No; best to let it lie.

Alice sighs inwardly. No, best not to push things. "Very well, Captain," she says gently. "It was just an offer...kindly meant. Think no more of it."

Alice turns to continue her stroll, but Simmons catches her arm. "I would not have you think I'm ungrateful, Miss Foxhaven!" he exclaims quietly. He steps close to her and Alice's heart starts to pound as she gazes up into his dark eyes, soaking in his chiseled face with its dark whiskers. Simmons speaks to her barely above a whisper, dark eyes earnest. "I appreciate that you were taking a risk to offer me the...use...of your bond girl, Miss Foxhaven. And I know that the gesture was kindly meant, if unusually forward. But you must understand, I...I am hesitant to employ or even interact with a bond girl, for personal reasons."

"Are you opposed to the law?" Alice asks with a frown. "That seems silly. Given our nation's economic struggles, something must be done with destitute girls. Young men often turn to crime and get sent to Australia - surely this is a better fate than that, at least."

"So people say," Simmons says with a bitter smile. "But the truth is, I have a more personal reason for my dislike of the law...{if Simmons-Alice > 10}I believe I've mentioned before that I have a brother. The truth is, I have sister, too.{else}I have two siblings: an elder brother, and a younger sister. Or perhaps I should say, I had two siblings.{endif} My family's fortunes are not what they once were, and after my parents died, my brother...he decided that the most expedient business practice would be to lighten the burden on the family coffers by relieving us of one mouth to feed. My arguments, and even threats, were to no avail. My sister...my sister, Eliza, is a bond girl. To a well-fed pig of a speculator and his wife in London." Simmons's jaw clenches. "So you can understand why I...am uncomfortable with the practice."

Alice swallows. "Of course. Of course! I am so sorry." She lays a comforting hand on Simmons's arm. "And I must say that it is shocking of your brother to behave so...girls are supposed to be bound only if their family is utterly unable to care for them. Our Deborah is an orphan, no siblings...I cannot imagine what it would be to bind a girl with two brothers still living!"

"Well, apparently from my brother's perspective we were...'utterly unable,'" Simmons says grimly. "And I, of course, have no access to the family fortune at all."

"I'm so very sorry." Alice squeezes his arm. For a moment they just stand, Simmons's eyes downcast, Alice's hand on his bicep. It's a solemn, still moment.

"A-hem," says a reedy but firm voice from off to Alice's left.

Alice and Simmons start and break apart slightly, as she looks over to see a well-dressed man in his late 30s with sandy hair, standing there staring at them with a sardonic smile on his lips. It takes Alice a moment to recognize him, and then she gives him a deep curtsy. "Lord Chattersworth! I apologize - I did not see you there." Simmons, slightly confused, follows suit with a bow.

"Clearly," Chattersworth says, looking amused. Alice is feeling slightly sweaty: Chattersworth is one of the few old-line nobility who still maintains a house in this county, though she hasn't seen him here in person in several years. How embarrassing to have not noticed him. As she straightens, he glances between the two of them. "I do not know you, sir - are you with the regiment?"

"Indeed, my lord," Simmons says formally. "Captain William Simmons, sir."

Chattersworth gives him a slow nod. "And you - one of the young Foxhaven girls, are you not?"

"Yes, sir," Alice murmurs. "Alice Foxhaven." She bobs another quick curtsy.

{if Alice < 75}As she straightens, Alice sees Lord Chattersworth smiling even more broadly, and his eyes sweep up and down her. She flushes slightly as she realizes he's examining her in a rather forward way. Chattersworth, perhaps unconsciously, moistens his lips slightly. "Indeed," he says in that reedy voice of his. "I've heard tales that you'd grown up to be an...exceptional girl, Miss Foxhaven. I am glad to see they were not exaggerated."{else}Chattersworth nods. "I am pleased to see you again, Miss Foxhaven."{endif}

"Of course," Alice says{if Alice < 75} unsteadily{endif}. "You are back in the county now, my lord?"

"For some time, for some time. As long as I can find diversions here," Chattersworth says airily. He {if Alice < 75}glances up and down Alice's body again, and {endif}smirks slightly. "I trust you two were about to...continue your walk?"

"Yes, sir. Very pleased to meet you," Simmons says firmly, offering Alice his arm. Chattersworth steps aside as they pass.

"The pleasure, dear Captain, is entirely mine."

As they leave him behind, Alice {if Alice < 75}shudders slightly{else}shivers{endif}. "Rather a beastly man," Simmons mutters to her.

"Yes, but quite wealthy - and powerful," Alice whispers back. "Come, Captain Simmons. Do let's return inside." She glances up at him. "I apologize for my rather forward offer earlier. But if you'll forget the offence, we'll consider it a minor indiscretion between friends." Simmons smiles at her and nods as he escorts her back into the parsonage.

In another corner of the parsonage parlor, Peggy wanders over to Esther. "Have you been watching Mr. Brightson, Esther? He seems like such an amiable, agreeable man!"

Esther smiles faintly. "You're quite right, though I doubt he's likely to stay at our humble parish for long. I think he has ambition, even if it's not of the obvious kind."

"Oh, dear. And I rather like him," Peggy says, pouting slightly.

"Esther, Peggy!" a voice cries. Turning, the sisters see Annalise Bellington approaching, with Percival Winthrop in tow. "It's so good to see you both again," the redhead exclaims, hugging them both. "Albeit under such sad circumstances. Poor old Tines! He was a good chap, I thought. Very forgiving. Esther, I know you've met Percy. {if Percy-Peggy > 0}Peggy, Percy tells me that the two of you met at our ball as well?" Peggy nods.{else}Peggy, this is my distant cousin, Percival Winthrop."{endif}

Percival grins and gives the sisters an elaborate bow. "Always a delight to lay hands - excuse me, I meant to say eyes - on the Foxhaven sisters," he says. {if Percy-Peggy > 0}Both girls blush{elseif Percy-Esther > 0}Peggy giggles and Esther freezes for a second, face white.{elseif Percy-Esther < 0}Peggy giggles and Esther scowls at him.{endif} Percy moves on quickly. "I must admit that even though I've only just arrived, I always find crowds a bit overwhelming. I was hoping to retire into the sitting room - would you all care to join me?"

Peggy glances at Esther, whose face is unreadable but directed at Annalise. That girl has taken Percy's arm gaily and is already starting to move off with him, chattering about how she visited the parsonage as a girl. Silently, Esther follows her, and Peggy shrugs and does so as well.

The sitting room is much less spacious than the parlor, but it is equipped with a couple of comfortable (if modest) armchairs and a settee. As they enter, Annalise is saying to Percy, "And even though I'd been so incredibly disruptive during the service, good old Tines - oh dear! I'm sorry."

A young woman of about 20 looks up from one of the armchairs, clearly startled, and with tears standing in her eyes. She's got a full figure, leaning to plump, and wears a modest, even somber dark dress, and her black hair is pulled fully back into a tight bun. She clears her throat and stands, bobbing a curtsy.

"No need to be sorry, miss," the dark-haired woman replies. "It's I who am taking up space here. I just got very sad about my former master and wanted to...wanted to have a moment alone. I'll leave so you can enjoy the room."

"No need, no need," Annalise says airily, going over to sit on the settee. "How on earth have I never met you before? What's your name? I don't remember Tines employing a maid."

"My name's Dorothy, miss," the girl says dutifully. "I just started working here about six months ago. Mr. Tines was a good man."

"That he was," Esther says primly, settling next to Annalise on the settee. "Although I confess surprise that he'd hired a maid. I heard nothing about it, and I haven't seen you in church."

"Probably because he didn't hire her," Percy says drily. He crosses to Dorothy and reaches up to put a hand on the top button of her high-necked blouse. "Am I right?" he asks. Dorothy's eyes drop to the floor and she nods, shame-faced. Percy pops the first two buttons open and folds the collar down, revealing a black leather band with a white patch fastened tight around Dorothy's neck. "She's a bond girl - assigned to the parish itself, not even to old Tines. So of course she's staying, unless the church has reassigned you?"

Dorothy shakes her head. Percy chuckles. "What luck. Technically, then, you serve everyone in this parish, collectively, do you not?"

Dorothy nods, and Percy smiles. "I'm glad you know your duty. I'm a resident of this parish. Open your mouth, Dorothy."

Esther stiffens, and Peggy blinks in surprise, as the dark-haired girl slowly complies, stretching her mouth wide open. Percy coolly puts two fingers into her mouth and feels her tongue. "Yes, you'll do," he says. "On your knees." Dorothy stares at him, and his voice hardens. "On your knees, Dorothy. Or I'll report you to the disciplinary arm of the Church." Dorothy's lip trembles, but she does as ordered, slowly dropping to a kneeling position as Percy begins to unbutton his pants. "Hope you don't mind, cousin," he comments to Annalise. "It's just that the presence of death always makes me want to fuck a warm hole...death makes you want to live, eh?" He chuckles.

Peggy's frozen in shock for a moment, then panics. Should she stay or should she go? She's still near the door - perhaps she can just slip out? She glances at Esther, but her sister is clearly stunned, too, and she's looking at Annalise.

Annalise, for her part, just sighs in exasperation and rolls her eyes at Percy. "You're so crass," she mutters affectionately as she relaxes into the couch. No help there.