Tarrant had awoken early to a very cold and empty bed. He had forgotten how foreign a bed without an Alice in it was. He was always able to curl her close against his body in the night. He had gotten up quickly, dressed himself in the clothes that Margaret's maid had brought to him the night prior, and had splashed cold water upon his face. He had taken a good look into the glass this morning; Alice was right; he had changed from what he last remembered. This place was changed from everything he knew, why shouldn't he as well. Tarrant had eagerly made his way into the Manchester's house with hopes of seeing Alice before they were to join their gracious hosts for breakfast. Alice was not too eager to call them gracious, especially after her argument with her sister. Tarrant smiled at his feisty lady, she was not one to step down from a fight. It was clear others in her family weren't either. Tarrant began to make his way down the stairs when he felt a hand on his shoulder. With a smile he turned, expecting to find Alice. Instead he met Lowell's dark, angry eyes.

"Good morning, Lord Manchester." Tarrant responded with a nod of his head. Lowell didn't answer his greeting.

"I would love to have a word with you, Mr. Hightopp." He answered instead. Tarrant winced as the man grabbed his muscled arm with a hard grip, rushing him down the stairs. Once they had descended, the Hatter found himself pulled into a private room.

"I hope nothing has happened in my stay, Lord Manchester, that has caused you alarm." Tarrant said as he even more forcefully ushered the taller man to a chair.

"Please, sit, so that we can talk about my ward." Lowell answered with mock hospitality.

"Alice?" Tarrant was confused as to what was going on.

"Yes, Alice. You see, Alice is a young woman. She has had her fill of adventures and running along. That was when she was in her mother's care. I wish to see her not dishonor her family and mine by caring on. She needs to find a proper husband and settle down. I understand you can't possibly understand this." He laughed, grabbing the milliner's wrist to exam his rough and calloused hands. "I understand that you are a mere commoner. What is it you work with? Leather, dresses?"

"Hats are my specialty." Tarrant said, pulling his hand away. Lowell shook his head and laughed.

"This is proof in itself that Alice was not wise enough to find a man that was proper for her."

"Alice found a man she was in love with." Tarrant answered. "I love her as well."

"No one of aristocracy marries for love." Lowell laughed letting go of the Hatter's wrist. "That's one of the few pleasures of a lower class such as you. But that's not what I have come here to talk about." Lowell said, sitting in a chair across from Tarrant.

"What is it you've come to say?" Tarrant's eyes flitted about, moving from object to object. They may have lost their shape and ever changing color but they didn't lose their restlessness. Lowell was making him nervous. If Alice wasn't a card in his deck he would have shown the Lord how well a Hightopp could fight. He couldn't risk putting Alice's safety at risk. He didn't want to be thrown in a dungeon or in one of those asylums that Alice kept muttering about in her nap yesterday.

"One of the maids saw Alice leaving your room yesterday evening."

"Indeed. Alice and I are grand companions; we merely were having a conversation."

"For hours on end?" Lowell shook his head. "I already know you've stolen Lady Kingsleigh's virginity. That is going to make it hard enough to marry her to a respectable man."

"Alice is already mine."

"I don't know where you've come from or who the hell you think you are. But you are nothing in this society." Lowell stood and began to pace, his hands behind his back. "If it weren't for Margaret I would send you out on your ass in the street. But since I don't want to stress my wife I will not only extend a place to stay, Mr. Hightopp, but also my aid in finding you a proper job. There aren't many opportunities for a milliner out here." He smiled. "I should also honor your help in keeping our Alice safe in her crazy adventures even if you aren't the most perfect gentleman. I am afraid that your trade will call you from the Manchester property and away from my sister in law. So you will need to say farewell to your friend, Alice."

"I intend to keep Alice right with me." Tarrant looked up at the man.

"Oh, you are going to make this difficult. I see." Lowell looked at his shoes."I am sorry to say that Alice is not yours. She is mine, she is my ward. I decide who she marries, who she courts, who she even speaks to."

"We are married!" Tarrant couldn't hold his secret in any longer. He closed his eyes, waiting for Lowell to rip him from his seat and bring him to the asylum. Instead an insane laughter flew from Lowell's lips. This surprised Tarrant causing him to reopen his eyes.

"I don't know what you've done with Alice. No one has even heard of you, Mr. Tarrant Hightopp. So whatever you think you've arranged between the two of you doesn't exist in the realm of England." Lowell smiled. "And I will never give you permission to marry Alice. My request is simple, Mr. Hightopp. Don't uncover my ward again. If I find out that you have, I swear you will become a eunuch and send you on your way. I have many friends in the Americas or China. But I am a civil man and I believe you to be one to. I respect that you haven't attacked me, I can tell your hungry to from the glint in your eye. What I ask is simple." Lowell smiled. "If you agree we can become good friends."

"I don't really think we shall ever become good friends." Tarrant growled.

"That is just as well with me." Lowell chuckled. "We had better be on our way to breakfast, else we worry Margaret." He pulled Tarrant up, pushing him to the door. Tarrant paused to turn to Lowell.

"If you so choose in picking a mate for Alice," Tarrant responded "I wouldn't be surprised if she goes to find a life at a convent."

"It's a much more honorable life than marrying a milliner." Lowell responded. With dismay Tarrant opened the door and the two went on their way to breakfast.

Alice had felt uneasy at breakfast, especially since Tarrant didn't even look her way once. She had wondered if perhaps she had done something wrong the night before but her mad man wasn't one who would hold a secret grudge. Lowell must have said something to him; her brother in law had kept looking her husband's way. Alice picked at her breakfast with her fork with distraction. Margaret had noticed but was too proper to ask what the problem would be in front of their guest. Breakfast seemed to march on forever and the Champion found herself wishing that she could whisper to Time to hurry along. But Time had no control of his brother in her world. She hadn't been able to talk to Tarrant this morning. Lowell had mentioned bringing Tarrant over to meet some of the men this morning in search of a job. Alice couldn't believe that Tarrant had agreed, they weren't going to be here that long! Alice had been able to speak with Margaret and discovered that Lowell would be staying at a friend's manner to talk business. What was so fascinating about business? Alice was glad that she wasn't a man most of the time in this world because it always seemed to involve sitting around and talking about change. There wasn't so much doing things to cause it. Tarrant and she could visit her family's abandoned country house when Lowell was distracted with his talking. It wouldn't seem so suspicious if Alice played her cards right. The woman found herself in the garden, sitting on a stone bench. She wore a hummingbird red frock that let in a slight breeze as she sat in the warm morning air. It was already late September in Upperland, Alice had realized that she was accustomed to months anymore. Days of the week were even stranger in concept. She had adjusted to her Underland so quickly and she found herself missing it so much more than she had missed her Upperland. Alice had a deep red and white striped parasol to keep the large round sun from darkening her pale skin. The garden was calming to her, it smelled faintly of Underland. The lavender was particularly soothing in scent as she held a sprig between her fingers to tease her senses. Alice had been sitting among the flowers for nearly an hour; the quiet was helping her figure out exactly what she was to do. She wished that another monster threatened her right now; picking up her Vorpal sword would be a much easier solution. The war that would rage would be one with words, not with weapons. How she wished Tarrant were here because speaking aloud always seemed to clear her mind.

"Oh I wish to go home." Alice sighed, leaning over to pluck a crocus. "You are blooming early, silly flower."

"Do flowers talk back where you come from?" A masculine voice laughed from behind her. Alice was startled and she stood in shock. She turned to see a man of medium height, he wasn't very tall, couldn't be past two meters tall. He had deep auburn hair with large blue eyes which made him appear to be very friendly but Alice was suspicious of anyone in the aristocracy she didn't know.

"It isn't very polite to startle a young lady." Alice scolded him, picking up the parasol she had dropped in her fright. "I will accept the apology that you will make," Alice looked into his deep blue eyes with assurance, for only a lady could extend friendship to a gentleman. "and you may call me Alice."

"I am terribly sorry Ms-," He smiled, bowing. He wore sable colored pants with a black over coat. It was unbuttoned due to the hot weather and Alice could tell he was warm with his ascot, white shirt, and deep green waistcoat on. Alice nearly forgot it was her turn to speak.

"Mrs. Alice Hightopp." Alice answered.

"I am Callum Gally." He said with a smile. "I'm sorry to have startled you. I am to join the Manchester's for tea this evening and I'm afraid to say that I've arrived earlier than expected."

"You are to join the Manchester's for tea?" Alice smiled. "Are you good friends with Lord Manchester?"

"I can't say that I really am. I met one of his close friends at my Spa and Bath in Blackpoole."

"Whom did you meet?"

"Lord Henry Lewis." This brought a groan from Alice's lips. "I assume you've met before from that impatient groan."

"You read me too well, Lord Gallay." She said with a smile, she enjoyed his company. He spoke to her as an equal and not a stupid woman like most aristocratic pigs of gentlemen she had spoken to in her years of being introduced at parties and teas.

"So Lady Hightopp, what has you visiting the Manchesters?"

"I am a relative." She couldn't stop smiling at this man. "Come, you don't have to stand and talk. You can sit with me."

"Are you sure your husband would be alright with it?"

"He has great faith in me." She slid over to make sure that Lord Gally could sit next to her.

"You can call me Callum." He said with a small smile that quickly meltedand took the seat.

"You may call me Alice." She wished to be friendly to him. He looked scared out of his wits talking to her and she didn't wish to see such a nice man at ease in her presence. "We are friends now." Callum shook his head.

"You make friends rather quickly, Alice."

"I don't like all the aristocratic nonsense of cat and mouse. We shall be straight forward and honest with each other from now on, agreed?" Alice smiled and held out her hand. Callum took it in his large one and shook.

"Agreed." He smiled and Alice decided he liked a smile on his face even more. He was a warm person; his face showed that he cared deeply for those around him.

"So Callum, if you yourself aren't good friends with Lowell, what brings you to tea?"

"I am meeting the Ascots here and, much to Lord Henry Lewis' and Lord Hamish Ascot's dismay, I am meeting Lady Manchester's single daughter. Apparently she's been missing for nearly a year." He crossed his right leg over left as he made himself comfortable next to Alice. "I'm sorry if I am too informal. I haven't been in the presence of a lady like this in such a long while." He answered. "You shall be my practice." Alice laughed at his jest and put a hand on his arm.

"I am glad to make you feel more at ease. I am a cavalier woman myself, not much for sitting all proper." She chuckled. "But this sister…she was missing for awhile you say?"

"Indeed!" He laughed. "I certainly would like to meet her. What a mystery that must have been to be gone for that long. I wonder if it was her decision or perhaps if she was meeting a secret lover somewhere?"

"Are you certain you are a Spa and Bath shop owner or are you really a writer?"

"I ask your apology again, Alice. I am afraid I have a bit of a curiosity that overwhelms me at times." His pale cheeks turned red.

"What an endearing quality." Alice laughed. "A healthy dose of curiosity is always a good thing." She encouraged him sincerely. She would hate to see him lose a good sense of wondering to a society of rules.

"Usually it gets me in trouble," He answered her, his dark eyebrows rising.

"You and I aren't that much different, Callum." Alice laughed. "You just mind that around Lowell if you wish to impress him."

"Does your husband have a curiosity problem?" Callum asked with a nervous smile.

"No dear, I must confess that is it I who is constantly in trouble."

"So which Manchester are you related to?"

"Oh, I am Margaret's younger sister."

"So your sister has been gone for awhile?" Callum asked as he glanced down. The chain hanging from his coat's breast pocket clinked and he pulled on it. A pocket watch popped out and he glanced at the time. "Oh my!" He arose. "I'm sorry to break the conversation, Alice, but I really must be on my way. I was to meet Lord and Lady Ascot nearly fifteen minutes ago."

"I will explain to them at tea what has happened." She winked. "Now be on your way before you test Hamish's patience and interrupt his digestion."

"You know Lord Ascot as well?" He paused but then shook his head. "We certainly will have to chat a little more during tea. I should love to meet your husband as well!" He called after her.

"Don't forget you are to meet the young lady!" Alice called and laughed. He certainly was a man that she found endearing. Alice would certainly meet him after he was introduced to Margaret's sister-Alice paused mid thought. She was Margaret's only sister. Oh, Alice! Not paying attention yet again. Callum Gally was the suitor Lowell had picked out for her!