Yes, best to escort Alice

Rebecca smiles at the young Captain. "Why, thank you, Captain Simmons." Behind the man's back, in the corner of her eye, Alice is mouthing something to her. "I'm sure we'd both be happy to take a turn with you." Alice glares. Ah, that was supposed to be Let me alone with him. Oh, well. Surely better not to.

The trio make their way out of the parsonage and onto its grounds. Going around the side of the squat stone cottage, they amble into its wide lawn, exchanging idle pleasantries.

"And how do you find yourself enjoying your work, Captain Simmons?" Rebecca asks. "It must be a great challenge to keep so large an organization as an Army regiment in line."

"Indeed it is," Simmons admits. "And I admit I find it taxing, at times. My father would be disappointed - he himself served in the Army nearly his entire life - but that's the truth of the matter."

"I'm sure that in that case, your father would understand the challenges you face entirely," Rebecca says sympathetically.

{if Barnes-Alice < 0}"I can well imagine that such a large group of uncouth louts are difficult to maintain discipline over," Alice says sharply. "They seem at times like little more than a rabble."

Simmons raises an eyebrow. "You're not far off the truth there, Miss Foxhaven."{elseif Barnes-Alice > 0}"I can imagine that it's hard to discipline men who...include some rather strong personalities," Alice mutters.

Simmons raises an eyebrow. "Indeed."{else}"It does seem like it would be hard to maintain discipline over so many men of such low class," Alice comments.

"You're not wrong," Simmons says with a little chuckle. "Though they're good lads. Well, most of them."{endif}

Rebecca smiles. "And you're following in your father's footsteps! That must surely please him."

"I think it did, before he died," Simmons says wistfully. "My elder brother is in finance, a career made possible by my father's good service to the King. He and my father never quite saw eye-to-eye on that choice, and I think it bothered my father that they never quite had a full resolution. Of course, they got on in other ways...and whatever his hesitations about my brother's career, he still left him the head of the household when he died." The Captain's face darkens as he says this last.

"I'm sure that your father was very proud of you both," Rebecca says smoothly.

"He was. And of - well, yes. He was," Simmons murmurs.

"Well, hang it all, why should he be proud of the eldest son flouting his wishes?" Alice asks indignantly. "Captain Simmons here seems like the perfect son! I think your father ought to have left you the money and told your brother to get by with what he could scrape up speculating!"

"Alice!" Rebecca chides through gritted teeth. Simmons is smiling faintly, though.

"You're kind to say so, Miss Foxhaven. But it was not to be. And my brother and father did love each other dearly when my father was alive. My brother and I...well, we've had other differences since father's death. But best not to dwell on those. Shall we return to the house?"

As the threesome turns another corner, they pass a well-dressed man in his late 30s with sandy hair, who gives them a regal nod. Rebecca and Alice's eyes widen, though Simmons just returns the nod. As they get some distance from the fellow, Alice asks Rebecca, "Rebecca, was that Lord Chattersworth?"

"It was indeed," Rebecca murmurs. "Lord Chattersworth is one of the few old-line nobility who still maintain a home near Highbury, Captain Simmons. Although he maintains the house here, he's not been part of the social scene for some time...apparently he's back in the county."

"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 the girls laugh 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.