Anne goes outside to Mr. Twilwell

Anne tears her gaze away and directs it back to Brightson. "Er - excuse me, Mr. Brightson. I think my sister needs me outside."

Brightson blinks in surprise and looks back and forth between Rebecca (who is still amiably chatting with Mr. Twilwell) and Anne. "Uh - yes? Well, in that case, don't let me detain yo - " But Anne has already bobbed a curtsey and is heading intently for the door, book forgotten.

"Here, that's odd," comments the bookseller. "Did Miss Foxhaven just walk away from you? Without a farewell?"

"Hm? Oh, no - it's nothing," Mr. Brightson mutters, watching with some concern as Anne emerges and greets Mr. Twilwell warmly.

"Hmph. Not like her, I'd say," the bookseller says sourly. "Normally such a polite girl...odd, that." He shakes his head and goes back to stocking his shelves, muttering about the problems rich people bring into town with them.

"Ah, just the precious morsel we were talking of!" Rebecca says gaily as Anne emerges from the store. Anne blushes and bobs a curtsy to Mr. Twilwell as she joins her sister."Mr. Twilwell. Rebecca, what on earth are you talking about?" she asks her sister.

"Oh, just that we were agreeing together right now what fine eyes you have - and other assets," Rebecca replies with a smirk. Anne gasps, slightly scandalized.

"I assure you, Miss Foxhaven, it was an entirely appropriate and harmless conversation," Twilwell says with a little smile.{if Twilwell-Anne > 40} He bends and lifts her hand, brushing her knuckles with his lips in a courtly greeting.{endif} "I must say, though, that I am glad to see you again. And my running into you both is most fortuitous - just this morning I sent out an invitation that I'm happy to repeat in person. I have some family coming into town, and I wished to invite your family to come and dine with us this Friday next. I know that you can't speak to this for all your family, but do you think it likely that you'll be able to attend?"

Anne's heart soars. A personal invitation! This is delightful - clearly, Twilwell is interested in getting to know her better. Or at least in getting to know the family...but in any case, it's good news. She glances at Rebecca, who smiles. "I can't speak with certainty, Mr. Twilwell, but I do think that we should be able to join you! Thank you kindly for the invitation."

"Of course!" Twilwell exclaims, beaming. He glances back and forth between the two sisters and smiles. "Well, I suppose I should let you be off - and I must about my own errands as well. But it was a pleasure to run into you, Miss Foxhaven. Miss Foxhaven." He doffs his hat gallantly to them and the two girls curtsy, then he walks away to be about his own business.

As soon as he's out of earshot, Rebecca leans over to Anne and murmurs to her, "Well, that went well! I hope that this means he is interested...can you imagine what a coup it would be for someone from our family to marry into his?" She smirks. "You're blushing again, Anne. I'm glad you blush so easily, for it makes you quite attractive to men." She strokes her sister's cheek with a laugh. "What on earth took you so long in the bookstore, anyway?"

"Oh - " Anne comes up short as she realizes she left Mr. Brightson abruptly. "I encountered Mr. Brightson...but I left him rather suddenly when I saw you both..."

"Hmm. I think Mr. Twilwell appreciated the way that you jumped out here like a little spaniel when you saw him," Rebecca says teasingly. "Well done on that front, at least."

"Yes...but I really should apologize to Mr. Brightson..."

"Lost your chance, I'm afraid," Rebecca comments. "Look, there he goes."

Anne follows her finger, distressed, and sees that Mr. Brightson is indeed striding down the street out of town - he must have exited the bookseller's while they were talking with Mr. Twilwell. "Oh, dear," she mutters.

"Nothing to be done about it now!" Rebecca exclaims, taking her arm. "Besides, what would you want with a parson? Come on - with any luck, Mr. Twilwell's invitation should be waiting for us when we get home!"