The last Sunday was going to happen eventually.

The last night.

But Rose wasn't prepared for it when it came.

"What are we going to do?" She asked Harriet in the dorm that morning. "Tonight's our last night."

Harriet sighed. "Well, me and Mathias, we're having a picnic in the tower. Just us."

"Great, just us and Will and Ned and all the boys," Rose said, the word Will sounding difficult to say. She hadn't forgotten that he wasn't leaving, and was bound to the hospital for yet another year.

And because she was caught up in this, she also failed to spot the look of disappointment on her friend's face.

𑁍𑁍𑁍

"I just wish Matron would tell me where I'm going," Rose said over rolling pastries in the kitchen with Sheila and Cook. "If I stay in London, at least I know I'll see my mother again."

"There's nothing you can do about it now," said Cook sensibly. "Just work hard, and hope for the best."

Rose took a second to admire the woman. She hadn't liked Cook much at all for most of her life in the foundling hospital, but this past year, that had changed a lot. The woman wasn't exactly empathetic, but she was... kind in her own way. And that was what Rose liked about her.

As Cook left, Rose said to Sheila. "Maybe staying here isn't so bad."

Sheila had been in a funk all morning, after finding out one of the other girls had a position as a kitchen maid in Kensington, where all the toff families lived.

"Are you missing Elizabeth?" She asked the girl. 

Sheila looked up at her for the first time that morning, then back down.

Rose sighed before saying. "We're having a leaving picnic tonight. You should come."

"But I'm not leaving, am I?" Sheila snapped. "I'm stuck working here for the rest of my life. Why would I want to come to some stupid picnic anyway?"

"Fine, forget I asked!" Rose held her hands up.

For a minute, they just rolled pastries, then Sheila said stiffly. "Fine, if you insist, I'll come."

Rose smiled slightly.

At least she could make her (well, maybe) friend, smile.

𑁍𑁍𑁍

"Well, this is a surprise," Will spoke quietly with a smile as Rose ladelled soup into his bowl.

Rose had been put on lunch serving lunch duty, and was serving the boys just now.

She smiled slightly at him. "A good one, I hope."

Will grinned. "Guess what, Brigwell's enlisted us into his regiment - together! We're all going to be together in the army!"

Rose smiled. "That's amazing, Will-"

"Rose Green! Serve the boy his lunch and get on with it!" Macclesfield's voice came from behind her. Rose rolled her eyes, gave Will a slice of bread to go with his soup, and sent him off with a smile.

"Ah! Colonel Brigwell! Do forgive us, still on India time..."

Rose's head snapped up as she saw a man in a nice suit jacket and a woman in an enchanting dress enter the lunch hall. Brigwell went and shook hands with the man, and kissed the woman's hand.

Rose sighed.

Great. Another toff, another person swept up by them.

𑁍𑁍𑁍

"What's that?" Rose asked as she entered the kitchen and saw Harriet swatting steam away by the oven.

"Present for Mathias," sighed Harriet, showing Rose a small cake in the shape of a heart, with charring all over it.

"It's a bit- burnt, isn't it?"

Harriet sighed. "Have you talked to Will?"

"Yeah, and he's in an alright mood," Rose sighed. "But I'm going to go back and talk to him."

"Just- don't get into any trouble," sighed Harriet. "Not if you wanna stay in London."

Rose gave her a non committal shrug as she walked out the room.

𑁍𑁍𑁍

As Rose got back to the lunch hall, this time eating the food, she overheard the boys asking Judd to join the picnic, and rolled her eyes.

"Good afternoon," she heard a voice say as she got round of the selection table of food.

Looking up, she saw it was the man who had entered the hall earlier, when she was serving.

"I've just come back from India," the man informed her, nodding. "George Calendar."

Rose looked at him, unsure of what to say. "That's nice, sir."

The man chuckled and said. "I think your Mr Cranbourne is hoping that we take one of you on as a servant."

Wait- what?!

Rose's head snapped up and her face broke into a smile as she curtsied. "Rose Green, sir - pleasure to make your acquaintance, perhaps I could fetch you some tea?"

All that rushed out in one garbled scentence, topped off with a very put on posh accent.

"George, I'd like you to meet Mr and Mrs Sargent..."

As Colonel Brigwell led Mr Calendar across the hall, Mathias and Will sniggered to each other.

"Perhaps I could fetch you some tea - never thought I'd hear the day Rose Green was speaking posh!" Mathias chuckled.

Rose rolled her eyes. "Do you want to know what Harriet's got you?"

Mathias frowned. "What?"

"She's made you something," Rose giggled. "And I'm sure you've got her the best leaving present ever?"

Mathias' eyes widened as Will continued to chuckle behind her.

"And, if you haven't, you've got until tonight to get one," shrugged Rose, heading off up the hall. On the way, she squeezed Will's shoulder, causing him to look up at her with a smile.

She smiled back as Vince asked. "Mathias, what's happening tonight?"

"A picnic," Judd said as he stood up. "And you're not invited, cause no one likes you."

Wow, the must've fallen out.

"I HATE YOU!" Judd yelled at Vince as he towered over the table, slamming his hands on it, in front of him.

"If I wanna be there, I'll be there!" Vince yelled back, standing up too. "It's not like they invited you cause they like you!"

"AAARGGGHH!"

The next thing Rose knew, Vince and Judd were fighting on the table, yelling as all the other boys got in on it, trying to get Vince, who now had his previous best friend pinned on the table, off Judd.

"I said, GET OFF ME!"

Then Colonel Brigwell got involved, yelling. "Stop it, I say!"

Vince and Will were now fighting on the floor in the middle of the lunch hall.

"Vince, get off of him! You're all going to get in trouble!" Rose screeched as Cranbourne returned with Gideon, who then tried to get Will off Vince physically.

"What's going-?" Mr Calendar asked- "Argh!"

In a flash, Gideon had elbowed him in the face thanks to accidentally getting his hand free at the wrong time.

Then Ned fell off the table and Judd on top of him, and Walter tripped over them-

Then Will punched Vince right in the face.

"STOP! WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?!" Cranbourne was livid as he finally pulled everyone apart, holding both Gideon and Will by the shoulder.

"You thought one of these children would be suitable for my household?!" George Calendar was also very angry.

As the boys got up off the floor and looked around, they seemed to realise how much damage they had just done, to both their futures and themselves.

Rose watched from the sidelines, not wanting to laugh.

She couldn't help it.

𑁍𑁍𑁍

"Then Brigwell joined in, Vince had Will like this, Judd fell on top of Ned, and then Will punched Vince, and Mathias-"

"Is Mathias alright?" Harriet asked. Her, Sheila and another couple girls had been hanging onto Rose's story in the kitchen, Cook behind them, also listening.

"He's fine," Rose said, springing back into her story. "And then Cranbourne came back with Gideon, who then elbowed one of the governors-"

Slam!

Cook had dropped one of her pots to get Rose to listen.

"It might seem funny, boys fighting," she said. "But you lot should be working together. You know what the problem is? It's not all your little scams, it's a problem with the world. Those above us treating us like dirt. Stop fighting among yourselves and work together. It's a hard life for a woman out there, so sort yourselves. You two, with me."

As she took the two other girls out the kitchen and left Rose, Harriet and Sheila alone, Cook smiled. "There's biscuits hidden in the breadbin."

Rose smiled as she left.

She definitely liked Cook now.

𑁍𑁍𑁍

"At least the boys still have each other," shrugged Sheila as she, Rose and Harriet worked in the kitchen.

Harriet sighed. "We're having a picnic, this evening in the tower. You can come if you want-"

"She's already invited me," Sheila nodded towards Rose.

"Rose!" Harriet yelled.

"Judd's coming as well, I heard the boys inviting him," Rose said apologetically.

"Judd?!" Harriet frowned.

Rose giggled and her best friend sighed. "Looks like we're going to need more food."

Rose smiled as Harriet said concernedly. "Do you think Gideon's in trouble? Can he still join the army?"

"He'll be alright," shrugged Sheila, then she added. "I think he's quite handsome."

"Sheila!" Harriet gasped.

"He is!" Sheila smiled despite herself, making Rose and Harriet laugh like crazy behind her.

"Rose, you do realise it's not just Mathias I'm going to miss?" Harriet smiled.

"I don't even wanna think about it," Rose smiled back at her, tears shining in both their eyes.

"Maybe you'll see each other again."

They both turned to see Sheila.

"But she's going to America, and I don't know where I'll be," said Rose sadly, turning back to see Harriet and enveloping her in a hug, squeezing tightly.

"Sheila?" Rose said, still hugging Harriet but both of them turning to face her. "Come on."

So it was that Sheila reluctantly joined her.

They had started this hospital as eight. Mary, Polly, Hetty, Monica, Elizabeth, Sheila, Harriet and Rose. And those eight had been a group of five and one of three. Always at odds, fighting and bickering amongst themselves.

Now they were one group, of three.

But they had stopped fighting.

And, as Rose cried and laughed into the hug, she realised something.

She wouldn't have it any other way.

𑁍𑁍𑁍

Knock knock knock

"Come in!"

Rose, Harriet and Sheila entered Matron's office quickly, Sheila saying. "Matron, we need to speak to you."

"Well, I have no need to speak to you," Matron said sharply.

"What Sheila means is, if you have the time, we would like to speak to you, please," Harriet said politely.

Matron looked between them, shaking her head and frowning.

Then Rose said. "Please tell me where I'm going."

But before Matron could say anything, there was another knock at the door and Colonel Brigwell appeared, complete with Gideon and Mr and Mrs Calendar.

"Matron, I'm afraid we're going to have to amend the paperwork," Brigwell said.

Matron face a small, fake laugh. "Well, I am lucky, so many visitors."

"This boy no longer wants to join the army, the greatest adventure of his life," Brigwell rolled his eyes and gestured to Gideon. "Apparently, he now wants to go into service."

"Rosamund has decided that we'd like to take him on," smiled Mr Calendar.

"And who are we to disappoint Rosamund?" Matron's tone was cutting. It was clear her and Mrs Calendar had known each other before this.

"Gideon!" Rose grinned, looking over at the boy. The smile on his face was palpable and she couldn't stop herself from crying out.

George Calendar cleared his throat. "We could take on another foundling - a girl, perhaps."

Rose couldn't breathe.

"Of course," Matron smirked.

Me, me, me. They live in London, they seem nice, they'd give me good pay and I might get to see Ida-

"Sheila here would make an excellent kitchen maid," said Matron.

Rose froze. Wait- what?

Of course Matron was never going to pick her. She wasn't exactly in her good books at the moment, but... this was just cruel.

"Hm," Matron gave a small, gleeful noise. "Cook is forever singing her praises. She is diligent, hard working, and, oh, unless, of course, you wish to remain at the hospital?"

Rose looked to Sheila.

Sheila looked to Rose.

"Er..."

Harriet glanced between them, forever on her best friend's side.

Every muscle in Rose's body was tensed. Say no, she begged the girl with her eyes. Say no, say no, say no...

"Er- I'd really love to join your household, sir."

Rose couldn't believe this was happening.

"Perfect," Matron smirked between them.

She gulped down the lump in her throat, eyes fixed firmly on the floor.

The tears would come soon, of course.

But she wouldn't let them see her cry.

𑁍𑁍𑁍

The picnic was tense. Well, it was for Rose. Harriet and Mathias were sat on one side of her, Will on the other. Vince and Judd, who had made up, were sitting on his other side, and then Gideon, Ned, Walter and Sheila were all on the other side of them.

Rose didn't want to speak to Sheila. Let alone look at her.

As everyone talked around her, Will tapped her shoulder.

"Hey," he said, smiling slightly. "You okay? You've seemed sort of... unclear tonight."

Rose shrugged, not cracking a smile. "I'm... I don't know. I had a chance, and I lost it."

"Yes, but it wasn't your fault," Will muttered, shooting a venemous look at Sheila. Harriet had explained the whole story to him earlier, and he had not been impressed.

Will put an arm around her and she leaned her head on his shoulder, but not a minute later he said. "Hey... Rose?"

Rose looked up from his shoulder, her face a few inches from his. "What?"

"I- well, I um..." Will said, pulling a piece of paper out from his pocket. "Here. Take this. It's for..."

He trailed off and Rose smiled at him slightly. "For what?"

"For when you're missing me," Will looked down. "If you do miss me. But... just don't read it now, okay?"

Rose took what she presumed was a letter and smiled warmly, her cheeks heating up. "Thank you, Will, um..."

Then she did something she had been wrestling with doing all day. She took her foundling number necklace off, the one that read 25623, and held it out to him.

"We don't have to give them back and uh... I want you to have it," Rose said. "It's not much but... it'll remind you of me. When you're in the army."

Will grinned, stringing the number around his neck.

"I'll wear it always," he told her, leaning in closer and kissing her cheek, lingering for a second before pulling away. Rose smiled at him before seeing Sheila across the room.

Harsh reality came back in a flash.

"Can you just excuse me a minute?" She asked Will, who nodded.

She went over to Sheila, who was sitting with Harriet.

"Bet you're happy," she said icily as she sat down opposite her, beside Harriet.

"Yeah," Sheila said unsurely. "Listen, Rose, I feel really bad about it, but I can't stay here. You alright?"

"No," Rose snapped. "No, I'm not. This was my chance to stay in London, where my mother is, and where Will can find me, and you took that away from me!"

Her voice was loud, and made the whole tower fall silent.

"I'm sorry, Harriet, Will," Rose said, standing up. "But I have to find out where she's sending me."

So she collected her candle, gave Will a sad look, and headed down the ladder.

This was it.

She was going to find out.

𑁍𑁍𑁍

She headed along the corridors, snuffing her candle out as she heard footsteps.

She went to the only place she could think. Matron's office. There, she hid under a table with a low hanging tablecloth, and waited for Matron to show so she could apprehend her.

But when Matron did enter, she wasn't alone.

She had someone with her. A man, from what Rose could hear.

But it was what he said that interested her.

"There you are. One ticket to New York," said the man, handing over what Rose presumed to be a ticket.

Matron chuckled. "Oh, Alf..."

Rose was shocked. What? Matron's going to New York?

She heard the unlocking of a safe and then the man asked. "Blimey, where's all that from?"

"Why, it's the money for the new roof, of course!" Matron said evasive.

The man scoffed. "Of course it is."

She's stealing the hospital's money as well-

"Right, I'll have the book and I'll be on my way, then," the man said.

What? Rose felt herself falter. The- the book's still in one piece?

She shifted slightly, just so that she could see their hands. And sure enough, in Matron's, was a book with yellowing pages and a green leather colour.

Matron smirked. "Actually, this is proving quite useful to me, so-"

"Gertie!"

"Plans change, Alf," smirked Matron. "Look at me. Now, you can have it back when I leave. I may need your help again. Come, let me show you out."

And they left.

Rose waited until their footsteps had stopped sounding before she snuck out.

Well, that had certainly brought a lot of things to light.

The book hadn't been burned.

Matron had been pocketing the hospital's money.

And, most importantly, she was running away to America.

Oh. My. Goodness.