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Elizabeth Jennings was walking down the road in the east end of London. She had been poor for as long as she could remember, being born to a lower class family. She didn't forsee herself ever rising through the ranks of society and that was something she had made peace with. She was outside the bakers seeing if she could scrounge a burnt loaf of bread or two when a well known pick pocket Steven rounded the corner. He was running fast, undoubtedly having just stolen someone's purse once again. She walked out in front of him, hands on her hips and shouted for him to stop. "Steven Mackley, what do you think you are doing?" As she stopped the boy in his tracks a handsome man came round the corner. "What have you stolen this time? Give it here!"

She stared down at Steven until he handed over the purse with a curse under his breath and walked off. "No worries." She said with a smile and handed the purse to the gentleman. "Steven there is notorious for pick pocketing. One of these day's he's going to get his comeuppance." She suddenly felt dirty and under dressed. She ran her hands down her apron to smooth out the creases, and then moved them to her hair to try and sort out her mass of curls which were trying to escape her bonnet.

"No problem. It's the least I could do," She said with a shy smile. When he offered her the coins her eyes widened and she shook her head slightly. "That is very generous offer but I can not accept it. I wouldn't know what to do with that amount!" She stopped fiddling with her hair and dropped her hand, not knowing what to do with herself. "The only thing I would ask for in return is a hot meal. I haven't had one in so long." She said softly, not sure if he had even heard her.

"No sir, you can't possibly let someone like me into your house!" She exclaimed, her eyes widened in shock. "I would make the place look untidy and probably make it dirty. What would your poor house keeper say?"

She felt herself blush at the compliment. "That is much too bold a thing to say!" She found herself saying without realising. She sighed a little and thought would it really be so bad to spend a little time with a handsome gentleman, in a nice house. It would be an interesting story to tell her children one day. "Ok... I shall accept your invitation for dinner. As long as you don't mind."

"Are you sure it's wise for people to see me entering your carriage with you?" She asked with a frown. "Surely it would be better if I found my own way to your house and entered through the servants entrance?" She asked softly, hoping she didn't cause offence.

"Are you sure?" She asked, blushing still from James calling her out. She knew it would be a bad idea to get into the carriage with this gentleman. She didn't even know his name. He could be taking her off somewhere to kill her, not that anyone would miss her if he did.