The two girls settled on the edge of the stage, where the light was still good.

"I'm sorry," Nell said suddenly, "I never did ask your name."

"I'm Rose."

"Really? That's my sister's name."

"Is she an actress, too?" Rose asked curiously.

"Nah…that was my daft idea. We started out together, though, selling oranges in the pit. Me, I just fell in love with it all. I learned all the plays by heart, just from bein' here. Which reminds me…we'd better get to this before we lose the light." Nell retrieved some folded pages out of the bottom of her basket. "Here we are then. Florimell, that's me."

Rose studied the hand written manuscript curiously. "How come there's just your lines?"

Nell laughed merrily. "And who's got time to write out whole copies of every play? Only the playwright and the stage manager have whole copies, unless someone with a few coins to rub together commissions a folio to be printed. My lines, and just a word or two before. That's all I need."

Rose drew in a deep breath and began to read the revised scenes to Nell. She was amazed at how fast the other girl picked up information, committing the new lines to memory with after just a few repetitions.

"I think I've got it," Nell decided, at just about the time the light was fading too fast for Rose to read any more. "I just hope it's good enough."

"To impress the King, you mean?"

Nell nodded.

"I'm sure it will be," Rose assured her. "You're brilliant!"

"Thanks, luv," Nell replied, with a slightly worried smile.

"Have you ever met the King?" Rose asked curiously.

"Oh, my, yes. Traveled as part of his household last year, when the playhouses was closed on account of the plague."

"What's he like?"

Nell leaned in close to whisper conspiratorially. "Handsome, clever, funny…and kind."

A stagehand approached them. "Nelly, I need to be locking up soon."

"That's fine, Tom. Oh, and see if there's anymore little 'uns hanging about outside, would you?" she asked, passing over her basket that still held a few pieces of bread.

"Here, take this, too," Rose offered, handing over hers as well.

"God keep ye, mistress," Tom replied deferentially.

"It's nice of you to look after those kids," Rose said.

"I was one of 'em, not all that long ago," Nell replied. She stood and straightened the skirts of her scarlet gown. "Well, then, I've got a supper date. How about you?"

Belatedly, Rose noticed how dark it had grown. "I need to get back. The Doctor will be worrying."

"Doctor?" Nell asked, grinning.

"Yeah…he's my… friend. We travel together."

Nell's grin turned into a slight smirk at Rose's stumbled explanation. "And what's he like?"

Rose blushed shyly and laughed a little. "Handsome, clever, funny…well, daft is more like it sometimes. And kind. Really kind," she added, reflecting on all the wonderful places and things he'd shown her.

"Rose? Are you in here?" a familiar voice called from the door.

"Over here, Doctor!" she replied.

"'Zat him?" Nell whispered appreciatively. "Blimey, he is a looker!"

Rose nodded, trying to muffle a giggle with her hand.

"I was worried," he said, smiling in relief as he wandered over to them. "It's gotten dark and you shouldn't be wandering about on your own."

"It was my fault," Nell explained. "Rose was helpin' me learn my lines. I didn't mean to keep her so long."

"Mistress Gwyn!" the Doctor exclaimed warmly. "We were delighted to see your performance this afternoon."

"Just plain Nelly'll do," she answered cheekily. Her smile turned a bit wistful as she watched the Doctor gently settle a light shawl around Rose's shoulders.

"Can we escort you anywhere?" the Doctor asked courteously.

"Thanks, but no. There's a coach comin' for me. Tom'll wait with me til it gets here." Impulsively, she hugged Rose. "Thanks for helpin' me."

"I was glad to," Rose replied sincerely.

The Doctor drew Rose's arm through his. "Goodbye, Nelly."

Rose turned back towards Nell and grinned. "Tell you what…I bet you're gonna have a really great year!"

The Doctor looked down at Rose, her words echoing in his head peculiarly. "Why those words?" he asked curiously.

"I dunno. Just…something someone said to me once…not too long before I met you." Rose twined both arms firmly around the Doctor's. "Thanks for bringing me here."

A thousand different thoughts flitted through the Doctor's mind, but as usual, the words stuck in his throat, so he settled for dropping a light kiss to the top of her head, and hoping that was enough.

Historical note: Nell Gwyn was a real person. She was a pretty colorful lady, so there is a great deal of speculation and outright fiction about her, but for purposes of this story, I've chosen to focus on things that are known to be factual. She was one of the very first British stage actresses, and is probably best known as one of Charles II's favorite mistresses. It's fairly well documented that she was illiterate and did, in fact, learn all of her parts by memorizing the lines as someone else read them aloud for her.