Maureen had hoped, had dared to ask if she might leave work a few minutes early—early enough to apply elsewhere, though she dared not give her reason. But she was kept five minutes past quitting time, for the very presumption of asking, and treated as though her petition was nearly cause for dismissal.

Opening boxes in the stockroom and running sales tickets up and down the stairs was thankless and humiliating work after having clerked on the sales floor. But that is what they’re countin’ on—that I’ll be so demeaned I’ll quit. And that’s where they’re wrong. I’ve been ground in the dirt far worse than the management of Darcy’s knows how to do. I’ll not quit until I’ve found another position!

It was a fine boast, but Maureen knew it grew more feeble by the day. She could not pay the rent beyond the next week, not even if she limited herself to one meal per day. How can I do such work on bread and tea?

At least Katie Rose is safe—oh, I hope she’s safe with Olivia. If only I knew! Maureen pulled her cloak—the cloak she’d found thrown into a corner of the stockroom the second morning of her demotion—tighter around her.

At least I can go to Mrs. Melkford’s on Saturday. Maureen smiled into the upturned collar of her cloak at the thought. A haven—a haven with food!

The thought warmed her heart for more than twenty blocks, no matter that her toes numbed. She turned the corner at last, rubbing her fists together against the cold. The lights of the marquee above the nickelodeon halfway down the block flashed. In the blinking lights she saw a familiar form—two familiar forms. It can’t be. How dare he?

Grim-faced and furious, Maureen marched to the nickelodeon door, but the ticket seller blocked her path. “That’ll be a nickel, miss, and best be quick. Show’s about to start.”

“I don’t want to see the show. I want my sister. She’s in—”

“Nobody gets in without paying, miss.”

“But I’m not stayin’! Do you not hear me?”

He didn’t seem to.

Maureen rooted through the pockets of her cloak, but they were empty and holed. “Please, I haven’t got a nickel. I just want my—”

“Close the doors, Joe! Curtain’s going up,” a deep voice ordered from inside the theater.

The ticket taker shrugged. “I gotta close the door, lady. Ya payin’ or not?”

“I don’t have a nickel.” Maureen could not keep the quiver from her lip.

“Don’t take it so hard, miss. There’ll be another show next week.” And he closed the door.

Katie Rose could not believe her predicament or her exquisite good fortune. Caught by Joshua in the act of goin’ into the nickelodeon with a stranger! Escorted by two handsome gentlemen at once—Joshua Keeton himself beside me!

The piano played, and Katie Rose’s imagination raced faster than the pictures that flashed across the screen. Wait until I tell Emma! It’s all right now that Joshua’s here. He’s no stranger—an old family friend, really. Perhaps he sees me as more than a friend, more than a girl, after all. Perhaps now that he sees James takin’ an interest, he will too.

But what will I do when the show’s over? I must get back to Olivia’s before I’m missed. What if one or both of them ask me to stop for a bite of supper or a cup of tea? It will be dark as dark when we walk out. . . . I’ll ask Joshua to walk me home—he knows Olivia. It will be all right. But what about James?

Katie Rose smiled in the darkened theater, sighed contentedly, and leaned closer to Joshua. Such delicious quandaries!

An hour later the doors opened and a chattering Katie Rose, flanked by two handsome Irishmen in a cheerful crowd of theatergoers, waltzed onto the sidewalk.

“Did you hear the mournful melody when the soldier lay dyin’—and when his sweetheart found him? If only I could play a piano like that, I—”

But Katie Rose never finished. Blood drained from her face the moment her eyes caught her sister’s. She watched in horror as Maureen, eyes blazing, stormed across the street and pushed through the crowd. Katie Rose slipped her arms from Joshua’s and James’s, wishing she could melt into the pavement for what was surely coming.

But Joshua stepped before her.

“Get out of my way, Joshua Keeton!” Maureen growled. “What do you mean takin’ my thirteen-year-old sister about like a trollop?”

“Fourteen! I’m fourteen, though you never took notice of my birthday!” Katie Rose, her heat returning, shouted back.

“Ladies.” Joshua spoke quietly as heads began to turn in their direction. “Perhaps we could talk about this over—”

“There’ll be no talkin’. Katie Rose, you’re comin’ with me!” Maureen yanked Katie Rose’s arm, but Katie Rose, to her own surprise, yanked back.

“You’ll take your dirty hands off me, Maureen O’Reilly. You’ve no right and no say about me—not anymore.”

Katie Rose jumped back as Maureen lifted her hand to slap, but Joshua caught it in midair.

“Maureen, Katie Rose is all right. No harm has come to her. You must calm yourself.”

Katie Rose marveled that any man could stop her sister’s tirades cold. And then she remembered James. What must he think of my hellish sister? Now that he knows how young I am, he won’t want anythin’ to do with me. But when she turned to speak, to explain, he’d gone. “There, Maureen. We had a guest and you’ve scared him off—you with your vile temper.”

“Him?” Maureen was visibly shaking.

“A friend.” Katie Rose lifted her nose. “A very nice friend and gentleman. But you’ve scared him off.”

Maureen looked in horror at Joshua. “To think I nearly trusted you!”

“Joshua, I’m sorry Maureen has taken on so. But as it’s late and I need to return to Morningside, would you please walk me home?”

“Home?” Maureen said feebly.

But Katie Rose ignored her. “Please?”

Joshua looked anything but comfortable, but he offered Katie Rose his arm.

Katie Rose nearly stumbled when Maureen jerked her quickly away.

“Don’t you know he’s usin’ you? Don’t you see he’s no different than Mr. Crudgers?” Maureen pleaded.

Katie Rose pushed her sister’s arm away and hissed, “That’s a filthy thing to say, and ’tisn’t true! What I see is that you’re jealous. Just because a good man won’t look your way, you can’t imagine one would care for me. Well, I’m not you!”

Maureen stepped back, visibly stunned. Katie Rose knew she’d as good as slapped her sister. But she wouldn’t take it back. She didn’t want to take it back. Even now she saw the concern written on Joshua’s face for Maureen. That was the last thing she wanted. “Come, Joshua. I must get back to Olivia’s.” And she pulled him away.