Will and Testament // Sequel to the Rosie Grey series

Chapter Sixteen

It took me a few seconds to remember where I was when I woke up the next morning.

I awoke to sunlight streaming in through the thin curtains, filling the room with bright light and warmth. Outside, I could hear conversations unfolding on the streets below and the occasional bird tweeting away to its friends. Frances stretched out and I had to roll over a little to avoid being kicked by her - that happened far too often during the night but at least her feet were nowhere near my face.

Evelyn stirred but didn't wake up, her slight movement causing the bed to creak and groan under the weight of three people. I stretched my arms out behind me, trying to move as quietly as I could so I didn't wake anyone else up. Stifling a yawn, I pushed the blankets off my body and tried to move off the bed as quietly as I could. My side was the one placed up against the wall, but if I swivelled around, I could easily slip off the bottom of the bed without having to climb over anyone.

Once on solid ground, I stretched again to unfold my limbs which had been crushed into the corner by Frances spending most of the night spread-eagle. The bruise on my back ached a little when I stretched but I had managed to avoid being kicked.

"What time is it?" Evelyn mumbled, stretching herself out and almost elbowing Frances in the face.

"Early. You can go back to sleep," I said.

"Mother will have us up for church soon." She stifled a yawn. "Come on Francis."

"Don't want to," Frances grumbled. She pulled the blanket tighter around her body.

"Wake up!"

I watched Evelyn grab a pillow from behind her head and hit Frances with it as hard as she could. Frances squealed and rolled away but Evelyn kept hitting her until she eventually emerged from the blanket with a frown on her face. Her hair stuck up in all manner of different directions and it looked like it would be a nightmare to brush, but she didn't say anything. Instead, she scrambled off the bed and then left the room without saying another word.

"She's going to get into her own bed now, mark my words. Every Sunday she's a nightmare to get up in time," Evelyn said, climbing off the bed.

"I was the same. Mother had to drag me out of bed once because I refused to get up."

"We threw water on Frances to get her up and then Nancy and I were the ones who got into trouble for it." Evelyn laughed.

"Girls? Are you up?" Mrs Davison asked through the closed door.

"Yes, Mother."

"Good. Get yourselves dressed, we have to leave soon."

Evelyn crossed to the dresser and pulled out a dress for church before leaving me alone in the bedroom. I pulled out the dress and shoes I had packed before along with my toothbrush and toothpaste. Father always said I had to look after my teeth, but I didn't think a toothbrush made of boar hair really helped, although I tried not to think about it.

Once Evelyn had dressed, we swapped places with me heading into the small washroom to wash my face, change and brush my teeth. When I returned to Evelyn's room, I stuffed my things into my suitcase and grabbed my hairbrush, running it through my hair to try and tame it a little. As usual, it didn't work. I tied the ribbon into my hair in hopes of disguising the mess before latching my suitcase closed.

The two of us rushed downstairs and grabbed our hats from the hat stand. Frances and Martha ran around the hallway chasing each other with Mrs Davidson trying to round them up and make sure they were ready for church. Nancy appeared at the top of the stairs and shook her head at the actions of her younger siblings, although I noticed a slight smile on her lips.