New to the District

Emma Vickery, more properly known as the Honourable Miss Vickery, had no idea how she had come to be here - or even where 'here' was. She had gone down to the library to exchange the first volume of her novel for the second, and had been on her way back up to the morning room and found herself here instead.

It was certainly a well-to-do place, wherever it was, with carpet on the floor, though it was a plain-coloured carpet, and the paper on the walls was very different from anything she had seen before. She opened the nearest door, cautious in case she should intrude on a male room unawares, and found herself in what was obviously some sort of parlour, although it was certainly not a room of her father's house. It appeared to be empty at the moment, however.

She had no recollection of arriving here, wherever this was, but for some reason this did not alarm her as it should, and nor did she feel worried that she had not met the owner of this place. A little surprised at her own calmness, she took a seat near the window. Rather than opening her book, she gazed out at the unfamiliar view, wondering what strangers might also have found their way to this place.

After some time, the door opened again, not with undue haste, but without hesitation either. Edward, Lord Torrington and Captain of his Majesty's Corps of Royal Engineers, came in, looking rather curious and slightly puzzled. When he saw a lady however, he immediately stopped and bowed.

"Forgive me, madam. I did not know that this room was occupied."

"I... Oh." She turned to the now open door, and saw a man in military uniform standing there, and stood up. "I beg your pardon, sir, I hope I was not intruding where I shouldn't."

Edward came a few steps closer, still looking slightly puzzled.

"You certainly do not need to beg my pardon, ma'am, as I was the one intruding. But ... forgive my impertinence, but could you tell me whom this house belongs to?"

Emma gave a rueful chuckle. "I am afraid I cannot say, sir, for I do not know myself. I had supposed it to be your house, though how I came to be here, I do not know."

Edward answered her chuckle with a rather wry smile of his own.

"I must confess I do not know either. I don't believe I have ever seen this house before."

He slowly walked closer until he, too, stood in the sunlight filtering through the window.

"As there seems to be no-one here to do the honours, allow me to introduce myself. I'm one Captain Lord Torrington of the Royal Engineers. I'm supposed to be in a field camp in Portugal at the moment."

He gave another polite bow.

She gave a polite curtsey. "I am Emma Vickery, only daughter of the Viscount Saltash, and I had just left my father's library." If the man before her was supposed to be in Portugal, then this was an even stranger place than she had first thought.

Edward frowned in surprise.

"Do I have the honour of adressing a relation of Captain John Vickery of the 60th rifles then, ma'am?"

Emma looked up at him sharply. "Yes. He is my brother, sir. How... How do you come to know him?"

"He is commanding the company I am attached to at the moment, Miss Vickery. May I say that, however strange these circumstances are, it is an honour to meet you? He has mentioned you several times."

"Oh. How... strange. I hope he is well?" She was sure she had gone pink; coming to the notice of a strange gentleman in this manner was most disconcerting.

"Yes, he is quite well. His recent injury seems to heal to his satisfaction as well. Perhaps if we can find my entrance to this rather strange place, you might ascertain this facts for yourself."

Edward looked around again, trying to find any hint of what this place was.

"It seems to be some sort of inn or something, sir, though it is like none i have ever seen before," she said, looking around herself.

"I am glad my brother is healing. Do you know how he came to be wounded?" she added. The incongruity of their conversation in surroundings neither of them knew was somewhat surreal.

"I gathered the it was in the course of an encounter with French troops on the way to Oporto. I have not yet been with the rifles at that time and must regret that I can give you no better details then that."

Edward sounded truley apologetic.

"Well, he was always rather impetuous. I would not expect him to be anywhere other than in the thick of it." She could wish that her brother wouldn't be so forward, of course, but if he wasn't, he wouldn't be the same man.

"He is an excellent officer, ma'am. His men respect him for leading from the front."

He looked at the young lady, his face cool and a bit haughty as always, but inwardly he was delighted. If he was stranded in a strange inn, she was very pleasant company, her connection to Captain Vickery an added bonus.

"Would you wish for some tea? If this is an inn, it should be possible to organize some."

"Tea would be most delightful, thank you, sir," she replied. Torrington seemed cool and detached, as was only proper for someone of his rank, as she knew all too well from her own upbringing. "This has to be one of the... strangest inns I think I have ever visited," she added, sitting down again.

"It certainly is not something I have experienced before either."

Edward opened the door and was rather surprised at his own reaction of non-surprise when a servant was there, accepting his order for tea with only a perfectly correct "Yes, Milord".

When he came back in, he noticed that Miss Vickery had sat down, giving him the freedom to do the same. He chose a comfortable looking chair opposite her.

"I would say that this is a dream, but I believe one is supposed to wake from those as soon as one realizes one is dreaming."

"That usually is the case, yes," she replied, and smoothed her skirts a little. "If you came here from Portugal, do you suppose it likely that my brother might find his way here somehow?"

"It certainly is possible, and for your sake I will hope that he will do so."

Captain Vickery would probably like to have some proper food and a cozy parlour to sit in for a change as well.

"Has it been long since you have last seen him?"

"It has been about a year or so. His regiment left England in early August last year." She smiled fondly. "He does write though - he has mentioned you several time in his letters."

Edward was startled and felt a faint blush creep into his cheeks.

"Then I must thank him for making me interesting enough for you to remember it. He has mentioned you on several occasions as well. He would certainly be glad to meet you here."

Through the half-open door a servant entered and placed a tea-tray next to Miss Vickery, then went unobtrusively out again.

"He wrote me that you have a younger sister, who is to be presented this Season?" she said, and reached for the teapot. "How do you like your tea?" she asked, obscurely glad for the polite rituals of Society that gave her time to compose herself. It would be a wondrous thing if her brother were to come here.

"A little sugar and some lemon, please. Thank you."

Edward accepted the tea-cup gracefully, then leaned back in his chair. It was a strange feeling to be calmly sipping tea in the company of a woman who should be a continent away, but it was pleasant nonetheless.

"Yes, my younger sister Isabella. Bella, as we call her. She is rather a tomboy, but very pretty and good-natured, if you'll forgive a brother saying so."

His eyes looked very fondly at some memory, and in his cool voice a good measure of pride shone through.

"Perhaps this strange inn is accessible for her, too."

Emma poured it for him and added the sugar and lemon as directed before passing him the cup and pouring a cup for herself.

"I think that there is something wrong when a brother cannot praise his sister for something, so there is nothing to forgive. I do hope she can find her way here somehow - you must miss her a great deal."