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I saw how many votes for were given for the past few chapters and I can't thank you all enough :))

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I sat in the back of a sheep transport cart, backed by straw and hay, wondering how my life came to this.

Surrounding me on either side were Enola and Tewkesbury, Enola calmly gazing into the distance while Tewkesbury seemingly wondered the same thing.

We were riding through the hills, occasionally chatting, but for the most part, the ride remained silent, with only the chirping of the birds sounding.

The peaceful countryside eventually bid goodbye, fading into suburban outskirts, and then into the bustling city of London.

All around us, life sparked. Chickens were herded back into coops, and busy mothers cared for their children.

The cart stopped, and Enola slid off the cart, placing her cap on her head and dusting off her clothes.

"So this is where we part?" Tewkesbury frowned, as Enola inspected her new surroundings.

"It is." She sighed.

"You sure you don't want to stick together?" I asked, "I could help you both out easily."

"I'm on a mission of my own." She waved her hand dismissively. "But thanks for the offer. Take care of Tewkesbury for me, God knows he needs it."

I chuckled as Tewkesbury scowled, but he nevertheless bid Enola goodbye. The cart started to move, and Enola disappeared into the busy crowd.

"It's just the two of us, I guess." I solemnly said, before continuing. "Do you have an exact destination in mind? Or are you free walking?"

"As a matter of fact, I do." He pulled a piece of ragged paper from his blazer pocket. "Convent Garden Market."

He pointed at an extremely familiar building on the paper. I bloomed in delight when I recognised the establishment.

"Oh, I know that place! I live a couple of streets down! I can walk there in 5 minutes, and I do so every week." I jubilantly chorused.

"Really?" His eyes gleamed. "We'll be seeing each other a lot more often, then. I plan to seek work there."

A sudden idea popped into my head.

"I have a spare room! If you plan to seek work at Convent Garden Market, you could get there in 5 minutes, much closer then other lodgings around." I excitedly chattered. "I have enough facilities for at least 3, so it should be alright."

He blushed slightly, presumably at the thought of living with a girl. Seeing this, I hastily amended my previous statement.

"Or-uh, of course, if you wish to be like Enola, you could reject my offer and live by yourself," I mumbled, "If you want t-"

"-I'll...uh, I'll think about it." He said, his eyes focusing on his shoes and refusing to look at me. "Not that I don't like your offer, well, uh, not to say that I..."

He struggled to find the words he needed, his eyes scrunched in thought and skin blazing with blush, and decided to move from his blundering sentence.

"I'll have a look around to see if there are any lodgings close and acceptable, and...then, not...then....uh, i'll arrive at your lodgings. That way I can take all into consideration." He finished, relieved to of have finished talking.

An awkward silence filled with unsaid words and feelings floated around for the rest of the trip, until I noticed a familiar street.

Sliding off just as Enola had done, I dusted off my rather crumpled and dirty dress. I pointed over to a quaint shop, with dresses and corsets filling the shop window.

"That's my shop over there, I live in the apartment above, see the little balcony above it?" I pointed. "Come in at any time and i'll show you around, that is, uh, if you'd...like to."

"If not, then perhaps i'll see you around the garden market then." I said, my eyes glancing at anywhere but Tewkesbury. "Goodbye!"

He smiled, in spite of the air of awkwardness. "Goodbye." He softly said.

I turned away from the line boy and started to make my way back home. I sighed in relief as I walked away, how could I let that happen?!

You just offered a boy, a viscount, none the less, to live in your apartment!

I groaned at myself. Years of no male interaction had really made me numb to all this. I kept on walking, nearly at my deserted shop now.

And then there's the matter of the shop, I've been living it tough for the past 24 hours, I should just close for today and get some damned rest.

But then the matter of Tewkesbury came to mind, and I groaned once more. I'd have to keep the shop open for today.

I had finally reached my shop now, and unlocked the door. The overhead bell chimed as I opened the door. It was dark inside, lonely and with the air of abandonment, even though I had only left it for a short time. Regal dresses with lavish details donned the mannequins, jewels and necklaces accessorised the shop. Most of these dresses were handmade, each and every detail sewn on by my nimble hands.

I sighed and walked to the very back of the shop, unlocking the door and walking up a flight of stairs, which led to my apartment. It was simple, but spacey and held everything I had ever needed. The sitting room held comfy chairs, and a bookshelf stood next to it, making the room a very comfy place to read my father's old textbooks.

Just behind the sitting room, separated by a half-wall, was the kitchen. Aromatic spices lined the shelves and a stove sat patiently, waiting to be cooked on. I had created many delicious meals in here, and many failed ones, at that.

Moving on, I passed a guest bedroom, which served as an extra storage space for my many materials. As I neared my own bedroom, I hesitated at the door of my parent's old bedroom.

It looked every inch of how it used to be, when they were alive. I had kept it as a memorial to my deceased parents, for without their hard work, I would be sitting in an orphanage.

I sighed and moved onto my own room, finally collapsing onto my bed. I roll over and yawn, when I see a dirty imprint on the bed. Goddammit. That would be another thing I'd have to wash.

I sighed, stood up, and walked over to my wardrobe. Opening it, I was immediately dazzled by the exquisite dresses and accessories.

Being a successful seamstress had it's advantages, you know. All the frilly dresses in the world for yourself!

My eyes roamed over, until they settled on a dazzling sage dress. The calming tones of pale green were just what I needed, after my adventurous day. The dress felt soft, and airy, but after seeing Enola in boy's clothes, I longed for those freeing trousers.

It was a ludicrous idea, disguising myself as the opposite sex. If I were found out, I would be humiliated.

But Enola did it, My mind wandered, If Enola can do it, then so can you.

The entrance bell rang downstairs, signalling that a customer had just entered. I sighed, swept my dress and matted my wavy hair down, and proceeded to walk down to the shop.

At once glance into the shop, I could immediately spot the customer, which was unusual, as it would take a good minute to discern the lady customer amidst all the dress-wearing mannequins.

But it was not a lady in the store, it was a boy.

"And what would a boy want to do with dresses?" I called out, curious and wary. "I do not tolerate pranks, this is a busin-"

The boy turned around, a family face under the brown cap.

"Enola?!"

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word count: 1311 words