Author's Note: Thanks to all of you who are reading/following this story. I really hope you continue to enjoy it - please let me know what you think! The feedback really does help me, especially with a work this well-loved. :)
The morning after Rose and Donna's return from Torchwood, Pete Tyler surprised his family by announcing that a guest would be joining them for dinner that evening.
Jackie's mind immediately flew to the most promising possibility. "Mr. Harkness! Oh, Donna, you really should've told me!" she exclaimed, her voice shrill with delight and nerves. "Oh! I must go see what can be done about dinner..."
Pete laid a hand on her arm, halting her rapid exit from the room. "I'm sorry, dear, but it is not Mr. Harkness. Our guest is a man I have never met before." Six sets of eyes focused on him. He grinned, allowing several moments to pass - in which his wife and youngest daughters practically danced with curiosity - before saying more. "About a month ago I received a letter and, realizing the importance and care with which such a matter should be handled, sent a prompt reply about two weeks ago. The letter is from none other than Mr. Collins."
"Not him! Oooh! He probably just wants to gloat over how he'll turn us all out once you're gone. Booted from our own house, where our girls have lived since their first breath! Unjust, that's what it is! I'm sure I would have done somethin' to fight this entail thing!" she declared, eyeing her husband accusingly.
Her eldest daughters had attempted many times to explain the nature of the entail to her - that the estate could only be passed on to the next male heir or relation and that Mr. Tyler had absolutely no say in the matter - but Jackie in her righteous indignation hardly heard them. Indeed they all felt the unfairness of the law, which would eventually uproot the girls in favor of a distant relation, a stranger, through no fault of his own.
"Indeed, it is a tragedy," Pete teased, though Rose, in catching his eye, knew he did not take it as lightly as he pretended to. Glancing at the letter in his hands, he cleared his throat. "However, my dear, he appears to be quite willing to make amends. He 'regrets the distance that has long separated our families...' Well, he can blame his hardheaded father for that... He is a clergyman and has just received a position 'courtesy of the honorable Lady Yvonne Hartman, whose generosity and benevolence I seek to repay by readying myself to perform all the required rites and ceremonies...' for which, I'm sure, his parishioners are quite grateful."
Rose and Donna exchanged silent laughter. Pete glanced at them before he continued solemnly. "He hates to be the source of such distress to our daughters and hopes to arrive at some happy reconciliation. He will arrive at about four o'clock and stay until Saturday, with the 'most gracious permission of his esteemed patroness.' "
Rose raised an eyebrow, peering up at her father to see what he thought of this puzzling man. "He seems a bit, I dunno... odd, doesn't he? Do you think he's quite sensible?"
"No, in fact I rather doubt it, sweetheart. I'm not quite sure what to make of him, to be honest; he is a contradiction, obsequious yet pompous at the same time. I'm sure he will prove quite an amusing study for you," Pete replied with some humor.
"He has good intentions, though," Donna put in, feeling an urge to defend the poor man. "That counts for something, doesn't it?"
"It certainly does, dear," Jackie declared. "And since he seems so eager to be pleasant, we will welcome him with respect and consideration." She glared significantly at Rose and Pete before bustling from the room to make preparations for his arrival. Her family, slightly shocked by her change of heart, also soon dispersed, knowing it was best not to cross Jackie Tyler.
Mr. Mickey Collins arrived exactly at four o'clock, and while he was quite good-looking, his nervousness and bumbling, affected manners quickly overshadowed all else.
"I have heard much about the beauty of the Tyler women, but they exceed even the highest praise," Mr. Collins began rather awkwardly once they were all seated in the parlor. "I'm sure that very soon you will see them all happily married." While Donna managed to maintain her composure, Rose's eyebrow quirked of its own volition, Lynda and Lucy exchanged looks of amazement and horror, and even Joan appeared a bit shocked at his statement.
However Jackie, who was not perturbed in the least, agreed wholeheartedly. "That is my dearest wish, and truly their only hope for a comfortable life, things being what they are."
"By which you mean the entail, I suppose?" Mickey guessed, fidgeting slightly in his seat.
"It is very hard, you know. Not that I'm blaming you," she assured him with a sad smile.
Mickey swallowed before plastering a grin on his face. "I am only too aware of the... situation my cousins face and am sorry to be its cause. I, er... I do not want to seem too forward..." Mickey stammered, "but I am quite willing to admire my lovely cousins, and perhaps, in time..."
Luckily, here he was interrupted by the call to dinner, the room breathing a collective sigh of relief as he followed a chattering Jackie out of the room. He found something to praise at every turn, which would have brought Jackie more pleasure if he didn't stand to inherit it all one day. She ignored the niggling feeling, wanting very much to keep this affable young man on their side. Despite her best intentions, however, she nearly flew at him when he asked which of her talented daughters had made their delicious dinner.
"We are not that bad off, Mr. Collins," she replied tersely. "We have a cook, and a ladies' maid as well."
"Oh. I'm sorry. Please, forgive me," Mickey sputtered. Jackie did and quickly, hearing the genuine apology in his tone. Yet he seemed unable to forgive himself, as he continued to apologize for the next fifteen minutes.
During dinner their father engaged Mickey in a discussion of "his most gracious patroness," much to the girls' dismay. Mickey delivered his description of her elegant home and overbearing presence with a deference and gratitude that made Rose curious. She wondered if, beneath all the bluster and humble posturing, he might be an almost likable man, if somewhat foolish. In a quiet moment, after the others had headed to bed, she questioned her father about it.
Pete looked rather surprised by her question, and paused to consider a moment before answering. "His father was not a caring or responsible man, and I doubt he was very involved in raising his son. His grandmother, however, was a very good woman. I believe she died several years ago, and his mother died when he was very young." He sighed, nodding slightly at his daughter and smiling. "It is just like you to see beneath the surface. He is more than a bit foolish, but perhaps I should go a little easier on him, considering. I promise to try at least."
Rose grinned in reply. She loved the closeness she shared with her father. They could almost always find the humor in things, giving them a secret joy and courage in the most trying circumstances, and others could not help but feel it. While she couldn't help being amused by his folly, her heart resolved to discover if perhaps there was more to Mr. Collins than met the eye.
Unfortunately, the events of the next few days would serve to somewhat derail her compassion and resolve.
Mickey Collins' less-than-ideal childhood had taught him humility, but it had also created a yearning for more. He had loved his Nana dearly, storing up the love and respect he received during their visits to supplant the near absence of them in his daily life. Her loss had hurt terribly, both mentally and emotionally. Over time he had gradually internalized his father's views of his son's uselessness and stupidity, resulting in a man who now felt keenly the honor and attention granted by Lady Yvonne's position. When she advised that he should find a wife, his kind heart had immediately thought of the relations whom he had often worried about and wished to know.
While he found the eldest Miss Tyler all she was reputed to be, beautiful and very kind and probably the epitome of what his patroness hoped for him, he felt drawn to the liveliness he'd seen in Rose. As a result, he felt little disappointment when, at breakfast the next morning, Mrs. Tyler gently informed him that Donna was "as good as spoken for," which she truly believed was the truth.
"Miss Rose is quite pretty herself, and has a lot of spirit," Mickey responded.
"Indeed," Jackie said, pleased that he seemed undeterred in his kind intentions to her family. She eyed him speculatively a moment, though, unsure if he would be match enough for her Rose, but her happiness at the thought of two married daughters soon crowded out any other concerns.
Later that morning Lucy declared a desire to walk into town and visit their aunt, an exercise which they undertook with increasing regularity since the arrival of so many attentive and available young officers. All but Joan agreed to accompany her. Joan had lately found an especially interesting book on botany and welcomed a quiet house in which to read it.
With similar thoughts, Pete Tyler encouraged Mickey to walk with them and see the town. He had been trying, really he had, but the silly boy followed him about, seeming determined to disrupt his peace with meaningless chatter. He had even invaded his study, the one masculine room in his home where he could retreat to read and ponder in quiet. While Rose or Joan might occasionally enter to find a book, there was an unspoken agreement to do so in silence.
To his relief Mickey agreed readily, much preferring a walk to study anyway. Lucy and Lynda traipsed on ahead, leaving Rose and Donna to entertain Mr. Collins. Try as Rose might to engage him with talk of music or his job or even the weather, he seemed caught in a loop, and all of it circled back to Lady Yvonne's musical preferences, boundless generosity, or magnificent grounds. Catching on to her endeavor, Donna subtly tried to help Rose reach past all the pomp and flattery. Remembering what she'd learned about his family life, Rose gently broached the subject. "My father says your grandmother was an amazing woman," she said, carefully watching his reaction to make sure she hadn't pushed too far.
Mickey's face softened, a real smile lighting it that made the years melt away. "Nana." He spoke her name with quiet reverence. "Yeah. She was the best."
Tears stung the back of her eyes, and she glanced at Donna to see that she was touched as well. Before either of them could react, however, his demeanor quickly changed again, the practiced persona springing back into place as he told them about Lady Yvonne's latest novel idea of adding shelves to his closets.
As they reached the outskirts of town, the younger girls immediately grew more attentive. They soon spotted their favorite, Adam Mitchell, who was conversing with a handsome, well-dressed stranger. Pretending to be interested in a shop window nearby, the girls quickly crossed the street with their sisters in tow. Bowing to the ladies, Adam greeted them with a smile. "Please allow me to introduce my friend, Mr. Saxon. He has just returned with me from town and has accepted a position in our regiment." While they had first noticed his appearance, Harold Saxon soon charmed them all with his friendliness, humor, and easy yet impeccable manners.
As they were thus happily talking, two gentlemen approached on horseback. Mr. Harkness and Mr. Smith, upon recognizing the Tyler girls, slowly drew near to the party. "You seem much better, Miss Tyler," Jack called down from his seat while flashing Donna a wide grin, relief and joy evident in his voice.
Taking a moment to draw courage, Donna met his kind gaze. "I feel much better, Mr. Harkness, thank you," she replied with a shy smile. Rose smiled up at him as well, noticing as she did that Mr. Smith seemed to be almost studiously avoiding her gaze. Moments later she startled as he suddenly went unnaturally still, the color draining from his face. Alarmed by the storm she witnessed brewing in his dark eyes, she quickly searched to find the cause of his odd behavior, stopping short when she came to Mr. Saxon. For a brief moment the newcomer looked flushed and almost afraid before he quickly composed his features. Rose watched in fascination as Mr. Saxon nodded slightly, which earned him a curt nod in response. Soon afterwards Mr. Harkness and his friend said their goodbyes, though Rose didn't miss the way Mr. Smith's eyes flashed to hers with... was that concern? ... before they turned their horses down the lane.
The girls and Mr. Collins made their way to their aunt's, Rose's curiosity prickling beneath her skin. What had that been about? The more she knew of Mr. Smith, the more his behavior puzzled and, to be honest, frustrated her. Deciding that this was hardly the time or place for such musings, she turned her thoughts to the more pleasant conversation around her concerning the fascinating Mr. Saxon.