No, best not to drink.

"No, thank you, Mr. Twilwell," Anne says politely. "Er...not right now, at any rate."

Twilwell smiles faintly. "I didn't really expect you to desire any, Miss Foxhaven. Whiskey's not for the delicate of constitution." He puts the flask away and glances around the party, his eyes flitting from guest to guest restlessly. After a few moments, Anne clears her throat.

"Did you know Mr. Tines, Mr. Twilwell? I know you must be busy with establishing your home at Applethorpe," she says.

"Ah, indeed." Twilwell frowns. "No, I must confess that I did not know the old parson. I've been rather remiss in my duties to attend the church here, as I've been so focused on the business of settling in."

"I'm sure everyone understands, Mr. Twilwell," Anne says warmly. "You must of course finish settling yourself before you can attend to other matters! He was a good old man, and a decent parson. Quite loyal to the parish here, all in all."

"That's to be desired, indeed," Twilwell says with a smile. "I take it you knew him well?"

"Oh, not well, exactly," Anne says with a shrug. "I confess I was not close to him...but he'd lived here all my life. He baptized me, in fact. And all my sisters."

"I see! Yes, that would make him rather a fixture of the community." Twilwell frowns. "Well, now I'm most put out that I never met the man. I hope this Brightson fellow is half the clergyman."

"I met Mr. Brightson just now, and he seems lovely," Anne comments. Twilwell raises an eyebrow.

"Indeed? I'm glad to hear it. Though I must confess that I have never been a good church attendee..."

"Really? Indeed, I am surprised."

"Oh, you must not be," Twilwell says with a little chuckle. "When I was a child, I always grew dreadfully bored in church...I used to sneak in biscuits to snack on, and I started a small sort of business selling them to the other little boys and girls there. Honestly, the margins of the church became my first enterprise! I made a pretty good profit, too."

"Mr. Twilwell!" Anne says with a gasp and quiet laugh. She glances around to make sure no one's noticed - no. "You were quite naughty," she says with a grin.

"In truth, I still am," he says with a smile. "Incorrigible, really."

Anne chuckles. "I am sure that is not as true as you believe," she says. "I find that whatever the worst one thinks of oneself is, invariably it is not so bad as the truth."

"Do you really think that? Hmmm," Twilwell looks into the distance, smiling faintly. "Well, I hold out hope that you're right, Miss Foxhaven." He glances around at the crowd. "Ah, I see Mr. Brightson is available - I should go introduce myself. But thank you for your kind attention, Miss Foxhaven. You have put me a bit more at ease, here." He {if Twilwell-Anne > 25}reaches forward and squeezes her hand affectionately, {else}smiles at her and gives her a formal little nod (then a more playful wink), {endif}and moves off to approach the clergyman. Anne smiles to herself as she watches him go. He does have a lovely smile!

In another corner of the parlor, Rebecca finally tracks Alice down. "There you are," she says tartly. "You missed the introduction to our baby-faced new parson. What on earth are you doing over here?"

"Watching the men," Alice says with a little giggle. "They all look so serious in their big black coats - like a flock of crows. It's quite ludicrous."

Rebecca sighs. "I know I wish Anne would think more of such things, but sometimes I worry you think of them too much, Alice," she grumbles. "Come, you're missing all the conversations."

"Ooooh, look!" Alice says suddenly, nudging her sister. "{if Simmons-Alice > 0}It's that handsome Captain Simmons in dress uniform!{else}It's that captain in his dress uniform!{endif} My, isn't that fine..."

"It is, but don't stare; I think he's coming over here," Rebecca mutters, tugging on Alice's arm to make it somewhat less obvious where her sister is looking.

The soberly clad Captain approaches them and gives them both a nod. "{if Simmons-Alice > 0}I'm very pleased to see you again, Miss Foxhaven - and you, Miss Foxhaven. I've thought of you since our last encounter."

"Why Captain! How very kind," Alice says with a little giggle.

{else}I believe I saw you both at the Bellingtons' party, but I didn't get the chance to introduce myself as I'd hoped. Captain Simmons, William Simmons, of the local infantry."

The girls offer him brief curtsies. "I'm Rebecca Foxhaven, and this is my sister, Alice," Rebecca says smoothly. "I'm happy to meet you, albeit under such regrettable circumstances."

"{if Simmons-Peggy > 0}Foxhaven? Ah, I believe I met your sister Peggy at the ball! {endif}Delighted." The Captain smiles at them both.{endif} "I must admit that I find the atmosphere in this parlor rather...claustrophobic. Seeing you two ladies temporarily unescorted, I wondered if you might do me the honor of taking a turn about the parsonage grounds with me?"

Rebecca hesitates. On the one hand, she doesn't find this military man particularly interesting{if Simmons-Alice > 0}, and it seems like his invitation is likely directed most at Alice{endif}. On the other, it might be best not to leave Alice, with her love of uniforms, unescorted with this man...more due to her foolishness than any threat from him.