door and let Pirelli and his boy in.
Katie looked up and saw the two guys come in. One of them was a strange looking man, wearing a light navy blue suit and a black top hat with a purple feather peeking out of it. The younger boy looked normal. Traditional coat and slacks, but his were ragged and dirty. He was wearing a grey bowler hat on top of his long, straw-like hair.
"Hello," she said. Pirelli and the boy looked over to her. A creepy yellow-stained smile appeared on Pirelli's face.
"Hello Signorini," he said. "I don't think we have met before-a"
"Pleasure to meet you," the boy said, standing behind his master.
"Same," Katie replied, smiling at the boy. Pirelli turned to Nellie.
"Now, Signora," he began. "I would like to see-a Mr. Todd-a"
"Sure, 'e's right up stairs," Mrs. Lovett said with a smile. She thought quick about what Mr. T would tell her to do at that moment. Before the two could reach the door she blurted out, "Wait!"
Pirelli turned around. "What-a?"
"Surely, you wont mind if the boy stays down 'ere? I could give 'im a meat pie, on the house." Nellie offered.
"Si, si, si. Whatever you want-a" he replied annoyed.
The boy walked out from behind his master and sat in one of the booths. Pirelli hurriedly walked out the door and up the stairs to Sweeney's tonsorial parlor. Nellie and Katie stared at the boy, making him feel extremely uncomfortable.
"So," Mrs. Lovett began, breaking the silence. "What's your name, love?"
The boy looked up at her with big, glassy eyes.
"My name is Tobias Ragg. Please, call me Toby, though." he told her.
"Toby." Katie said. He looked at her.
She always liked that name. She loved how each letter complimented each other to make a beautiful sound. Toby.
"Why don't we get you a nice, juicy meat pie then," Nellie said getting a plate. "Katie, why don't you get a meat pie from the bake 'ouse for me please."
She nodded and went to the slanted entrance. She opened the door and walked down the dark, stone stairs, careful not to slip. When the heavy, metal door opened with a loud moan, she saw a stack of meat pies lying on an old wooden table. She picked one up and walked back upstairs to Mrs. Lovett.
"Here you go," she said plopping it on the plate in front of Toby.
"Thanks, miss," he said, looking up at her.
"No problem, Toby. My name is Kathryn Carter, but you can just call me Katie."
"And I am Mrs. Lovett," she told him.
Toby nodded in appreciation and took a bite of the pie. It was disgusting, but he was grateful for something to eat. Pirelli rarely ever fed him, and when he did he only gave him enough to rarely get him through the day.
A loud thump came from the floor above them, small thumps following behind. They all looked up simultaneously. An even louder thump crashed. Toby's eyes widened in fear.
"Oh god!" he exclaimed. Katie and Nellie looked at him. "He's got an appointment with his tailor. If he's late, he'll blame me!" He got up from the booth fast but Nellie was faster. She shot up and grabbed his shoulder.
"Wait." She told him. "Katie will go up and tell 'im. You stay right 'ere and relax."
Toby slowly nodded as Katie got up and walked out the door. She ascended the outside staircase, her weight pushing the floorboards down with loud creaks. She turned the doorknob and walked inside the tonsorial parlor, just in time to see Sweeney's razor glide across Pirelli's throat.
Oh my God. What will Katie do? R&R to find out! That's right, I know you're reading this. No need to be shy, I don't bite. Although I do punch and kick. Not the point. lol. PLEASE R&R!