As Vivian stepped out of the coach and into the cool night air, the door of the house flung open and Judith ran out to greet her.

Vivian was nearly knocked over by her boisterous friend; Judith had recently become a mother, and the baby was a wonderfully pudgy little girl.

At first, Vivian had eyed Judith’s child with disdain, for it had been born out of wedlock – it was unheard of and scandalous for a proper lady like Judith to become a parent this way, but she could not close the door of her house to her best friend when her family turned her away.

Vivian sighed as Judith latched to her. “Good evening.”

“Vivian! Viv! I have a problem!“

Sensing the oncoming barrage of words, Vivian turned around so she could face the hansom and gave a gesture for the rider to continue on his way.

As the horses and carriage clattered their path out of the estate, Vivian faced Judith to listen to her friend’s woes.

“What is it, Judith?”

“Elizabeth is crying, and there’s nothing I can do to stop her!”

“Very well.”