"Everything's ready for the party, Mr. Williams," a woman's voice echoed throughout the Williams residence, her soft heels clanking against the hardwood flooring, she went into the study where a man sat in his late uncle's chair, relaxed with a cup of tea.

A smile on his forty-something year old face, Arthur thanked her for the update, before inquiring if the invites were sent out as requested.

As she nods, his maid replied, "Yes sir, we've gotten them all out. Though, one of your guests… are you sure the information's, correct?"

When Arthur Williams announced he was having a party, he had the maid write out the invitations, but one of them perturbed her.

Unexplained, her employer had her write out an invite for someone called the Doctor, no other information other than that, and he insisted that she call the Doctor, rather than send him an invite through the post.

It was quite an unusual experience, that the maid wasn't sure that if she was doing the right thing, but Arthur insisted that she was doing what he requested correctly.

Though, she never found out much more than the number and someone called the Doctor.

Gripping his cup of tea, Arthur continues asking about the maid's duties, regarding the guests coming, and she confirmed they're all arriving on time.

Four guests, including the Doctor.

"Excellent," Arthur thanks her for telling him what he wanted to know.

He dismisses her from the study, but before she left, she asks him, "Sir, if I may, who's the Doctor?"

Sitting back in his elegant chair, his cup resting on its coaster, Arthur explains to his maid, "An odd man, but a man I'd like nothing more to see, again."

The maid then went on to inquire, "Why so, sir?"

A smile appears on his face, Arthur says, "I'd like to thank him, in person, for giving me a new lease on life."

Arthur hadn't spoken much about himself, not since his uncle's death and the sudden passing of his beloved friend, Hammond, years prior, he's been quiet, subdue, unlike himself as of recent, that it's almost a relief he opted to have a party.

Though given his eccentric tendencies and his blindness, his maid often worried about him, but the man stubbornly prevailed, any means necessary.

The maid nods, and bows, excusing herself to finish her task.

As the door closes behind her, Arthur places his cup down onto the table beside him, his fingers laced together as he leans forward, staring at the closed door. A small smile gracing his lips, but for only a few minutes, until it went away, and something else replaces it, something subdue.

He stayed seated like so for a few minutes before finally standing up, pulling on his pristine suit jacket, before walking around his desk.

Stopping short of the door, he thoughtfully turned back, retrieving his cane, before stepping out of his study.

The day's spent ensuring everything's tended, the party shouldn't last but a few hours, there's enough wine and brandy to last.

A dinner course, planned down to the very plates, set to be readied by the time everyone's settled into the party.

By the end of the day, Arthur retreated to his study, but not before stopping at a portrait in the corridor before his study.

Elegant, aged heavily by the years, parts ruined forever by the fire, depicted in the portrait is that of a woman wearing an elegant blue veil and dress, the veil covering her face.

A smile appears on Arthur's face, as he briefly glanced at the portrait, before heading back to his study, where he remained for most of the night.

Come morning, the day of the party, Arthur went around his estate, mindful of the scurrying of his maid, flustered as she hurried to make sure everything is prime for the party.

"Oh, Mr. Williams, how will I know what the Doctor looks like?" Ethel asks him as he's stopped by the staircase.

A thoughtful look on his face, Arthur replied, "I'll know if it's him, Ethel. Please do not disturb me until it is time for the party. I have much to do."

Nodding, Ethel watched her employer carefully ascend the staircase, retreating back to his study, where he stayed for much of the day until his maid retrieved him.

The bustling of Arthur's guests echoed throughout the modest home that he inherited from his late uncle.

Scholars, mostly.

People he worked with at the university, odd fellows, but fellows they were, and they all came to his party.

As he mingled among them, he didn't hear any mention of the Doctor, and grew concerned that the Doctor hadn't shown up.

Ethel confirmed that she didn't see anyone she didn't recongise at the door, leading Arthur to assume that the Doctor wasn't coming to his party, at all.

Though, that thought went away, as he quickly remembered the one thing about the Doctor that's always sure.

The Doctor arrives, precisely when he means to, he'll turn up, in time, for now, it is Arthur's best interest ensuring his guests have a wonderful time.

Conversations ranged from university work, gossip, everything under the sun, poor Ethel ran around filling everyone's drinks that she had to go down to the cellar more than one to grab more bottles for the guests.

Much of it was for the old professor, but that's understandable, he liked talking a lot.

The guests picked the platters clean; it was finally time to head into the dining room for dinner.

However, the Doctor hadn't shown himself.

Ethel started getting fussy, complaining the Doctor's a terrible guest keeping his host, but Arthur didn't show any animosity for the tardiness.

He encouraged her to calm herself, while he tended the guests in the dining room.

The first course was served, a light soup, something Arthur found a recipe during his time at the university and had the cooks study it.

The guests talked amongst themselves as Ethel poured them drinks, a look in her eyes as she sees an empty seat.

"He'll show himself, Ethel," Arthur assures her.

In a hushed tone, Ethel went, "He's just rude, sir!"

Of all people, nothing bothered her more's someone who's late to a party and didn't call ahead.

As the grandfather clock struck the next hour, there's a chime at the door.

Standing up, Arthur excused himself from the table, despite Ethel insisting she get the door herself; he calmly ordered her to continue tending to his guests, and she did just that.

His cane tapping against the ground, he found himself at the door, with his free hand, he opened it.

Upon opening it, he heard a voice, "Excuse me, is this the Williams residence?"

Tilting his head, Arthur replied, "It is, who you might be?"

He heard back, "I'm… the Doctor, you invited me."

Slowly recoiling, Arthur mused, "You sound quite strange, Doctor, I'd hardly recongise you if you didn't tell me."

He then heard another voice beside the man claiming to be the Doctor, a woman.

"And who're you?" Arthur questioned her.

The woman replied, "I'm Taylor. Grace Taylor."

Further confused, Arthur mentions, "I don't recall you, miss."

That name didn't ring a bell.

"Sir, Professor Othello's being difficult with the brandy," he heard Ethel coming from behind as she went to inform him about Professor Othello's behaviour regarding the brandy served with the dinner.

Sighing, Arthur responds, "There's a bottle at the third row in the farthest back of the cellar, fetch that for him, would you, please?"

Oh, Professor Othello, a bright, yet stubborn man.

Slowly nodding, Ethel agreed to retrieve the bottle, before she caught sight of the man and the woman.

"It's the Doctor," Arthur introduced her to the man, "and his guest, Miss Taylor."

Recoiling, Ethel stared at the man with chestnut hair cut short and combed, defined face, and the prettiest eyes she's ever seen.

The woman next to him has hair the shade of apples, with some strands of blonde, bright emerald eyes, and a face that reminded Ethel of her beloved sister.

"I'd get that bottle, you know how the professor gets," Arthur reminded Ethel of his prior order and she immediately nods, excusing herself as she went to fetch the bottle for the professor.

Letting them through the doorway, Arthur mused, "Are you always late to these events, Doctor?"

A smile on the Doctor's face, he answers, "I'm terribly sorry, Mr. Williams, something came up."

An understanding nod, Arthur led them through his home towards the dining room, where he introduced the pair to the other guests.

"Welcome to my home, Doctor," Arthur smiles.