Author's Note: Thanks for reading (and for the lovely support!:)
Beta'd by the wonderful lastincurableromantic.
After her happy retreat from dinner, Rose anxiously returned to Donna's room. Her sister looked tired and flushed, though her face lit up as Rose sat down beside her on the bed and gently laid a hand across her forehead. Upon feeling the warmth there, Rose crossed the room to the dresser, returning with a bowl filled with water and a soft cloth that she'd requested earlier. Since Donna was awake and seemed happy to have company, Rose entertained her with a colorful account of the day, all the while cooling her face and neck with the damp cloth. While she didn't feel much like talking, Donna listened quite contentedly, managing a weak laugh at the picture Rose created of her "shocking" arrival. When Rose mentioned Jack's kindness and solicitude, a soft smile graced her features that warmed her sister's heart. There was no mistaking it. Her sister was in love.
Later in the evening Rose returned to find her hosts engaged in a game of cards. Feeling little inclined to join them, she looked casually about the room. Delight lit her face when she spotted the bookcase. She eagerly and thoroughly perused its contents before selecting a small volume of Shakespeare's sonnets and settling on the sofa before the fire. When she politely refused the offer to join their game, Reinette looked up in surprise.
"Miss Rose Tyler loves to read," she declared, "and thinks herself above such common entertainment as cards."
"I do enjoy books," Rose replied honestly, quelling her impulse to react to the spiteful woman, "but I find joy in many things."
"I wish I had more books for you to choose from," Jack said, once again coming to her rescue, "but unfortunately I do not, as I rarely open them myself."
"You have a tremendous library at Gallifrey, Mr. Smith," Reinette commented to the man in question.
"I like to think so. My family has accumulated quite a few over the years," he replied, "and I seek to add to it whenever I can. Books are an invaluable source of information and entertainment, and our greatest defense against ignorance."
Rose, following the conversation with interest, could not hide the look of wistfulness that crossed her features. An honest-to-goodness library, filled with hundreds of adventures just waiting to be explored... it sounded like a dream. She had read almost every book in their home, and knew her favorites by heart. Feeling the weight of his gaze, Rose knew she'd been caught daydreaming, and her eyes briefly met Mr. Smith's curious ones before flitting back to the book in her lap.
"Has your sister grown much since we last saw her?" Reinette asked.
"Perhaps a little," John replied. "I'd guess she is now close to Miss Rose Tyler's height."
"Oh, I miss her exceedingly!" she exclaimed. "She is such a delightful girl, so poised and gracious. And she plays like an angel."
Jack shook his head in wonder. "Women never cease to amaze me. They are all so accomplished! I don't think I'd have the patience."
"Really, brother!" Reinette laughed, reaching over to pat his hand. "Dear Jack, you are so easily impressed. Do share with us this lovely feminine illusion of yours."
Shrugging off his sister's derision, Jack smiled. "Perhaps I am. Yet each young lady I meet paints, sews, and plays, in addition to her other merits," he replied while wiggling his eyebrows at Rose, who struggled to contain her laughter.
"Indeed, by that standard, many might be considered so," John admitted, slightly distracted by the playful camaraderie between his friend and their guest. "However, even with all of the ladies I have met in society both here and abroad, I believe very few could truly be called accomplished."
Rose's eyes met his, fire replacing the humor that had filled them moments ago. "You hold us to a very high standard, then, Mr. Smith."
"I do," he replied solemnly. "Just as I do for all people, particularly myself."
"But of course you do," Reinette exclaimed. "To truly be considered accomplished, a lady must surpass such simple, ordinary skills. She excels in the arts of dancing, singing, drawing, and music and can converse in several languages. Her company is pleasing and desired by many, and there is grace and elegance in whatever she does," she concluded, her chin lifted proudly.
"I suppose so," John agreed, "yet I think something more substantial is needed as well. A passion for life and learning that leads one to hunger for knowledge, and to strengthen one's mind through ample reading."
Though her brown eyes widened slightly at this comment, Rose held his gaze as she replied. "That's quite a list. I am rather surprised that you know even one woman who lives up to such expectations."
John started a bit at that, eyebrows raised. "Surely you believe women to be capable of such excellence, if they are clever enough to pursue it?"
"Maybe, if one truly desired it. But if such a woman exists, I'm sure I've never met her," Rose declared, smiling slightly. Sophisticated and elegant she might not be, but Rose Tyler knew who she was and embraced it without shame. A tiny part of her, well, perhaps not-so-tiny, found glee in watching her words hit their mark, as the other ladies began to protest rather adamantly. Soon their attention was called back to their game, however, and Rose quietly excused herself.
Reinette began to berate her almost immediately. "Miss Rose Tyler is one of those girls who belittles her own sex to gain the favor of men. Quite a distasteful trick, if you ask me, though I'm sure it works on some."
Hardly looking up, Mr. Smith murmured, "Anything involving cunning or deceit, whether used to attract attention to oneself or malign the character of another, is degrading to all involved, and ought to be avoided."
His words quite effectively silenced that avenue of conversation.
The next morning Donna's face looked a bit brighter, though at her request their mother was still sent for. While Rose hardly desired the discomfort that would undoubtedly arise from such a visit, she knew that by now her family would be quite concerned, and that seeing Donna would bring comfort and reassurance to all of them.
Jackie Tyler arrived with a giggling Lucy and Lynda in tow, much to Rose's dismay. However, Jackie was soon in her element: bustling about Donna's room, opening the windows "because a little fresh air can do a world of good," readjusting her pillows, and ordering the servants to bring up some herbal tea and toast. She patted Donna's hand affectionately, and her daughter smiled. Her meddlesome and demanding nature notwithstanding, Jackie loved her family with the fierceness of a mama wolf protecting her cubs.
Yet upon arriving downstairs, Rose found herself doubting the wisdom of her decision. Though Donna was still sick, Jackie was now satisfied that she would recover soon and fully, and she was determined that her daughter would remain at Torchwood for as long as possible. And so when Mr. Harkness, whom she had such hopes for, kindly asked after Donna, she replied, "She is still quite ill, poor thing, too weak even to stand. I hope you might let her stay just a bit longer."
"No, no! I mean - of course she must stay!" Jack cried, alarmed at the notion of her leaving. "I wouldn't dream of letting her go 'til she is quite well again."
"Of course," Reinette agreed, her tone polite yet reserved. "Rest assured, Mrs. Tyler. We will see that she receives the best care."
"You are too kind," Jackie gushed, her pleasure evident. "She is lucky to have made such good and considerate friends." Pausing to look admiringly at the fine decor of the room, she continued, "The house looks very nice, Mr. Harkness. I've always said this estate is one of the finest in the county. We do hope you plan to stay awhile," she remarked hopefully.
"Well, I can be a bit impulsive, to which my friends will readily attest," Jack admitted honestly. "When... if I decide to leave, I would go rather quickly. However, at the moment, I am quite content here."
Rose smiled at him. "'S just what I'd expect of you."
He spun to look at her. "What? You think you already know me so well?"
"Mmmhmm." Rose could barely contain her laughter at the shocked expression on his face, though she didn't miss the twinkle of amusement in his blue eyes.
"I am not sure whether to be flattered or ashamed at being so easy to read," he replied.
"You are you," she said with candor. "One's worth is not dependent on the complexity of one's character." Or the class into which you are born, she added silently.
"Rose, do hold your tongue. We are their guests!" Jackie implored, dismayed at her daughter's open impudence, though not entirely shocked.
Jack continued on, unfazed. "I didn't know you were a student of character. It must be very entertaining."
"Quite. And the most complex people are often the most diverting; I'll give them that," Rose replied, brown eyes sparking.
Here the quiet Mr. Smith chimed in quite unexpectedly. "Surely there are few such people of interest in the country, where you are destined to meet with only the same few characters each day."
"Yet people are always changing, and so there is always something new to observe in them."
"That's quite right, Rose," Jackie huffed, indignant at Mr. Smith's assumption. "We've got quite enough going on here to keep life interesting, I can assure you, and it's much more pleasant than the city, of that I'm sure."
Mr. Smith spared her a cool look before turning away in silence. Mr. Harkness, however, jumped in, declaring that he tended to prefer whatever place he happened to inhabit at that moment, earning him another grin from Rose.
"That's because you are so amiable," Jackie said, "while himself over there thinks nothing of the country."
Rose wished she could sink into the floor. "Stop it, mum," she pled quietly. "Mr. Smith only meant that we meet with less variety of people here than in town, which you know to be true."
"Well of course, sweetheart. But we do know a great number of people, more than most towns around here have. Why, we dine with at least twenty families!" Jackie declared proudly.
For the sake of his new friend, Jack valiantly fought to contain his amusement. His sisters, however, did not, delicate titters of laughter escaping from their turned faces. Rose quickly distracted her mother by asking after the Jones', which led to a rather biased comparison between Donna and Martha.
Thankfully, the end of the visit was almost in sight. Jackie and the girls were preparing to leave when Lucy, with youthful impertinence, abruptly put herself forward. Throughout the visit she and Lynda had been blessedly preoccupied with their own whispered conversation. The conclusion of which was that Lucy would ask Mr. Harkness about an earlier mention he'd made of hosting a ball.
"Of course!" Jack replied willingly, though he quickly added a stipulation. "As soon as your sister is better. You can even name the date."
The girls squealed and clapped their hands, and Rose moved quickly to the doors, ushering them towards the waiting carriage. After seeing them off, she quickly made her escape from the others, hardly meeting their eyes. She only just managed to keep from sprinting up the stairs to the haven of Donna's sickroom, quite sure of what the talk downstairs would be. She was surprised by the degree of her mortification over her family's behavior, realizing with a start that the opinion of at least one of the people in that room now mattered to her.