Hamish had left earlier that day to rid himself and his family of an insane haberdasher, only to return in the night with that same mad hatter and an additional problem consisting of a slender giant with one eye and more arrogance inflating his ego than Hamish has ever encountered (even in himself, which is quite saying something, Hamish is willing to admit begrudgingly. Being truthful with himself is something he is getting better at, though he does not like it in the least and would have preferred to remain oblivious to his pompousness, thank-you-very-much-Alice-for-bringing-it-to-his-attention). So, he has his hopes rather high in expecting his mother to be in bed once more when he allows the two guests (the word hurts him physically) to stride past him into his house while he holds the door open (he hadn't been intending this at all, he didn't hold doors for men, how had this happened?) and stands looking ruffled (the carriage ride, while free of conflict, hadn't been pleasant). He is still holding said door when he hears the squalling squeal of a banshee that he recognized with annoyance as his mother's.

He joins the crowd forming in his newly furnished sitting room (it does look quite lovely, he notes, they really should have updated it sooner) with a slow stride that speaks of no concerns or that anything is out of the ordinary, despite his mother's borderline hysteria, long-absent father's presence (it is so good to see him, Hamish truly hopes he will take this situation in hand and allow his overly taxed son an escape-and it has only been a day!), the scowling giant, and the vibrantly decorated Scotsman. Lord Ascot is attempting to calm his wife, who is hyperventilating in a high backed armchair, while Stayne has settled himself along the new couch, appearing annoyed but at home, and Mr. Hightopp has taken another chair across the table from Hamish's mother and is peering at her with all the appearance of one offended by the utter lack of decorum being displayed before him (as though the hatter has any right).

"Hamish!" His father's voice is overcome with relief (which Hamish is certain won't last long). "It's so good to see you, son."

A mirror of Hamish's own thoughts, the young lord wonders if possibly his father is sharing some other of his thoughts (namely, that the other man will free him of his unwanted troubles). If so, it appears neither of them will be appeased. "And you as well, Father. We've just come from the Kingsleigh house. It would seem you and Alice have arrived home two weeks early."

The question in his statement is apparent, one that Alice herself had pushed aside and then been forgotten amongst the chaos that had afterward ensued.

The elder Ascot nods, weariness overtaking his features as he glances tiredly between him wife, son, and, to Hamish's confusion, Stayne. "Yes. We hurried back as soon as we could, going so far as to leave the Wonder behind in China for its refit and take a faster ship that was departing earlier-though the company on board was hardly civil. But I hope our haste has not made us too late. I wanted to give Alice some time home with her family in private first, but I wish to see them as soon as possible. Tell me Hamish, how is Helen fairing? Is it her health?"

"What of Mrs. Kingsleigh's health?" Hamish asks, brow furrowing. "There didn't appear to be anything amiss, and we spent the whole day with her."

Lord Ascot's face loosens, his eyes widening. "Really? That's wonderful news! I suppose I jumped to conclusions, and I've never been gladder to be wrong." He smiles then, settling down onto the love seat beside his wife, who is sitting stiff as a board and refusing to take her eyes off Hatta (all the men continue to ignore her). "When Alice received that letter and then insisted we rush home, that it was an emergency, I thought first of Helen. What was the emergency then?"

"I know of no emergency, Father. No message has been sent, to my knowledge, from mother and I, or the Manchesters, or Helen, since our last correspondence, indicating you'd both be home in two more weeks from now."

The confusion is back again, and it spreads between both of the Ascot men. "Then who was that message from, and why did Alice say it was so urgent? We left in the middle of an important business deal, and the Wonder-Alice adores that ship, and this company means everything to her. She wouldn't just have up and left it all for no reason. Did she mention anything to you, Hamish?"

"Nothing." Hamish replies, sniffing the air fiercely in indignation (he is not used to lacking information, especially when Alice is involved. Hamish considers himself an invaluable source on everything Alice, and here he is, slighted again-how many times would it be in this single day? Perhaps he will wake up in the morning and things will be normal again... but he doubts it). "Though we didn't have much time to chat once she arrived-"

"What with Tarrant destroying Alice's mother's precious living room." Stayne cuts in, picking idly at his fingernails. He glances down, running a hand along the back of a guest chair. "I must say, your furniture is exquisite. Looks almost... brand new... What do you think, Tarrant?"

Hamish cringes as the milliner glances about curiously. "It is rather marvelous," he replies chipperly, causing Stayne to smile gleefully behind his back (obviously, this man is very observant-or very used to Hatta's fits. Maybe both. And the milliner is equally oblivious.). "I like it much better than what you all had this morning. The coloring was dreadful."

Stayne barks with laughter, and both Mr. Hightopp and Lord Ascot watch him, puzzled, while Lady Ascot shoots daggers at her only son (who can only think that this is not going well, not at all). Hurrying before anyone can start puzzling the situation together, Hamish says, "I have plans to see Alice again tomorrow. I'm certain we can work things out then, figure out what all is going on."

"Sounds wonderful," Lord Ascot replies, sinking in relaxation into his chair. "I think I shall turn in for the night, then. I have been wracked with worry the whole trip home so that I've hardly slept, and it's a load off my mind to know that Helen is safe. A good night's rest will do me good, I think. Dear, would you care to...?"

Lady Ascot is still glaring up a storm, eyes wide and mouth clipped shut with such pucker that she appears dreadfully duck-faced with disapproval. Lord Ascot stares down at his wife curiously, then places a gentle hand on her shoulder. She takes it, eyes now locked on the hatter, and rises with all the stiff dignity she can muster. Hands still lightly guiding his wife, Lord Ascot leads her from the room, nodding to Hamish as he goes.

"You'll see to our guests, son?"

"Of course."

"Good man."

And with that, the elder Ascots retire to their room. Hamish, left alone with Stayne and Hatta, is finally free to fulfill his promise to Alice.

"Sirs." He rubs his hands together, a down-to-business gesture he learned from his father, and both look up at him (Hatter, with mild curiosity; Stayne, with mild boredom). "If you're not too tired, I wish to speak some more on Alice and your relationships with her. I was able to talk to Hatta about it some, but I'm still very curious-"

"I don't care," Stayne interrupts, rubbing his temple contemptuously. "I told you I saved your precious Alice; isn't that enough?"

"Well, Alice mentioned you had met before, when she was a child, much like with Mr. Hightopp-"

"Please do not compare me to this ridiculous excuse for intelligent life."

Hatta narrows his eyes. "There's no need for name-calling."

"Please," Hamish says, hoping to stave off a fight (but with these two, he doubts that will be possible for very long). "I was just hoping to learn more about the part of Alice's childhood that seems to have been a mystery to us all. You both seem very important to her."

At this, Stayne actually appears shocked, and doesn't retort (a great relief for the young lord), whereas the Hatter smiles brightly (and Hamish is certain this time that his tie puffs up proudly. After the talking cat and mouse, he isn't going to doubt anything anymore, sadly). The fact that Hamish (nor Alice, for that matter) has any idea if these two men are, in fact, important to her is thankfully lost on the two men, and Hamish is able to continue his plea.

"Mr. Stayne, Alice mentioned she testified on your behalf?"

Stayne glances his one eye Hamish's way, then closes it as though uninterested. "Yes. I had been accused of stealing from the queen. Despite knowing absolutely nothing of the incident in question, Alice was called to testify. She didn't know me, had barely even seen me once before then, but she defended me."

Stayne's eye slips open, just barely, the look on his face reminiscent, almost tender. Then it is gone, his gaze going lazy and latching onto the hatter. "Unlike this fellow, who was called to the stand and merely raved about tea and things his friends might or might not have said and proved especially useless."

"They picked me up right in the middle of my tea-"

"You're always in the middle of tea."

"Then they should have known better than to bother me!"

"She wanted to chop my head off over a poem claiming I stole some tarts!"

"You 'elped 'er chop off more 'eads than ah can rememba' fer less reason than that!"

"Gentlemen!" Hamish cuts in, very, very worried this might come to blows (for both men are leaned forward in their seats, faces fierce with anger). He is also rather concerned about this talk of beheading (Stayne had helped behead people during this war their country had had? He isn't so sure he wants this man around Alice at all, saved her life or not). "That's all in the past now, let's try and get along-for Alice's sake. I'm certain she'd hate to see her two companions bicker so."

In all truth, Alice would probably handle their fighting better than he is, but Hamish is finding that the mention of Alice is the only thing he can use to have some control over these men, and he will use it. Both men settle back, looking miffed but silent, and Hamish feels better for his manipulation of them. "Let's talk about something more recent, then. How did you and Alice reunite while in China?"

"China?" Stayne kicks off a boot, then the next, letting them fall with a rather dirty bounce onto the floor. "I have no idea what a 'China' is. I was at the docks in this London of yours when I spotted dearest Alice go overboard an incoming ship."

"How did Alice go overboard?" Both Hamish and Hatta ask together. Stayne looks between them, less than amused.

"She slipped—or that's what she was telling the others, I mean. She told me something different."

Hamish frowns. "What did she tell you?"

"That she was pushed."