"Signora,"Pirelli greeted in venomous tone with a slight scowl. Hiding a smart remark at his hostile tone, Nellie's eyes quickly land on the small worker girl at his side, bruised and beaten, yet a straight, innocent face. She felt her heart twist with pity and sadness for the girl.
"Blighters right upstairs. Oh," she full faced the girl now, her voice dripping with pretend fake pity, though it was real. "You woudn' mind if I gave the poor lass a meat pie, would you?" however the Italian appeared to have forgotten what she had already said, gaze already set on the parlor above. "Si, si, si, whateva you want." he waved her off as he walked by.
The baker didn't seem to mind his rudeness however, when she saw the girl crack a grateful smile. She smile cheerfully back and led the girl into the kitchen.
James just barely caught her fiery red curls disappear around the corner as he staggered down the stairs. "Outta my-a way." the fancy pants man growled as he pushed him aside. He paid him no mind and hurried into the kitchen.
"Close the door, please," Nellie ordered gently as she swiftly strode over behind the counter. She did so as told and quickly took a seat in one of the booths, taking off her hat, her mattered raven hair sticking out in every direction and the baker giggled.
"Now, Lets ge' ya a nice, juicy meat pie." she muttered as she grabbed a plate, blow off the old dust, and plopped a meat pie from a pile that had been laying on the counter onto the platter. She slid it in front of her. "Dig in." insisted the baker with a slight smirk. She didn't know if she should be surprised or not when the girl did just that.
"I 'aven't seen a one with quite the appetite," she nodded to a nearby picture of her late husband. "not since me dear ol' Albert."
The girl however didn't seem to be paying attention, too immersed in her meal. No matter how disgusting and foul tasting it was, it the first thing shes eaten in a week.
"God, wot I wouldn' give to 'ave 'air like you, love," Nellie mused as she noticed how the girl's dark locks framed her face beautifully. She chuckled slightly. "I don't see why, its always such a bother. Always messy, always in the way." she trailed off, taking another bite and fighting as she felt bile rise up in her throat.
Nellie just grinned and shook her head slightly. "Wots yer name anyway, love?" she asked sweetly. At that moment, James came in through door, the bell twinkling. The girl whipped around, only to sigh in relief as she saw it was not her master. "Wot are ta doin' down 'ere, James?" asked. The baker was sure he'd want to 'keep an eye on that barber.'
He regained his composure and smiled cheerfully at the women. "Oh, just came to see 'ow you were, dear," he strode over to stand behind her, now both staring at the girl, the room soon turned awkward as a silence then came to fill the room.
Suddenly, a loud bang and crash erupted upstairs. Thinking fast, Nellie asked quickly, "So, um, wot did ya say yer name was, lass?" loud enough she hoped it covered the noises above.
She stared at the baker for a moment, then smiled slightly. "Oh, its Kagome, ma'am I know its a strange name for a young girl, but that's the name on the paper the workhouse found on me!" she smiled sweetly with a giggle.
"Oh, you poor thing!" Nellie came around to sit in the booth with the Kagome and hugged her tightly. "Yes, its very sad. No' to mention that 'orrible master o' yours." James added with a frown as he sat on the other side of the girl. She shrugged.
"Its alright, I guess. Doesn't treat any different than the workhouse did," Kagome said casually, taking another bite of pie. " You get used to it after eight years-", "You're only EIGHT?" the baker cried as she looked dumbfounded. She looked confused, "Eight and a half", she grinned proudly. "Ms...?, "Mrs. Stewart, love," she muttered. Another Thud was heard above and Nellie quickly ran to the door.
"Where are you goin'?" the apothecary stood up, alerted at his wife's obvious worry on her face. She flung the door open, "Oh, jus' checkin' in on Mr. T, no' a thing to worry bou', loves," and she slipped out.
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