Rebecca

"...Rebecca, of course. She's not boring!"

Esther sniffs haughtily and looks away; Alice just rolls her eyes at her and scampers off to find Rebecca. Once they're bonneted and have their gloves on, they set out for town - which, from Wimbly Place, means a short walk into Highbury. Alice chatters merrily to her sister on the way into town, and Rebecca smiles and listens indulgently. Rebecca's the best of her sisters, Alice thinks to herself; she actually treats Alice like an adult, unlike Anne or Esther. And she's so smart and cunning! They're alike, that way.

The girls find their way into the main attraction - Mrs. Wagaton's Hats, Bonnets, and Sundries - quickly, and begin to gasp with delight as they look over the assorted ribbons that have newly arrived for sale. The latest batch are all silk, and come in a wide and enticing array of colors: red, green, yellow, even orange. The girls laugh and chatter as they play with the new arrivals, testing them out against their skin and against their hats to see what looks best.

"I think this one would look well on you, Alice, would it not?" Rebecca asks, holding up a green ribbon.

"Not as well as that would," Alice says softly, eyes glowing. Rebecca follows her gaze and chuckles. Alice is gazing eagerly out the store's front window and across the street, where a small group of young men have gathered - clad in the coats of the British Army.

"Well, what woman doesn't like a uniform?" Rebecca asks softly. She beckons Alice closer so they can look together. "Which one are you looking at?"

"Him," Alice says, tilting her chin. "The young one of course, silly. No old men for me!"

"Ah, yes. I see the appeal," Rebecca says with a smile as she looks through the window.

"No chasing him, Rebecca! I saw him first," Alice tells her breathlessly. The young man is good-looking all right, and Alice can feel her pulse quickening as she gazes. He looks very well in his red coat, and he can't be more than a year - maybe two - older than her. He's got long, well-coiffed blond hair, soft features, and the barest hint of a mustache. Though he's listening attentively as the older men talk, Alice sees him glance at some of the girls passing on the street from time to time. Which must, she's sure, mean he's looking for more entertaining company. And she could surely provide that!

"I wouldn't dream of it, dear. And you shouldn't either."

Alice turns to her older sister, frowning. "Why on earth not? I'm sure I could make a perfect officer's wife."

"Oh, I'm sure he'd find you very entertaining. But that man -" Rebecca points at the one Alice had been lusting over, "-is not an officer."

"He's not?" Alice frowns.

"Not at all. See the insignia? He's a private. All those men are. They're enlisted, dear. Who knows if they have any money, and they certainly don't have any breeding."

Alice nods slowly, a smile spreading across her face. "You're right! You're so clever, Rebecca. Thank you for warning me."

Rebecca snorts. "Don't thank me. It's self-preservation; if you go flirting with every man wearing a red coat, you'll end up hurt or with a bad reputation soon enough. And that will reflect on me, too." She looks seriously at Alice. "Alice...I know that you're thinking about how to get a man that will let you do what you want. That's not a bad thing; I'd rather you think about it than refuse to, the way Esther does. But you must play smart if you're going to play at all."

Alice nods, watching the soldiers disappear into the tavern across the road. Then Rebecca says brightly, "Now, if you're interested in officers..." Following Rebecca's point, Alice gasps. Another man is coming down the street. He's slightly older than the private was, maybe about Rebecca's age, but still young-looking. He is, if anything, even handsomer, too, and Alice can feel a flush starting to rise in her cheeks. He's got a chiseled face, dark eyes, and a mane of somewhat unkempt black hair. He has significant whiskers, as well, though those are neatly brushed out.

"Oooh, yes, he's handsome!" Alice whispers. Rebecca grabs her hand.

"Come on, let's see if we can devise a way to meet him," she murmurs. Leading Alice from the store, ribbons forgotten, she draws her onto the street and the two start walking, would-be casually, toward where the man has paused, gazing around at the crossroads. Rebecca clears her throat slightly and, when Alice looks to her, she sees that her sister is loosening a glove. As they walk past the crossroads, Rebecca lets the glove slip and fall to the ground, carrying on as though she hasn't noticed its absence.

"Excuse me! Excuse me, miss!" The girls stop, and Rebecca smirks at the delight on Alice's face before they assume carefully neutral expressions and turn to the man. He's coming up to them, bearing Rebecca's glove. "I beg your pardon, but one of you - ah, you, miss - dropped this."

"Oh, my goodness! How silly of me," Rebecca exclaims, taking the glove from him and replacing it with a smile. "I'm sure I would never have found it again had I left it there. I'm in your debt, Mister...or no, I see it's Captain...?"

"Simmons, miss." He clasps his hands behind his back and gives them a quick, courteous half-bow with a smile. "William Simmons."

"I'm very glad to meet you, Captain Simmons," Rebecca says smoothly. "My name is Rebecca Foxhaven, and this is my sister, Alice Foxhaven." They both bob little curtseys to him as he bows again.

"What brings you to Highbury, Captain Simmons?" Alice asks breathlessly.

"Ah, training exercises for the men, I'm afraid," Simmons says with a smile. "We're garrisoned out on Salisbury Plain, not too far from here. Colonel says we'll be here at least a few months."

"Oh, you absolutely must come to a ball or party while you're here!" Alice exclaims. "We have some very excellent balls in Highbury, don't we, Rebecca?"

"Indeed," Rebecca says with a coy little smile.

"Well, I'm certain that we'll be in attendance!" Simmons says with a grin. "The officers, that is." He gives them each another brief bow. "Well, I'll leave you to your walk. A pleasure to meet you." The girls give him another brief curtsey, then they part ways.

As they walk back to Wimbly Place, Alice clutches her sister's arm. "Did you see how handsome he was?!" she whispers eagerly. "And a captain so young! A man of action, no doubt."

"I saw, I saw," Rebecca replies with a little laugh. "If you're going to try to ensnare an army man, my dear, I do suggest you choose someone more like that."

"Hmmmm. You watch; I'll have him wrapped around my finger come summertime. And maybe more than that!" Alice says with a giggle. Rebecca rolls her eyes, but smiles, as the girls continue on their way, ribbons utterly forgotten.

***

The next few days pass uneventfully (aside from Alice and Peggy's usual squabbles). That Saturday, though, as Esther is settling down in the parlor to read, she's interrupted by her father knocking on the door and poking his head in.

"Esther, m'dear - are you there? Ah, good. I have excellent news, my girl. You have a most unexpected visitor!"

Swinging the door wide, George steps forward, beaming, to allow in a red-haired young woman with green eyes who's dressed for traveling. Esther's book nearly slips from her fingers as she stands, stunned.

"Annalise!" she exclaims.

"It's me!" the redhead cries merrily, grinning. Esther stares at her unbelieving for a second. Annalise is an age-mate of Esther's, a girl with whom she was close all her life, until Annalise moved to stay with relatives on the Continent three years ago. Esther has missed her dearly, and she wants to run over and clasp her in her arms, now, but for a split second she hesitates - would that be appropriate, after all this time?