What they found outside the Tardis doors was underwhelming. Rose had landed them deep in the woods with not so much as a road in sight. Reluctant to admit any kind of mistake, she insisted that they walk until finding a town, a house, or really anywhere they could get their bearings. However, after about a mile walking in an ankle length dress, Rose was ready to admit defeat.
"So maybe I missed by a bit, I mean, human error, yeah? After all, I did only specify a county, not a city or nothin." The Doctor, whose previously cream coloured converse were now caked with mud, conceded this was so. "And it was my first time properly driving all on my own, so if the years are a bit off, you know, hardly my fault."
The Doctor opened his mouth to reply to this statement when a house loomed into view. It wasn't the grandest house, Rose thought, but it looked about three stories tall. Quaint was more the word for it, with its weathered yellow stone, large windows, and a neat lawn stretched out the front. The two walked around towards the front of the house, and the Doctor reached out to squeeze Rose's hand.
"So, this is your trip, Rose Tyler, you make the decisions. Do we go up to the house? Or do we explore some more?"
Rose grinned, relishing her control. "I think we go see what this house is about. What's the point of travelling if you don't meet the people, right Doctor?"
"Quite right."
"So, allons-y, then," Rose said, imitating him at his most impatient. He raised his eyebrows at her good naturedly, and looped his arm in hers as they wandered up the dirt drive, and up the few steps to an impressive set of double doors. Rose knocked firmly, and dusted down her dress to make herself look slightly more presentable. The door swung open suddenly to reveal an aging woman whose face showed disapproval so confidently that the expression must have been permanent. From the apron she wore, Rose assumed she was the housekeeper, or something of the sort.
"Good afternoon," the woman glanced icily at Rose and the Doctor's mud-spattered clothes, "What can I do for you?"
"Uhhh," Rose started, "Is anyone here, um, that we could talk to? Whoever lives here, I mean?"
She gestured them in coldly, "If you will be so kind as to follow me, I shall inform Mr and Mrs Phillips that they have guests."
"Brilliant." The Doctor replied brightly, though even his enthusiastic grin did not warm her expression.
"And what names should I announce?"
"This is Miss Rose Tyler and I'm the Doctor."
The housekeeper remained unimpressed. "Doctor what?"
"Smith," Rose chipped in before the Doctor could protest, "Dr John Smith." The housekeeper turned to lead them into the house, and as they walked the Doctor pulled a face at her back, causing Rose to try and stifle a giggle and attempt to look disapproving.
They followed the woman into a sitting room where they were announced to a group of five. Rose couldn't help noting with relief that the people in the room looked much more normal than their standoffish housekeeper suggested. The man sitting nearest to the door looked in his early fifties and Rose assumed he was the Mr Phillips that the housekeeper had mentioned. His wife then was the woman sitting in the armchair directly to his right. Mrs Phillips looked slightly younger than her husband, she would have been quite pretty in her youth with her dark curly hair -now streaked sparsely with grey- and her intelligent eyes. There were three others in the room; a young woman and a young redheaded man, both looked to be about Rose's age, and another redhead- this time a girl in her teens.
The older woman spoke first. "I am Mrs Phillips, this is my husband, my son, Matthew, my daughter, Cecelia, and my youngest daughter Emily." Each member of the family bowed their head as they were introduced. "I don't believe I had heard your names before, are you new in town?"
The Doctor looked to Rose, raised his eyebrows and nodded towards the woman, urging her to speak.
"Uhhhh…yes?" She said uncertainly, caught off guard by the Doctor's uncharacteristic lack of verbosity. She silently urged him to take over the talking.
After a brief, awkward pause, the Doctor rolled his eyes at her and charged into his normal lightning fast speak. "Mrs Phillips, was it? Yes? Well, my dear dear Mrs Phillips, Miss Tyler here was in London for the winter and I was to accompany Miss Tyler on her journey back to her uncle's house in Cambridge. It was an extremely pleasant journey until, not two miles down the road, we were attacked by bandits! The carriage was stolen, along with all of our belongings. We stand before you without a single worldly possession, lost and worn out by our long trek to find help." He was fairly bouncing with enthusiasm as he stopped speaking, obviously having fun delivering this monologue. His eager expression slightly putting his last claims to doubt, Rose thought. The Doctor always enjoyed lying extravagantly, but this story seemed a bit ludicrous, even by his standards.
Mr Phillips spoke up, easily accepting the Doctor's explaination. "The roads nearby are notorious for the threat they pose to travellers. My sincerest condolences."
"How terribly awful," Emily, the youngest daughter, chimed in sympathetically, "can we do anything to help?"
The Doctor considered this offer and replied, "At the present we are completely lost. If perhaps you could give us directions to the nearby town where an honest hotel is to be found, we could not repay your kindness enough."
Emily looked affronted at this. "Oh, no! You mustn't go into town, you must stay with us! We have spare rooms enough, don't we mama?"
The older daughter, Cecelia, agreed, "Certainly we cannot make them walk into town tonight, it is a good hour by foot and the sun is beginning to set."
Mrs. Phillips smiled affectionately at her daughters. "Quite so. Please do us the honour of staying as long as you might wish. As for your clothes, Dr Smith, I feel certain you are of Matthew's size. And certainly Cecelia can lend you anything you need, Miss Tyler."
"Mine thanks to thee are verily from my heart." Rose trilled.
"No. No, don't do that." The Doctor muttered as the rest of the room stared at her in astonishment.
Mrs. Phillips rang a bell and from nowhere, the housekeeper appeared. "Mrs. Marstworth, can you show our visitors to their rooms? I'm certain they are tired after their eventful journey."
Let me know what you think so far! xx