Offer to help him with his work.

Alice snaps her fingers. "I have a wonderful idea, Captain Simmons! Why don't I come to your barracks sometime soon to help you with your work? I've a good hand and a good head for sums. I'm sure I could be of use to you!"

Simmons laughs. Alice blinks indignantly. "I beg your pardon? What are you laughing at me for?"

"No, it's just - " Simmons chuckles. Alice breaks into a grin, too amused by his amusement to stay indignant.

"What?! You must not simply laugh at me. It's true, I've a good head for numbers! I am more than just a silly girl, however charming," Alice exclaims.

"I do not doubt your abilities, Miss Foxhaven!" the Captain says merrily, getting his laughter under control at last. "Not at all. And I thank you for your charming and most generous offer. It's only that I don't think you've quite thought it through - it would not be at all proper for you to come to the barracks. And besides, I'm afraid very little of my work has to do with sums. Much more of it is shouting at infantrymen, organizing drills, and distributing muskets. And while I am charmed by the idea of you as a drill sergeant - and even believe you could be a great one, if you set your mind to it! - I do not think either you or the men would enjoy the arrangement very much."

"Hmmm. I'd not thought of that," Alice says with a chuckle. "Well, I suppose I cannot help you with your work. But still, you must tell me if there is anything I can do to help you relieve stress - anything at all." She bats her eyelashes at him. Too coquettish? Eh, men are simple. Can't hurt to overdo it.

Captain Simmons smiles down at her. "I do truly appreciate your offer, Miss Foxhaven," he says, more seriously. "But let me be frank with you - these social occasions, in which I get to spend time with such charming, wonderful people as yourself, are my best reprieve. Thank you for that." Alice beams at him. This is going well!

As the pair turns another corner back toward the front of the house, they pass a well-dressed man in his late 30s, who gives them a regal nod and passes on. Alice twists her head around to follow his path as they continue.

"My word! I think that was Lord Chattersworth!" In response to Simmons's unspoken question, she continues: "Lord Chattersworth is old nobility - old old, the Earl of Huntingdon. He's practically the only one left who keeps a home in this county...but he's not actually been here for a couple of years! I wonder what's brought him back."

"Ah yes, I've heard of him," Simmons says with a frown. "Odd that he would not introduce himself, but...well, I suppose I can't expect to brush shoulders with the height of nobility. We'll leave him to introduce himself when he's feeling generous, eh?" He chuckles, and Alice laughs as they re-enter the parlor and merge back into the reception.

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.