Doe (#Wattys2016)

Chapter Twenty-One

After dinner, Dechuange arrived. At once he questioned where Francis was and Draco was quick to give him an angry answer. As the Lurie's slipped away to entertain their guest, Doe left silently for home.

She found her mother and sister with Harri at the kitchen table. She was glad to see their smiles of welcome. She listened eagerly to how their day had been. Francis had enjoyed a full day's shift at The First Lab. Though she was laughing as she told the day's little anecdotes, Doe could see the confusion in her dark blue eyes. Harrison saw the day as a success. He had been given a glimpse of an alternative life in The Lab, that day. After working all day on Robertson's farm, he had come into the pub for a drink, been served by Francis and walked home with her and her mother. His pride and excitement he could barley contain. Francis somehow didn't see all this, she failed to register his pleasure at being near her or being touched by her, Doe watched the shiver run from Francis' hand up his arm, making his short hair stand on end. If she had been cruel she would have laughed, but it only made her feel sad. Lucia was being reserved with her comments. It was obvious that she was worried that the day had been too successful. Doe guessed that Francis' had had to be up with her mother's disappointment all day.

Doe told them about Lord Lurie, but made it sound simple and professional. She left out the part at having to pay him back.

"I suppose it's fair to visit him for a talk, whatever I decide." Francis said slowly.

"He'll be upset with you." Lucia told her.

"I'm sure he will. His plan for power was already falling through anyway." Harri spoke bitterly, his eyes flashing at Lucia.

Francis bit her lip, making her full lip pale.

"Surely, it's one of the main reasons to leave." Harri urged her, "To stop being a piece in all their games with each other."

Francis nodded silently.

"But what else will you do? There really isn't the work here." Lucia asked her daughter.

"I don't know." Francis sighed.

"You could do anything." Harri smiled brightly, "With your talents, the possibilities are endless."

Francis smiled gratefully at him.

"What about running a shop?"

"With what money?" Snapped Lucia.

"There's plenty of people who would help." Harri glared at her.

"Who?" Lucia glared right back, "Who has the money for that in this place? If they had wouldn't they have helped themselves?"

"If you weren't so prejudiced."

"Don't. Don't start fighting again." Francis warned softly. "I'd find something to do, Mum."

"It would just mean moving away, to another destitute place. Working in a factory or a farm for as many hours as they can get out of you. And that'll be if you're lucky."

Francis didn't reply to her mother, but her face grew dark like Harri's.

"It was a blessing when Lord Lurie came into the pub that day." Lucia continued in the same desperate tone, "You've just grown ungrateful."

Francis gasped, "I was never grateful."

Harri stood up, "Come on, girls. Let's go see what the gang is up to. It's been a long day."

The girls followed him out. After a while it was obvious that the gang was no longer a gang. These days, most of the boys lived outside The Lab closer to their work, in factories or farms. Some had been lucky; a few of the girls had got jobs as maids on Angel's Walk. The unlucky ones like Gregory did anything they could to find a little bit of money for the day. They found him in one of the alleys, being paid to break up some furniture for firewood. He talked about a girl he liked, and hoped to marry, if he could find some work. Harri promised to talk to Bob again, for him.

When they were in bed Doe asked Francis, whether she really did feel like she had been given a break.

"It was strange. It was like living the life that should have been mine. I felt almost like waking up. I liked it." Francis whispered into the dark.

"That sounds like you had a more positive day, than you thought you were going to."

"I did. I was scared that I'd find out how unsuited to The Lab I am now. But actually, I feel like Harri's right. I wouldn't be rich but I would be home." Francis sighed.

"Would you be happy, just working every day?" Doe frowned the ceiling.

"I know it would be hard but I could be happy. I always thought that this is where I'd end up. Lord Lurie would get tired of me and life would resume."

"I never felt like that. You've always seemed so wanted there."

Francis sighed again, "You see me completely differently to the reality."

"I don't think so."

"I'm not special."

"Yes, you are."

"My father is. Not me." Francis hissed, "I wish they would stop trying to make me into something I'm not."

"I'm sorry."

"What for?" Francis said after a short pause.

"I am glad you had a good day." Doe told her sincerely.

"I did but in the quiet moments. When there were no customers and nothing to do, I found myself wondering what was happening up at the house. What I was missing."

"That's understandable."

"Did he ask where I was?" Francis rolled over to face her.

Doe could see Francis' eyes shining in the orange gloom of The Lab. She had tried to sound casual but her whole body had gone rigid.

"I didn't see him until dinner. And no he didn't ask. I think his father had told him." Doe told her evenly.

Francis nodded.

"He seemed surprised." Doe added, "I need to sleep now, night Francis."

"Night Doe," she rolled over.