As if being chased and nearly assaulted by some street thug who happened to be Mr. Meijer's brother, accidentally nearly killing her master with a cabbage, nearly killing his brother with a bottle of milk, gritting through the worst family reunion in Whitby history, fearing Claude was at risk of being preyed on, and having to prepare a room in top speed, and all of this last night, wasn't bad enough... Rose had spent her entire day nearly breaking down, anxious for the talk she was to have with her employer. To make everything worse, she had been late serving breakfast this morning, and Mr. Meijer's sister had been ordering her around all day, keeping her from her usual tasks, and then complaining about what she did get done. Rose had indeed used all her toilet breaks to cry. Was she going to be fired now, just like the butler? Mr. Meijer and his gloomy moods frightened her. The prospect of having to hear what he had to say tonight was enough to make her shudder. How disappointed father would be in her, if she lost her position again. 

At 8 p.m., Rose entered the drawing room with a tray with tea. At least Miss Meijer was not around. Rose tried not to tremble as she put the tray down, and lowered her hands, and then clasped them in front of her, not sure what to do with them. They were sweaty. "You meant to talk to me, ser?" Rose managed to bring out quietly.