She led him around the corner and then turned to look at him. "Are you alright?" she asked softly. She made sure they were alone and then took his hand. Her big browns searched his for a moment while she waited for him to reply to her.

Joe's hand accepted hers and he stared at her for a long moment before letting out a long sigh. She had to know, he couldn't hide it from her, he wasn't sure he was hiding it from her now.

"Pearl..." his eyes drifted from her face downwards to the ground, a hard swallow. "I've been sacked. They dismissed me from the railway." Joe said bleakly.

She stared at him for a moment and then she felt her heart sink, "It was my fault, wasn't it?" She blamed herself first, not knowing that it was her brother that did what he did.

He squeezed her hand gently.

"No. It wasn't you at all." Joe smiled weakly trying to make her feel better. He snorted softly. "It was that brother of yours, Robert. The one who gave me, gave us, a hard time at the station. He wrote a letter to head office."

Anger unlike anything she knew bubbled up and she stiffened. Robert. She snarled, "He didn't dare!"

"The letter said something about the share 'olders, how I had refused to apologise to your brother after treatin' you vile. The Managing Director 'imself came down to see about it. I tried to explain, but they said it was bad for business, so had to let me go." Joe sighed again.

"I understand if yer don't want to see me anymore. An ex-porter's no catch, not even for a girl as modern as ye. Truth be told, I'm thinkin' of joining the navy. You know, get away for a bit."

She blinked, "Please don't go." Her eyes went from angry to sad in an instant. "You did nothing wrong!" He hadn't. It was all her damned brother that caused so much heartache. She didn't care who might see, she threw her arms around him.

Whatever her reaction, Joe wasn't expecting that and it caught him off guard, but her embrace was not unwelcome. Joe closed his eyes and returned it. Perhaps it was the closeness of another human being who cared, or fate, or the fact it was Saturday, but Joe's inner little voice chose that moment to talk to him, and he just happened to be in a listening mood.

You go now, you'll lose Pearl and ye'll be running from Carrington forever!  Plus you owe him a smack.

"Ok. I'll stay." Joe whispered softly.

Pearl started to cry with relief. "It isn't right what he did. I'm going to talk to my papa, he won't stand for this! I cannot believe that Robert did this to you!" She couldn't help the way she was feeling right at the moment. She was furious with her family, but Robert had another thing coming. She was going to get him good! She pulled away to look at him, "If you leave, he'll win."

"Pearl, it'll be tough. It's goin' to be 'ard fer me to find work, and tongues will wag. God knows what they'll say." Joe sighed heavily at the prospect of the future "But, if yer game, we'll make do."

"I would never walk away from somebody because they have no job. Especially," she added, "not when my own brother is behind you not having your job." She was starting to shake with her anger and tears. How could he? How could he do this to someone who didn't do anything wrong. It made her feel like it was her fault. Was Robert doing it just to get to her? Papa would be very angry when he learned of this.

Joe gently tightened his embrace. If she felt secure, maybe the tears would stop. It was nice to have someone who cared.

"Thank you, Pearl." he said.

She tried to stop crying for his sake, but she was so very angry that it was hard for her to stop. She said, "I am so very sorry about Robert. I'll do what I can to make this right." She looked into his eyes, hers round and wet. "I will help any way I can."

"I mean, a job would be grand. Can you fix that?" Joe asked with a hint of humour. "Oh and I'd like to meet Robert again and thank him for everything e's done." Joe answered, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"My father can," she said. "He wouldn't stand for this at all," she paused, choosing not to be upset that he was sarcastic with her. She knew he was angry at the way things went down and frankly, she could not blame him one bit. "As for my brother... He has another thing coming if he thinks he can do this to you." She was definitely going to daddy.

Joe straightened and pulled slightly away from her.

"Pearl, there's something else ye should know." he sighed. "After I got dismissed, I went and got drunk. So drunk, I had no wits about me. Well, I insulted a constable and had to go before the judge. I have to pay a fine."

Before she could answer, he felt compelled to defend himself further.

"I made a mistake. I'm not proud of it and I'm sorry, but I want ye to 'ear it from me, not read it in the paper, or hear some gossip."

She only hugged him tighter, resting her head on his shoulder briefly. "You were in a rough spot and I am not cross with you at all." She pulled back to look into his eyes, tears still streaking her face but slowed for the most part.

"Thank ye, Pearl." Joe answered exhaling deeply. He felt relief at not caring so many burdens around, but was also moved by her sadness.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset ye. I hate to see ye cry." Joe used a finger to catch a falling tear.

"I'm just so angry, Joe. He had no right..." she sighed and leaned her forehead against his.

Joe remained silent. What could he say? She was right of course, but then he had had a few days to process things somewhat, whereas things were still raw for her.

The sound of the wedding guests moving outside caught her attention and she pulled away to put a little distance between them. It wasn't that she was ashamed, it was that things were happening. She had forgotten about Rose and the wedding for the moment and being reminded caused her to stiffen a little. "Some of them stared," she said then, indicating the people in the church.

He thought of saying something sweet like "it's because yer beautiful." but that would have been daft. More than likely, she had been unusual, slightly too polished, a shade too pretty, and had stuck out; Just as he would do at a fancy ball if he were in her place.

"Pay 'em no mind." He knew better than most how much the fisherfolk gossiped or liked gossip. "Yer 'ere to support Rose on 'er day, and nowt else. Yer intent does you credit. Anyone who thinks less of ye fer it should be fish bait."

"You are such a good soul," she said softly. She dried her tears with her hand and gave a little hiccup. What a day, she thought. She wanted to be there for Rose, it was true... but with the added stress of what her brother was doing on top of people staring, added to what she was about to do to her eldest sibling... she was feeling overwhelmed.

"We can go to the Cragg for the celebration, or I can walk ye home, if you'd rather?"

She had to think about it for a moment, and then she nodded softly. "It's Rose's day... I can't just leave... no matter what." There was that strong-willed lass he met.

"Hanky, Miss?" Joe produced a folded square of white cloth, now bearing his initials stitched neatly in a corner. "I promise it's clean." He smiled widely. Echos of other conversations.

She gave a soft laugh when he handed her the hanky. "Thank you. Oh goodness, here I am again, a mess." She dabbed her eyes with the cloth and she went on to say, "Let's do this. I'll be just fine."

Joe offered her his hand

"Tears don't look good on anyone, especially you Pearl." Joe said smiling softly, remembering similar words during their first meeting. "Come on, let's go to a party." he said in a cheery tone.

She put his hand into his and smiled. Let them talk, she thought. And so, they were on the way back to the festivities.