I fell asleep almost immediately that night, my last thought was of Jack's grinning face, and the feeling of his lips on mine...

I woke up early, feeling refreshed. I decided to take an early stroll along the Promenade, as the clock on the mantelpiece told me that there was plenty of time before my chores would begin. I dressed quickly, shrugging on my coat to protect myself from the morning chill. After checking quickly on Freddie, who was still fast asleep, and on Ann, who was also snoring contently, I left the room, closing the door softly as I went.

As I stepped into the corridor, an unusual noise met my ears; I could hear voices that appeared to be coming from Cal and Mr Lovejoy's room. As I drew closer, making sure to be quiet, I could tell that the voices were raised, and sounded angry. There seemed to be some sort of argument going on. I was just about to hurry on, deciding it wasn't my place to listen in, when I heard my name mentioned, and I stopped dead in my tracks. I moved cautiously towards the door, where the voices were even clearer.

"...you can't, it's too dangerous" That was Mr Lovejoy, and there was nothing humorous in his tone this time.

"Don't you think I know the seriousness of the situation?" Cal's voice sounded out.

"Then why-"

"Because I can't! I won't marry her when my heart is elsewhere!" Cal's voice made my heart strain, he sounded so desperate. Mr Lovejoy didn't seem to share my sympathy.

"Elsewhere? And where might that be then, Cal? Eh? With that pathetic excuse for a servant girl?" There was the sound of breaking glass, and I realised with a jolt that Mr Lovejoy was talking about me. For a moment, I burned with humiliation and anger, a pathetic excuse for a servant girl? But then the matter at hand came crashing down, and I realised what was being said.

Mr Lovejoy was speaking again, "Lady Horsaw is a perfect match for you! She would ensure yours and your business' survival. Now why can't you-" There was more sound of breaking glass.

"Haven't you ever been in love, Lovejoy?" This cut me deep. I swallowed what appeared to be a rather large lump in my throat. Cal didn't want to marry Lady Horsaw because he was in love with someone else. And that someone else, was me.

I distinctly heard Mr Lovejoy snort, "In love? With her? Get real, Cal, she's much too young for you. And too poor, for want of better things." He sighed "I knew I should never have brought her to work with us" At this point, I recognised the sound of someone making towards the door, and I knew I would have to work swiftly to avoid being caught eavesdropping. I leapt from the door and behind a large flower pot, that I had never really noticed before, but was now glad for the ideal hiding spot. I covered myself just in time, for, at that moment, I saw Cal sweep out of the door, and down the corridor.

He looked extremely angry, for one thing, but, was I mistaken, or did he also look a little upset? I felt enormously uncomfortable at that thought. Luckily, he walked on by, giving my flower pot disguise as much notice as I had given it for the most of the trip.

Without another moment's hesitation, I crawled out, and headed straight back to my room, all ideas of a morning stroll abandoned.

I mulled everything over for at least an hour, sitting on my bed, and came to no conclusion, though after I did wonder what it was I was trying to conclude about. I was so wrapped up in my own thoughts, I did not notice Ann stir from her bed. I only looked up when she said

"Penny for them"

"I-what?" I said

"Your thoughts. Penny for your thoughts. You're obviously thinking a lot, it looks like you've got the weight of the world on your shoulders!"

Perhaps not the weight of the world, Ann, I thought, but certainly the weight of a rich man named Cal Hockley. I sighed, I wished I could confide in her, then at least I could share my woes, but I was sad to say, that I didn't feel I could trust Ann with this information. I was also, not worried, but hoping that I had got the complete wrong end of the stick of the argument, but this seemed unlikely.

All too soon, I had gotten Freddie up and dressed, and it was time to report to Mr Lovejoy and Cal. I wasn't sure I would be able to face them, I was sure I would give something away that I had heard their conversation earlier.

As I entered the room with Ann, it felt like you could cut the atmosphere with a knife. It was extremely frosty, and though, both Cal and Mr Lovejoy were in the room, they were not looking at each other; both appeared to be purposefully looking at the walls. Gone was Mr Lovejoy's constant stream of hilarity, that, at the time I had found annoying, but now longed for. There was a silence in the room that made the hairs on the back of my neck creep up. The silence was only broken when Ann said, "Good morning, Sirs" and I was reminded of why I was actually there in the first place. I hastily said good morning, that was not returned by either of the men in the room. By the look on Cal's face, the morning was about as far away from being good as possible.

I stole a look at Cal's face, and was reasonably happy to see that he had calmed down from earlier; though I was mildly alarmed at how subdued he appeared. Mr Lovejoy turned to me, "You are to take this telegram to the post room" I nodded, taking it from him, another business note, it appeared. "Immediately" he added, his voice no longer laced with jolliness, but stern and commanding. I nodded again, not willing myself to speak. I turned, and quickly exited the room.